No government fights fascism to destroy it. When the bourgeoisie sees that power is slipping out of its hands, it brings up fascism to hold onto their privileges.

The quote, "No government fights fascism to destroy it. When the bourgeoisie sees that power is slipping out of its hands, it brings up fascism to hold onto their privileges," by Buenaventura Durruti, reflects his view of the relationship between government, class struggle, and fascism. Durruti, a Spanish anarchist and revolutionary, argues that governments do not genuinely seek to eradicate fascism, but rather, they use it as a tool to maintain power and privileges for the bourgeoisie—the capitalist class. According to Durruti, when the ruling class feels threatened by the loss of power or potential challenges to their economic and social status, they turn to fascism as a way to regain control and suppress any movements that threaten the status quo.

Durruti’s statement critiques the hypocrisy of governments that claim to oppose fascism while actually using it to secure their own interests. Instead of genuinely fighting fascist ideologies, he suggests that governments, especially those led by the bourgeoisie, manipulate fascist movements to safeguard their own privileges. In this sense, fascism is not just an external threat to society, but a tool that can be used by the ruling class to quash any attempt at social revolution or redistribution of power.

The origin of this quote is rooted in Durruti’s revolutionary anarchist philosophy, which sought the abolition of the state and the dismantling of capitalist structures. As a leader in the Spanish Civil War, Durruti was deeply involved in the struggle against fascism and the Spanish fascist forces under Francisco Franco, but he also believed that the bourgeoisie used fascism to strengthen its own position in society. His words reflect his broader belief in the need for a social revolution that would challenge both fascist and capitalist systems, creating a more egalitarian society.

This quote remains relevant in discussions about political power, fascism, and class struggle. Durruti’s words warn of the dangers of political elites co-opting extremist ideologies to maintain their privileges and control. His critique challenges the conventional understanding of fascism as merely a reactionary force and emphasizes its potential use as a tool by those in power to prevent social change and maintain the existing class system.