Horkheimer’s fascism theory generalized beyond orthodox communist capitalism-as-agent doctrine.

Evidence

The nub of the article was that, since it took the view that fascism was the political form of monopoly capitalism, it seemed on the face of it to be loyal to the communist theory that fascism was merely the agent of big business. But in reality the article constantly moved beyond this theory in the direction of interpreting fascism as an authoritarian state which appeared not merely to be a consequence of capitalism, but could also be seen as existing wherever `the domination of a minority, on the basis of actual possession of the material means of production’ existed; wherever the concentration of economic power had gone over to organized violence as a means of overcoming social contradictions; and wherever it was possible for a bureaucracy to take decisions about life and death. — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School, 1070

Categorization

• DEFINE: Defines the distinctive Horkheimer position on fascism’s scope as an authoritarian state form beyond simple capitalism-serving.
• DEEPTHINKING: The move here is subtle: superficially loyal to communist orthodoxy yet structurally subverting it—a dialectical double-codedness worth sitting with.
• XREF: connects to: Horkheimer theorized totalitarian monopoly capitalism as a racket phase of society — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School: Its History,…, 1306; Comintern factions defined fascism as armed dictatorship of capitalist fractions; Horkheimer held incompatible theories of fascism as both despotism and passing gangsterism — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School: Its History,…, 1156 (+3 more)

Broader Connections

• Horkheimer theorized totalitarian monopoly capitalism as a racket phase of society #expands (0.85) — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School, 1306
• Horkheimer held incompatible theories of fascism as both despotism and passing gangsterism #qualifies (0.78) — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School, 1156
• Comintern factions defined fascism as armed dictatorship of capitalist fractions #complicates (0.72)