---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As political theorist Michael Parenti…"
description: "\"As political theorist Michael Parenti points out, historians often overlook Fascism's economic agenda--the partnership between Big Capital and Big Gove..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/612/richard-heinberg-28724_achieve_as-political-theorist-michael-parenti-po_1044643.jpg"
---

#  As political theorist Michael Parenti points out…

![“As political theorist Michael Parenti points out, historians often overlook Fascism's economic agenda--the partnership between Big Capital and Big Government--in their analysis of its authoritarian social program. Indeed, according to Bertram Gross in his startlingly prescient Friendly Fascism…” quote by Richard Heinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/612/richard-heinberg-28724_achieve_as-political-theorist-michael-parenti-po_1044643.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/612/richard-heinberg-28724_achieve_as-political-theorist-michael-parenti-po_1044643.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/612/richard-heinberg-28724_achieve_as-political-theorist-michael-parenti-po_1044643.jpg)

> “As political theorist Michael Parenti points out, historians often overlook Fascism's economic agenda--the partnership between Big Capital and Big Government--in their analysis of its authoritarian social program. Indeed, according to Bertram Gross in his startlingly prescient Friendly Fascism (1980), it is possible to achieve fascist goals within an ostensibly democratic society.”

[Richard Heinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-heinberg/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The quote highlights that fascist objectives can be pursued through democratic institutions via collaboration between large corporations and government.

**In simple terms:** Fascism can thrive in democracies via corporate‑government alliances.

Key Takeaway

Watch for corporate influence on policy.

Themes

politics economics authoritarianism democracy

Mood

critical concerned

Type

analytical warning

When to use this quote

- policy analysis
- business regulation
- civic education
- media literacy

Key Concepts

fascism capitalism state power

Questions to Reflect On

- What safeguards can protect democracy from corporate overreach?
- How can citizens hold both government and business accountable?

A Different Perspective

It may overstate the inevitability of fascist outcomes, ignoring resistance movements.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Achieve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achieve/) [Agendas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agendas/) [Analysis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/analysis/) [Big government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-government/) [Bigs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigs/) [Democratic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democratic/) [Democratic society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democratic-society/) [Economic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economic/) [Fascism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fascism/) [Fascism Economic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fascism-economic-2462420/) [Fascist Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fascist-goals-2462419/) [Fascists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fascists/) [Friendly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendly/) [Friendly Fascism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendly-fascism-2462417/) [Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Gross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gross/) [Historian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/historian/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Michael Parenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/michael-parenti-228178/) [Overlook Fascism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overlook-fascism-2462418/) [Partnership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/partnership/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Program](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/program/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) [Social programs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-programs/) [St Michael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/st-michael/) [Theorists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theorists/)

## Related quotes

> [“Astute social commentators had been anticipating this rightward shift since the early 1980s. Bertram Gross predicted, in his book Friendly Fascism, that the United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-brouwer/astute-social-commentators-had-been-anticipating-this-rightward-shift/)

[Steve Brouwer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-brouwer/)

> [Unchecked, government social programs are a security threat because they weaken the ultimate line of defense: the free-born citizen whose responsibilities are not subcontracted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-steyn/unchecked-government-social-programs-are-a-security-threat-because/)

[Mark Steyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-steyn/)

> [“A final irony has to do with the idea of political responsibility. Christians are urged to vote and become involved in politics as an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-davison-hunter/a-final-irony-has-to-do-with-the-idea-of-political-responsibility/)

[James Davison Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-davison-hunter/)

> [Conservatism, though a necessary element in any stable society, is not a social program; in its paternalistic, nationalistic and power adoring tendencies it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-august-von-hayek/conservatism-though-a-necessary-element-in-any-stable-society-is-not/)

[Friedrich August von Hayek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-august-von-hayek/)

> [When men and women fail to form stable marriages, the result is a vast expansion of government attempts to cope with the terrible social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-gallagher/when-men-and-women-fail-to-form-stable-marriages-the-result-is-a-vast/)

[Maggie Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-gallagher/)

> [I'm not a libertarian in the sense that I think all these social programs should be abolished in any sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/i-m-not-a-libertarian-in-the-sense-that-i-think-all-these-social/)

[Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/)

> [I try to look at the evolution of these utopian claims. In the late '60s there was an assumption that the wealth generated by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/astra-taylor/i-try-to-look-at-the-evolution-of-these-utopian-claims-in-the-late/)

[Astra Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/astra-taylor/)

> [ We went to the same college so I know \[Hillary Clinton's\] study habits, but when she was first lady of Arkansas, she did a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/we-went-to-the-same-college-so-i-know-hillary-clinton-s-study-habits/)

[Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/)

> [ \[S\]tatism is but socialized dishonesty; it is feathering the nests of some with feathers coercively plucked from others - on the grand scale. There… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/s-tatism-is-but-socialized-dishonesty-it-is-feathering-the-nests-of/)

[Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/)

> [It's amnesty that America can't afford. We have to stop people from coming in illegally. This will be a green light for anyone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-barletta/it-s-amnesty-that-america-can-t-afford-we-have-to-stop-people-from/)

[Lou Barletta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-barletta/)

> [We will allow private and religious groups to compete to provide services in every federal, state and local social program.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/we-will-allow-private-and-religious-groups-to-compete-to-provide/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [The best social program is a productive job for anyone who's willing to work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/the-best-social-program-is-a-productive-job-for-anyone-who-s-willing/)

[Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/)

> [Obama behaves like a centrist who leans tentatively left on certain social programs but boldly right on military force and civil liberties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-k-shipler/obama-behaves-like-a-centrist-who-leans-tentatively-left-on-certain/)

[David K. Shipler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-k-shipler/)

> [The imperial projects will continue, Wall Street will be unimpeded in its malfeasance and criminal activity, social programs will continue to be cut, maybe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hedges/the-imperial-projects-will-continue-wall-street-will-be-unimpeded-in/)

[Chris Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hedges/)

> [Sometimes a party must sail against the wind. We cannot heed the call of those who say it is time to furl the sail.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-kennedy/sometimes-a-party-must-sail-against-the-wind-we-cannot-heed-the-call/)

[Edward Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-kennedy/)

## More by Richard Heinberg

> [What's new is high oil prices and the economy hates high oil prices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-heinberg/what-s-new-is-high-oil-prices-and-the-economy-hates-high-oil-prices/)

[Richard Heinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-heinberg/)

> [If we aim for what is no longer possible, we will achieve only delusion and frustration. But if we aim for genuinely worthwhile goals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-heinberg/if-we-aim-for-what-is-no-longer-possible-we-will-achieve-only/)

[Richard Heinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-heinberg/)

> [Today, it is especially difficult for most people to understand our perilous global energy situation precisely because it has never been more important to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-heinberg/today-it-is-especially-difficult-for-most-people-to-understand-our/)

[Richard Heinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-heinberg/)

> [The idea that we industrialized humans are immune to the natural laws that have restrained growth in other species-and humans in past social regimes-is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-heinberg/the-idea-that-we-industrialized-humans-are-immune-to-the-natural-laws/)

[Richard Heinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-heinberg/)

> [Early ecologists soon realised that, since humans are organisms, ecology should include the study of the relationship between humans and the rest of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-heinberg/early-ecologists-soon-realised-that-since-humans-are-organisms/)

[Richard Heinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-heinberg/)

> [Oil depletion and climate change will create an entirely new context in which political struggles will be played out. Within that context, it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-heinberg/oil-depletion-and-climate-change-will-create-an-entirely-new-context/)

[Richard Heinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-heinberg/)

> [We are about to enter a new era in which, each year, less net energy will be available to humankind, regardless of our efforts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-heinberg/we-are-about-to-enter-a-new-era-in-which-each-year-less-net-energy/)

[Richard Heinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-heinberg/)

> [The real problem is that we use too much oil. It's that simple and that difficult. If we truly want to reduce our vulnerability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-heinberg/the-real-problem-is-that-we-use-too-much-oil-it-s-that-simple-and/)

[Richard Heinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-heinberg/)

> [Surveying the available alternative energy sources for criteria such as energy density, environmental impacts, reliance on depleting raw materials, intermittency versus constancy of supply,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-heinberg/surveying-the-available-alternative-energy-sources-for-criteria-such/)

[Richard Heinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-heinberg/)

> [When a caterpillar eats a leaf, then a thrush eats the caterpillar, or when a hawk eats the thrush only 5 to 20% of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-heinberg/when-a-caterpillar-eats-a-leaf-then-a-thrush-eats-the-caterpillar-or/)

[Richard Heinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-heinberg/)

> [The industrial civilisation is based on the consumption of energy resources that are inherently limited in quantity and that are about to become scarce.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-heinberg/the-industrial-civilisation-is-based-on-the-consumption-of-energy/)

[Richard Heinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-heinberg/)

> [All of the easy oil is gone and what's left is requiring more energy and money and this has an effect on everything. Our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-heinberg/all-of-the-easy-oil-is-gone-and-what-s-left-is-requiring-more-energy/)

[Richard Heinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-heinberg/)

> [If we do nothing, we still get to a post-carbon future, but it will be bleak. However, if we plan the transition, we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-heinberg/if-we-do-nothing-we-still-get-to-a-post-carbon-future-but-it-will-be/)

[Richard Heinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-heinberg/)

> [Economic growth as we have known it is over and done with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-heinberg/economic-growth-as-we-have-known-it-is-over-and-done-with/)

[Richard Heinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-heinberg/)

> [The science is in: either we go cold turkey on our coal, oil, and gas addictions, or we risk raising the planet's temperature to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-heinberg/the-science-is-in-either-we-go-cold-turkey-on-our-coal-oil-and-gas/)

[Richard Heinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-heinberg/)

[Explore all 19 Richard Heinberg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-heinberg/)

## More Achieve quotes

> [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/)

[Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/)

> [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/)

[Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/)

> [I love playing for my country, getting the support. Especially for the kids and everybody, showing my example of what I can achieve so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-sharapova/i-love-playing-for-my-country-getting-the-support-especially-for-the/)

[Maria Sharapova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-sharapova/)

> [Human beings have an innate inner drive to be autonomous, self-determined, and connected to one another. And when that drive is liberated, people achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/human-beings-have-an-innate-inner-drive-to-be-autonomous-self/)

[Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/)

> [Focus on becoming more to achieve more while doing less](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/focus-on-becoming-more-to-achieve-more-while-doing-less/)

[Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/)

> [I hope that the Palestinians don't make the mistake of unleashing a new intifada. They've tried it twice before, and the consequences were bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-segev/i-hope-that-the-palestinians-don-t-make-the-mistake-of-unleashing-a/)

[Tom Segev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-segev/)

> [I'm a film guy. I love it. When I read the screenplay, I knew that there would be no HD camera that could achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deon-taylor/i-m-a-film-guy-i-love-it-when-i-read-the-screenplay-i-knew-that-there/)

[Deon Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deon-taylor/)

> [One achieves true human dignity only when one serves. Only he is great who subjects himself to taking part in the achievement of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-antonio-primo-de-rivera/one-achieves-true-human-dignity-only-when-one-serves-only-he-is-great/)

[Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-antonio-primo-de-rivera/)

> [I'm optimistic Hong Kong will achieve universal suffrage - no matter the attitude of Beijing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/i-m-optimistic-hong-kong-will-achieve-universal-suffrage-no-matter/)

[Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/)

> [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/)

[Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/)

> [Governments follow their people. A great deal has to do with the vision of the leadership of governments. They have a vision, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-khurshid/governments-follow-their-people-a-great-deal-has-to-do-with-the/)

[Salman Khurshid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-khurshid/)

> [To achieve victory we must mass our forces at the hub of all power &amp; movement. The enemy's 'Center of Gravity'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-achieve-victory-we-must-mass-our-forces-at-the-hub-of-all-power/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [If your only goal is to become rich, you will never achieve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/if-your-only-goal-is-to-become-rich-you-will-never-achieve-it/)

[John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/)

> [To achieve something you've never achieved before, you must become someone you've never been before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shubham-joshi/to-achieve-something-you-ve-never-achieved-before-you-must-become/)

[Shubham Joshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shubham-joshi/)

> [I've identified as bisexual since I was a teenager, and if we want to achieve equality for all in our policies, we need more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-hill/i-ve-identified-as-bisexual-since-i-was-a-teenager-and-if-we-want-to/)

[Katie Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-hill/)

[Browse all 6,390 Achieve quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achieve/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "As political theorist Michael Parenti points out, historians often overlook Fascism's economic agenda--the partnership between Big Capital and Big Government--in their analysis of its authoritarian social program. Indeed, according to Bertram Gross in his startlingly prescient Friendly Fascism (1980), it is possible to achieve fascist goals within an ostensibly democratic society.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Richard Heinberg"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-heinberg/as-political-theorist-michael-parenti-points-out-historians-often/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Achieve"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-heinberg/as-political-theorist-michael-parenti-points-out-historians-often/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/612/richard-heinberg-28724_achieve_as-political-theorist-michael-parenti-po_1044643.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/612/richard-heinberg-28724_achieve_as-political-theorist-michael-parenti-po_1044643.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/612/richard-heinberg-28724_achieve_as-political-theorist-michael-parenti-po_1044643.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“As political theorist Michael Parenti points out, historians often overlook Fascism's economic agenda--the…” — Richard Heinberg",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Richard Heinberg",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-heinberg/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "As political theorist Michael Parenti points...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-heinberg/as-political-theorist-michael-parenti-points-out-historians-often/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-heinberg/as-political-theorist-michael-parenti-points-out-historians-often/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
