Fascism: A Very Short Introduction

I’m guessing that sales of Fascism: A Very Short Introduction (by Cardiff University professor Kevin Passmore) have spiked since the election of Donald Trump! That is certainly why I chose to read this book. We on the Left are very fond of bandying about the word “fascist” (count me guilty as charged!) so I wanted to educate myself a little more about what fascism is, at least so I can be somewhat intellectually honest should I seriously brand someone a fascist. Passmore goes to great lengths in pointing out that fascism is not easily defined (Fascist/Fascism- with a capital F- refers specifically to Mussolini’s Italian political party) but that fascism can entail a number of traits. By giving a history of political parties and movements that might be labeled fascist, he shows that there are often differences between the goals, methods and make up of these parties. (Interestingly Nazism differs from fascism primarily in its racist policies. While fascists are generally racist, anti-immigrant and may even believe in a hierarchy of races, the actual pursuit of a policy of racial extermination like the Final Solution differentiates Nazism from fascism. And recent right-wing leaders like Thatcher and Messrs. Reagan and Bush Jr are more correctly defined as Neo-conservatives.) So what are some of the hallmarks of fascism? Some of the more obvious ones are ultranationalism, racism, a cult of personality/charismatic leadership, anti-constitutionalism and a level of violence. In addition, a true fascist movement will often have its own paramilitary wing. A strong element of Social-Darwinism pervades fascism as well (and the irony of American Evangelical voters supporting Social Darwin-like Republican economic policies is rich to me!) It can get a little more complicated when it comes to economics and fascism. While fascists often appeal to the working classes with a pro-worker sort of populism (particularly where socialist parties have failed in leadership or simply don’t exist), fascists are often corporatist. They cosy up to big business for a variety of reasons, and as big business naturally lacks a moral compass besides that of making a profit, it will often tolerate fascist political leadership. The book also discusses fascism’s often fluid relationship to religion and the role of women in a fascist state, fascism usually having an aura of machismo. Fascism of course didn’t die with the defeat of Hitler and Mussolini and it has taken various forms in disparate places and populations around the globe since. It was interesting (and disheartening) to consider that while this book was revised and reprinted in 2014 and the author discusses various right-wing political movements especially across Europe, I don’t think even he anticipated the rapid growth of parties like UKIP in the UK, the FN in France, etc. While the far-right parties today that may indeed be fascist, none really ever embrace the term openly. Ultimately, this book succeeded for me in that now I better understand fascism’s history, what fascism is (and is not) and its place in contemporary politics. I am far more comfortable in using it to describe one when I see one. A few final thoughts on the book itself. I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in the subject but while it’s a relatively short and very engaging read, it does assume a fairly good knowledge base of 20th Century history and politics. Also, and this might sound silly, but it is important for context: the book is written with and embraces the assumption that fascism is in fact a BAD thing!

As the title promises, this is not a long book, but be aware that it is dense. The author holds the reasonable view along the lines of "fascism is a contradictory set of interrelated and contested ideologies and practices" and thereby states that simple definitions of fascism would be misleading. While he does have a definition page, he explains the many forms of fascism and analyses these along themes, such as race, gender and class,and as it has manifested in many coutries throughout the book. I find this approach sound and convincing, particularly as the author pulls no punches in examining coutries less renowned for past fascist leanings. While expert on fascism's history and exponents, the author is generally condemning with statements such as: "the science of fascism is little more than bigotry erected into a system". The eclectic approach of the author certainly suits this subject but it does make the book hard work. I accidentally opened the book a hundred odd pages further than I had read and, because of the paragraph by paragraph development of arguments, read for a minute before becoming aware of my error. "Syndicalism" is a term I had not remembered encountering but could interpret after several appearances - it was eventually defined more or less along the lines of my expectations on page 142 but not referenced there in the index. These issues are not necessarily problems and perhaps are to be expected in an essay style of presentation. The author's analysis remains logical and the themes he chooses are perennial and generally aid comprehension. I purchased this book because I wondered about the emergence of some elements of fascism in global society and in particular in the society in which I live (please note that I now know that to only take some elements of fascism probably means that it is a different `ism' anyway). This is a thorough introduction to help develop insights and, more importantly, draw connections with historical examples that may help show where contemporary behaviour may take us if unchecked.

This is the first book on Fascism that I have read so far. I was curious about Fascism because it was the prevailing political and economic system in both Germany and Italy at the beginning of World War 2 and that war is one of my favorite reading subjects. I found the book readable, detailed and, very clear. The book carries a lot of information for being only an introduction to Fascism. You will find out that Fascism is a broad term that, nonetheless, did not fully describe any system defined as such (fascist) in any of the countries where it is recognized that it took hold. Fascism is related to many concepts such as: corporatism, ultra nationalism, paramilitarism, anti-feminism, racism (or at least xenophobia), autarky, totalitarianism, rule by terror, messianic message, tight control of unions and labour, presence of both radical and conservative social and economic measures, cult of personality (of a strong, supreme leader), and bent on welfare and total employment for the "true" nationals. Sometimes it bordered on Paganism (as in Nazi Germany) and sometimes it was firmly bound to a religion (Catholicism in Franco's Spain and the Christian Orthodox Church in Romania). The author also presents an outlook of the current political movements throughout Europe (mostly) that could be termed fascist like. This is indeed a thorough introduction to Fascism. Five stars for this book.

The author pursued a "definition" of fascism and Fascism, all the while continually denying that any such definition exists. His point is well taken given the historical context in which many versions of fascism arose, but it was nonetheless annoying after the 5th time or 6th or ... I get it already. In between these disclaimers, you can find a mostly interesting summary of fascism, Fascism (Italian fascism), and Nazism. I learned a few things. Basic takeaways: fascism is nationalistic at its core and most of the time this leads to racial discrimination, strict immigration laws, and totalitarianism (fascism has been philosophically anti-democratic since its inception). Fascist states tend to be militaristic and expansionist, and most tend to be anti-Semitic, with the Nazis be the most diabolical of all. Finally, fascism is intensely anti-Communist, and is therefore believed by Marxists to be a capitalist tool. American white nationalists and other right wing nationalists are touched upon but the book pre-dates the rise and election of Trump. So, I will need to continue my reading, although I am a little better equipped to put what I read next into historical context.

This is obviously a timely read, and interesting. But be aware that it poses as many questions as it answers. If you're coming to it looking for an answer to "is Trumpism fascism" you'll get, roughly, "impossible to say, and it doesn't matter anyway". Overall, that was actually useful context for me, so five stars. But may not be what everyone is looking for right now.

Passmore sets out to define and explain fascism in the 20th century, it's relationship with reactionary nationalism, it's ability to combine left and right-wing elements, and what the modern narratives around it don't understand. Passmore rejects the notion that fascism is just violent reactionary politics or a form of leftism. He also rejects the Trotskyist narrative about fascism by looking at the actual voting blocs in Weimar Germany and Italy. He also talks about the Falange and the Iron Guard's relationship to the two more dominant mode of fascism. He briefly discusses fascism in the Americas, particularly Brazil, and Japan. Then he points out the overlap and differences between modern ultranationalist movements which are perhaps quasifascist, but are much more willing to use conventional electoral methods. Once you read this, if you want to go further I would suggest any of the works of Zeev Sternhell on the topic which go much deeper into origins but like Passmore set-up a very specific definition for what fascism is.

An eye opening introduction to the complex subject of fascism and its relation to the contemporary far right movements in the west.

I had to read this for a class, but I found it very useful. It is short and small, but that made it easier to get through and it still contained a lot of information. I got an A in the class too, so something was right!

As with all the other books of the series I've read, it's a great little gem. The author presents the various and very complicated facets of fascism in a very orderly manner, with a certain degree of distance from the subject itself, but obviously without it being totally objective (if such a thing can ever be written). It covers a lot of aspects of fascism that don't immediately come to mind when thinking about it, and it makes various ambiguities about the nature of fascism very transparent, and gives some good insight on how the context under fascism arose, its brief history, and the aftermath: what impacts fascism has had (and still has) in our societies. Great book for anyone who wants to be introduced to what proves to be a very complicated and fragile issue in our modern history.

Excellent book, gives a clear look at recent interpretations of fascism.

Für die Kürze des Buchs erhält man dennoch einen sehr guten Überblick über Faschismus und gleichzeitig auch noch einen schönen Ansatz bei der Definition eines solch schwierigen Begriffs.

Thought this would be a good way to lay a foundation for studying the subject. After opening the package I was quite disappointed at just how small this book is. It is pocket size. That being said however, after reading it (which doesn't take long), it is clear that this little book has a lot of information packed in to it. It has provided me with a reasonable basis from which I can plunge even deeper. In summation I would say thst this is a good book to ease your way in to Facism, but it is a little over priced for the size and style.

A good enough book in terms of historical detail. But I didn't find that it altered my view of fascism understood in terms of historical/political sociology(i.e. Barrington Moores Social Origins of Dictatorship and Democracy) as a reaction against modernity in places where the middle class/bourgeoisie isn't quite strong enough on its own (as it was in America and Western Europe) to fend off peasant or labour movements, so it joins forces with aristocracy, religious authorities and military and shares in an ethic of nostalgia rather than forward -looking progressivism. An understanding of contemporary neo-fascism would view it as a reaction to globalization, rather than to modernization as such, which explains why America and Western Europe (which have experienced a shrinking or stagnating middle class) would be relatively more susceptible to a similar political dynamic. Another factor is how a plethora of media and information in the 21st century can produce a "similar but different" dynamic to that produced by state-controlled radio and corporate-controlled nationalist newspapers in the 1930s.