North Korea is essentially a monarchy. What else would we call a hereditary absolutism?
Fascism, as defined by the Fascists themselves, such as Mussolini, has three primary characteristics:
Organicism: A “blood and soil” view of national identity.
Absolutism: The will of the people is embodied in a single, Inspired Leader.
Political Irrationalism: Citizens must suppress their political will in favor of obedience to the Inspired Leader.
Applying the classical definition of fascism to North Korea shows us:
Organicism = YES North Korea is highly ethnic-nationalist. It promotes a pure Korean identity (especially in contrast to South Korea’s Western influence and multiculturalism). The
Juche ideology emphasizes Korean self-reliance, cultural purity, and spiritual unity. Border restrictions, hereditary class status (
songbun), and militaristic rituals all promote an organic unity of the nation.
Absolutism = YES The Kim dynasty embodies this entirely: Kim Il-sung became a quasi-deified leader. His successors rule not merely as heads of state, but as
infallible patriarchs. The leader is the sole source of law, morality, and national destiny.
Political Irrationalism = YES Independent political will is forbidden. The people are not expected to reason politically, only to obey and venerate the Inspired Leader. Critical thought is suppressed in favor of myth, ritual, and unquestioning loyalty.
People tend to link fascism with the particular kind of "national capitalism" practiced by Nazi Germany, but in fact fascism defines no particular economic system. The mixes of systems used by Mussolini and Franco, for instance, were significantly different from the mix used by Hitler. A fascist government uses whatever economic scheme works for it.
We have tended to consider the DPRK as communist, but it presents a clear case of why Communism is a system of economics and fascism is, separately, a system of government. Though North Korea calls itself socialist, its actual structure lacks Marxist class dialectic, has no functioning worker control of production, preserves an elite caste and hereditary rule.
