Mussolini's march on Rome; Hitler's speeches before waves of goose-stepping storm troopers; the horrors of the Holocaust; burning crosses and neo-Nazi skinhead hooligans. Few words are as evocative, and even fewer ideologies as pernicious, as fascism. And yet, the world continues to witness
the success of political parties in countries such as Italy, France, Austria, Russia, and elsewhere resembling in various ways historical fascism. Why, despite its past, are people still attracted to fascism? Will it ever again be a major political force in the world? Where in the world is it most
likely to erupt next?
In Fascism: Past, Present, and Future, renowned historian Walter Laqueur illuminates the fascist phenomenon, from the emergence of Hitler and Mussolini, to Vladimir Zhirinovsky and his cohorts, to fascism's not so distant future. Laqueur describes how fascism's early achievements--the rise of
Germany and Italy as leading powers in Europe, a reputation for being concerned about the fate of common people, the creation of more leisure for workers--won many converts. But what successes early fascist parties can claim, Laqueur points out, are certainly overwhelmed by its disasters: Hitler may
have built the Autobahnen, but he also launched the war that destroyed them. Nevertheless, despite the Axis defeat, fascism was not forgotten: Laqueur tellingly uncovers contemporary adaptations of fascist tactics and strategies in the French ultra-nationalist Le Pen, the rise of skinheads and
right-wing extremism, and Holocaust denial. He shows how single issues--such as immigrants and, more remarkably, the environment--have proven fruitful rallying points for neo-fascist protest movements. But he also reveals that European fascism has failed to attract broad and sustained support.
Indeed, while skinhead bands like the "Klansman" and magazines such as "Zyklon B" grab headlines, fascism bereft of military force and war is at most fascism on the defense, promising to save Europe from an invasion of foreigners without offering a concrete future. Laqueur warns, however, that an
increase in "clerical" fascism--such as the confluence of fascism and radical, Islamic fundamentalism--may come to dominate in parts of the Middle East and North Africa. The reason has little to do with religion: "Underneath the 'Holy Rage' is frustration and old-fashioned class struggle." Fascism
was always a movement of protest and discontent, and there is in the contemporary world a great reservoir of protest. Among the likely candidates, Laqueur singles out certain parts of Eastern Europe and the Third World.
In carefully plotting fascism's past, present, and future, Walter Laqueur offers a riveting, if sometimes disturbing, account of one of the twentieth century's most baneful political ideas, in a book that is both a masterly survey of the roots, the ideas, and the practices of fascism and an
assessment of its prospects in the contemporary world.
Mussolini's march on Rome; Hitler's speeches before waves of goose-stepping storm troopers; the horrors of the Holocaust; burning crosses and neo-Nazi skinhead hooligans. Few words are as evocative, and even fewer ideologies as pernicious, as fascism. And yet, the world continues to witness
the success of political parties in countries such as Italy, France, Austria, Russia, and elsewhere resembling in various ways historical fascism. Why, despite its past, are people still attracted to fascism? Will it ever again be a major political force in the world? Where in the world is it most
likely to erupt next?
In Fascism: Past, Present, and Future, renowned historian Walter Laqueur illuminates the fascist phenomenon, from the emergence of Hitler and Mussolini, to Vladimir Zhirinovsky and his cohorts, to fascism's not so distant future. Laqueur describes how fascism's early achievements--the rise of
Germany and Italy as leading powers in Europe, a reputation for being concerned about the fate of common people, the creation of more leisure for workers--won many converts. But what successes early fascist parties can claim, Laqueur points out, are certainly overwhelmed by its disasters: Hitler may
have built the Autobahnen, but he also launched the war that destroyed them. Nevertheless, despite the Axis defeat, fascism was not forgotten: Laqueur tellingly uncovers contemporary adaptations of fascist tactics and strategies in the French ultra-nationalist Le Pen, the rise of skinheads and
right-wing extremism, and Holocaust denial. He shows how single issues--such as immigrants and, more remarkably, the environment--have proven fruitful rallying points for neo-fascist protest movements. But he also reveals that European fascism has failed to attract broad and sustained support.
Indeed, while skinhead bands like the "Klansman" and magazines such as "Zyklon B" grab headlines, fascism bereft of military force and war is at most fascism on the defense, promising to save Europe from an invasion of foreigners without offering a concrete future. Laqueur warns, however, that an
increase in "clerical" fascism--such as the confluence of fascism and radical, Islamic fundamentalism--may come to dominate in parts of the Middle East and North Africa. The reason has little to do with religion: "Underneath the 'Holy Rage' is frustration and old-fashioned class struggle." Fascism
was always a movement of protest and discontent, and there is in the contemporary world a great reservoir of protest. Among the likely candidates, Laqueur singles out certain parts of Eastern Europe and the Third World.
In carefully plotting fascism's past, present, and future, Walter Laqueur offers a riveting, if sometimes disturbing, account of one of the twentieth century's most baneful political ideas, in a book that is both a masterly survey of the roots, the ideas, and the practices of fascism and an
assessment of its prospects in the contemporary world.
Walter Laqueur is co-editor of the Journal of Contemporary History and serves as chairman of the International Research Council at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. His books include Black Hundred, Russia and Germany, The Long Road to Freedom, The Fate of the Revolution, Terrorism, The Dream that Failed, and an autobiography, Thursday's Child has Far to Go.
"One of Mr. Laqueur's distinguishing characteristics as a historian is his readability, and this volume is no exception."--The Washington Times"A wide-ranging study of the many faces of fascism, by one of America's foremost historians....The book is a welcome addition."--Kirkus Reviews"Among the last of a remarkable generation of German Jewish intellectuals, Walter Laqueur has seen and survived much of this century's agitated history. He has also written cogently, even presciently, about it for more than 40 years."--The New York Times Book Review"Aware of how widespread the misuse of the term 'fascism' is, the eminent historian Walter Laqueur has surveyed the European scene, both historically and as it exists today....Today there are many 'fascisms, ' as Mr. Laqueur points out--neo-fascists, skinheads, right-wing extremists, radical nationalist and populist movements, clerical fasciasm, radical Islam--all distinguishable from the historical fascism of Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler....One of Mr. Laqueur's distinguishing characteristics as a historian is his readability, and this volume is no exception."--The Washington Times"A concise and eminently readable study....Undoubtedly, Laqueur's most provocative contention is that there is a parallel between fascism and clerical fundamentalism....In Laqueur's insightful refracting of the past through the present, he...reminds us that we ignore history at our peril."--The Philadelphia Inquirer"A penetrating study."--Booklist (starred review)"What Laqueur does make very clear is that the crushing of 'historical fascism' in 1945 by no means removed the threat of antidemocratic, racist, xenophobic radicalism. Its ugly presence remains, often building on ancient foundations."--Library Journal"Fascism is comprehensive, clear and contemporary. Walter Lazueur's book remeinds all of us...that the ugly weed of fascism is one that can take root where least expected."--Trenton Times"A comprehensive and stimulating introduction to an important contemporary political phenomenon."--Political Science Quarterly"[Laqueur] has been one of the most respected scholars of fascism for more than a generation....He is unquestionably well-equipped to write this wide ranging book....Laqueur has written to provoke thought and to highlight the next major wave of fascism that will not exactly mirror the content and form of earlier varieties. As such, it is a book that can be recommended highly."--The Historian
Although the mass totalitarian movements of Hitler's Germany and Mussolini's Italy may seem like historical aberrations, fascism could nevertheless make a comeback, albeit in different forms, predicts eminent historian Laqueur in this lucid, extremely useful survey. The countries of postcommunist eastern Europe, he believes, are a fertile ground for fascist political parties. He thinks that maniacal Russian ultranationalist Vladimir Zhirinovsky is "highly vulnerable" but cautions that anarchic conditions in the former Soviet Union favor a resurgence of extremist movements. "Clerical fascism," combining radical, militant Islamic fundamentalism with dictatorial government, widespread use of terror and anti-Western propaganda, as in Iran and Algeria, is "a colossus on feet of clay," declares Laqueur, yet he warns that it could cause havoc for years to come. He also astutely analyzes the postwar neofascist groups of France, Britain, Italy and Austria, which he describes as marked by irrational fear of immigrants, anti-Semitism, Holocaust denial and, often, belief in a world conspiracy against a master race. (Apr.)
"One of Mr. Laqueur's distinguishing characteristics as a historian
is his readability, and this volume is no exception."--The
Washington Times
"A wide-ranging study of the many faces of fascism, by one of
America's foremost historians....The book is a welcome
addition."--Kirkus Reviews
"Among the last of a remarkable generation of German Jewish
intellectuals, Walter Laqueur has seen and survived much of this
century's agitated history. He has also written cogently, even
presciently, about it for more than 40 years."--The New York
Times Book Review
"Aware of how widespread the misuse of the term 'fascism' is, the
eminent historian Walter Laqueur has surveyed the European scene,
both historically and as it exists today....Today there are many
'fascisms, ' as Mr. Laqueur points out--neo-fascists, skinheads,
right-wing extremists, radical nationalist and populist movements,
clerical fasciasm, radical Islam--all distinguishable from the
historical fascism of Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler....One of
Mr. Laqueur's distinguishing characteristics as a historian is his
readability, and this volume is no exception."--The Washington
Times
"A concise and eminently readable study....Undoubtedly, Laqueur's
most provocative contention is that there is a parallel between
fascism and clerical fundamentalism....In Laqueur's insightful
refracting of the past through the present, he...reminds us that we
ignore history at our peril."--The Philadelphia
Inquirer
"A penetrating study."--Booklist (starred review)
"What Laqueur does make very clear is that the crushing of
'historical fascism' in 1945 by no means removed the threat of
antidemocratic, racist, xenophobic radicalism. Its ugly presence
remains, often building on ancient foundations."--Library
Journal
"Fascism is comprehensive, clear and contemporary. Walter
Lazueur's book remeinds all of us...that the ugly weed of fascism
is one that can take root where least expected."--Trenton
Times
"A comprehensive and stimulating introduction to an important
contemporary political phenomenon."--Political Science
Quarterly
"[Laqueur] has been one of the most respected scholars of fascism
for more than a generation....He is unquestionably well-equipped to
write this wide ranging book....Laqueur has written to provoke
thought and to highlight the next major wave of fascism that will
not exactly mirror the content and form of earlier varieties. As
such, it is a book that can be recommended highly."--The
Historian
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