Metaxism
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Metaxism (
Metaxas declared that his
Although the Metaxas government and its official doctrines are sometimes described as
The ideology of Metaxism was associated with Metaxas' political party, the
Main ideas
- Greek nationalism: Promoted cultural purity of the Greek nation and endorsed the creation of a "Third Hellenic Civilization".
- Monarchism: Considered the institution of monarchy a pillar of national unity.
- left-wing and communistideologies.
- Anti-parliamentarianism: Denounced the way the old parliamentary system operated, as a cause of anarchy, division and economic decline.
- Corporatism: Worked strongly through corporate groups and trade unions.
- Clericalism: The Greek Orthodox Church was an integral aspect of the Metaxist regime.
- Protectionism: Considered the market-liberal policies of the old state to have failed.
- Anti-imperialism: Opposed the domination and influence of Greece by foreign powers.
History
The ideology developed by Metaxas began with Metaxas' response to the
In the 1926 general election, Metaxas' Freethinkers' Party won 54 out of 250 seats in the Greek parliament, resulting in the party becoming part of Greece's coalition government, and Metaxas becoming the Minister of Communications.[7] However, the Freethinkers' Party’s public support collapsed in the 1928 election, in which it lost almost all of its seats, including Metaxas' own seat.[8]
By the 1930s, Metaxas openly condemned the parliamentary system in Greece.[8] For the 1935 election, Metaxas' party joined other monarchist parties in an electoral coalition known as the United Royalists that called for the restoration of the monarchy. The Freethinkers' Party won only seven seats in the election.[9] Nevertheless, a monarchist government was formed in Greece in 1935, resulting in the restoration of King George II of Greece as head of state.[9]
King George II had held close relations with Metaxas in the past and appointed Metaxas as the Prime Minister of Greece in May 1936.[9] Upon becoming Prime Minister, Metaxas made clear his discontent with the political deadlock between feuding political blocs in Greece's parliament and the rising labour unrest being exploited by the Communist Party of Greece.[9] Metaxas quickly sought to crush dissent including labour unrest in the form of decrees that did not require acceptance by the Greek parliament.[9]
On August 4, 1936, Metaxas gained the King's support for a decree that dissolved parliament. He declared martial law, suspended civil rights such as liberty of the subject, and mobilized transport and public workers to support him.[10] Metaxas justified these actions as necessary to prevent a communist revolution.[10] Numerous leftist leaders (and others) were arrested following these proclamations.[10] Metaxas abolished all political parties including his own, ruling as an official independent.[11] This date is considered the beginning of Metaxas' authoritarian rule, which later came to be known as the 4th of August Regime.
Metaxas was referred to by supporters as the Archigos (Leader) and promised to create a "New State" in Greece that called for Greeks to wholly commit themselves to the nation with self-control as the Spartans had done.[12] Supporters of the 4th of August Regime justified Metaxas' dictatorship on the basis that the "First Greek Civilization" involved the Athenian dictatorship of Pericles who had brought ancient Greece to greatness.[12]
Metaxas introduced widespread strict censorship of the press and banned works by authors considered taboo by the regime, including literature by
Metaxas saw the creation of a disciplined younger generation as being critical for the future of Greece and for the strengthening of his regime and its principles that would entrench the Third Greek Civilization.[13] In October 1936, the regime created the National Youth Organization of Greece (EON), which attained a membership of 200,000 by 1938. In 1939, youth membership in the EON became mandatory, and the organization absorbed the Boy Scouts of Greece.[13] Members of the EON took an oath of fidelity to the principles of the 4th of August Regime that included: embracing the institutions of the monarchy; support of national pride and faith to the Greek civilization; opposition to parliamentarianism and communism; support of the development of egalitarian, non-individualistic, virtuous citizens.[14]
In spite of the Metaxas regime's ties to
In religious affairs, the regime maintained previous states’ tradition of holding control over religious and ecclesiastic institutions. The regime was tolerant towards religious minorities (mainly Jews and Muslims), the majority of whom were conservative and hostile towards Venizelism. The regime was not antisemitic, and it prohibited antisemitic publications by certain newspapers.[16]
Legacy
The
See also
References
- ^ ISBN 0-299-14874-2.
- ^ a b c d Gert Sørensen, Robert Mallett. International Fascism, 1919–45. London; Portland, Oregon: Frank Cass Publishers, 2002. pp. 159.[ISBN missing]
- ^ ISBN 0415230462.
- ISBN 978-1-4008-3401-3.
- ^ a b Peter Davies, Derek Lynch. The Routledge companion to fascism and the far right. London; New York: Routledge, 2002. pp. 276.[ISBN missing]
- ^ a b c d Jürgen Fischer. Balkan strongmen: dictators and authoritarian rulers of South Eastern Europe. London: Purdue University Press, 2007. pp. 170. [ISBN missing]
- ^ Jürgen Fischer. Balkan strongmen: dictators and authoritarian rulers of South Eastern Europe. London: Purdue University Press, 2007. pp. 171–172.[ISBN missing]
- ^ a b Jürgen Fischer. Balkan strongmen: dictators and authoritarian rulers of South Eastern Europe. London: Purdue University Press, 2007. pp. 172.
- ^ a b c d e Jürgen Fischer. Balkan strongmen: dictators and authoritarian rulers of South Eastern Europe. London: Purdue University Press, 2007. pp. 174.
- ^ a b c Jürgen Fischer. Balkan strongmen: dictators and authoritarian rulers of South Eastern Europe. London: Purdue University Press, 2007. p. 180.
- ^ a b Jürgen Fischer. Balkan strongmen: dictators and authoritarian rulers of South Eastern Europe. London: Purdue University Press, 2007. pp. 181.
- ^ a b Jürgen Fischer. Balkan strongmen: dictators and authoritarian rulers of South Eastern Europe. London: Purdue University Press, 2007. pp. 184.
- ^ a b Jürgen Fischer. Balkan strongmen: dictators and authoritarian rulers of South Eastern Europe. London: Purdue University Press, 2007. pp. 185.
- ^ Jürgen Fischer. Balkan strongmen: dictators and authoritarian rulers of South Eastern Europe. London: Purdue University Press, 2007. pp. 185–186.
- ISBN 0-299-14874-2
- doi:10.4000/ceb.5120.
- ^ "Frequently Asked Questions". Golden Dawn. Archived from the original on 16 April 2014. Retrieved 13 April 2014.
External links
- Metaxas Project, a website about the 4th of August state
- ioannismetaxas.gr, a website about Ioannis Metaxas' life, made by his granddaughter