CHARACTERISTICS OF EXTREMIST POLITICAL IDEOLOGIES: THE CASE OF THE SPANISH FASCIST FRONT BASTION

Abstract

This work analyses the concept and characteristics of extremist political ideologies through the study of previous works on European and American far-right extremism. This analysis explores how in some societies, like the Spanish one, certain types of extremist political ideologies are tolerated. The author proposes an additional characteristic to the ones analyzed, which helps to classify and understand these ideologies and their sympathizers. This proposed characteristic is based on the use of force to impose an ideology. The case of the Spanish extremist group Bastion Front, of fascist and Francoist ideology, is analyzed through the mentioned characteristics. The discourse given by Isabel Peralta in 2021 in memory of the Blue Division in Madrid is included to demonstrate the tolerance of extremist and fascist public speeches. A review of the main characteristics and values of Spanish national-Catholicism extremist political ideology is presented, as well as those of the historical fascist party Falange, still active today. This work exposes the rhetorical use of Russia by Western fascists as a supposed leader of an illiberal system opposing the American and English order. The author concludes that extremist political ideologies like fascism are tolerated in Spanish society and the Spanish legal system today.