Final answer:
Capitalism appeared to support fascist dictatorships during times of economic crisis and political instability because fascism promised social order and protection of private property while suppressing workers' movements, which aligned with capitalist interests.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question of why capitalism might appear to support fascist dictatorships stems from historical contexts where economic instability and fear of communism fostered a preference for strong, authoritarian governments that could maintain order and protect private property. During the Great Depression, liberal democracies were struggling to manage economic crises, leading some to favor the seemingly more stable fascist regimes, which promised to revive economies and maintain social order. Additionally, fascism, as seen with Mussolini's Italy, promoted a kind of state corporatism which claimed to balance the interests of workers and owners but actually favored the latter, safeguarding capitalist interests.
Private property owners perceived fascist dictatorships, like those in Italy and Germany, as a defense against the spread of socialism or communism which threatened their interests. The corporatism model proposed by fascist regimes allowed for the illusion of collaboration between workers and employers, but in reality benefited business owners and suppressed workers' rights, aligning with capitalist interests.