Conservative Interest In Fascism

Abstract

As Sir Oswald Mosley’s British Union of Fascists (BUF) gained influence over the course of the early to mid-1930s, a number of Conservatives began to express their interest in the movement with the hope that it could solve the economic decline which had plagued the country since the end of the First World War. However, by mid-1934, many of the Conservative politicians and intellectuals once fascinated with fascism began to distance themselves from the ideology and the British fascist movement. Some historians view this interest in fascism as a result of the uncertainty to the periodand questions over the state of the Conservative Party and its ability to lead Britain through such turbulent times. This paper works to add to this discussion by shedding light on the ideological appeal of fascism to Conservatives. In researching their personal papers and comments made in newspaper articles, I attempt to reveal the complexnature of their understanding of fascism and that in many cases, Conservatives interested in fascism became drawn to the movement due to ideological overlap between their ideas and the BUF.