A. Leontiev: The fascist form of open dictatorship of the bourgeoisie is extremely characteristic of capitalism in the epoch of its decay and downfall. Fascism tries to create a bulwark for the bourgeoisie against the working class. It appeals to the broad masses of the petty bourgeoisie, the peasantry, office em- ployees and clerks, small businessmen, and the intelligentsia. It penetrates into the more backward elements of the working class. It widely mobilizes all the declassed elements. It conducts its frantic defence of capitalism, at least at first, under the mask of anti-capitalist agitation. The hazy demagogy against capitalism serves fascism as a decoy to catch adherents from among the disinherited but politically backward sections of the petty bourgeoisie. https://wordsmith.social/protestation/quotes#quote9278