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Fascism as a political ideology is a product of the modern age. It is an ideology which has been identified with totalitarianism, state terror, social engineering, fanaticism, orchestrated violence, and blind obedience. Yet once again fascism is in the ascendant, suggesting that it is time for us to renew our understanding of its ideas, ideals, and inhumanities. What is fascism? Why does it still hold such strong appeal? Why does it create charismatic and dangerous movements? To what may these lead? This Reader offers a wide selection of texts written by fascist thinkers and propagandists both inside and outside Europe, before and after the Second World War. There are extracts on fascism in Italy and Germany, on the abortive pre-1945 fascisms, on reactions to fascism, and on post-war and contemporary fascism. With contributions from writers as diverse as Benito Mussolini and Primo Levi, Joseph Goebbels and George Orwell, this Reader provides a fascinating insight into the depths and breadths of fascism, prompting the student and general reader alike to give greater consideration to this expanding political force.
About the Author
Roger Griffin is the author of several studies of fascism, including The Nature of Fascism (1991, 1993), and contributor to Contemporary Political Ideologies (1993). He is Principal Lecturer in the Department of History at Oxford Brookes University.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
FIRE IN THE MINDS OF MEN !!!!!
An astounding piece of work, Roger Griffin's political and social insight into Fascism is Godly. Although the book is 90% full of political and philosophical contributions from writers around the world, R. Griffin's introductions and prefaces are very insightful and intelligent evaluations of the particular documents at hand. Pure Genius - Roger Griffin IS THE Premier Theorist of Fascism that I have ever read! One big interesting point is the numerous philosophical ideologies that supported and built the framework of Fascism; more mental and intellectual work than I think most people would understand and a lot more went into this political ideology than communism and democratic-republicanism.
In the past 35 years, there has been a lot of crap written on POLITICAL HISTORY, etc.... I have never seen so much human waste in my life. Writers today do not have a clue as to what communism, fascism or even demorcatic-republicanism is. There is a bunch of idiots out there. I believe it is drugs and the fact that professors nowadays HAVE to write literature in their line of profession to keep their jobs - so they put out crap because they do not give a rat's arse about it .... but it keeps their job for them. Also, and most importantly, the US universities have many leftover Marxists (and the like... lefty liberals, etc). Marxists are morons! They have a one-dimensional view of reality and Fascism being a polymer of philosophical ideals is beyond their comprehension (Roger Griffin also implies this in this book). Some of their books are interesting. They always lead off with the key words, or catch phases, like proletariat and bourgeoisie. Then further, into writing about Fascism (or even democratic-republicanism) you can tell they get frustrated and confused in their own corner they work themselves into. That is when they jump in with the racist deal (right in the middle of everything) to divert the reader from the fact that THEY HAVE NOT A CLUE AS TO WHAT THEY ARE WRITING ABOUT. Then they pat themselves on the back because they followed through with the emotional racial (politically correct) statement and thus feel like they accomplished something and believe their own book to be something great. THIS IS ONE EXAMPLE OF WHY STUDENTS AND ADULTS ARE DISINTERESTED IN HUMANITIES IN GENERAL.
Well Roger Griffin knows what Fascism is and gives the reader a much needed understanding (in common sense, down-to-earth language) of what went on in these people's minds. Here you have writings by various people (around the Globe) of perceptions of Fascist theories and ideas, by intellectuals and the common people. Roger puts his 2 cents in but uses his statements more as footnotes as to what is going on and fills in the blanks ... and it makes this piece of work invaluable and a landmark in literary genius.
The ideological dynamics of Fascism are (finally) put here on paper as whole and complete. Roger Griffin tunes in and activates the complex and internal machinery of a very intense form of government. Fascism reminds me of the first Alien movie. It is a core idealistic "alien", a breed of highly developed thought, that can and does inject into an selected organism (a particular country of culture) and produces a super-organism (a blended species) adaptable to its environment ... ready to take over and ready to lead. In these writings, you will FEEL just how each sees the basic reality of their situations. You will read the common perceptions each has that is linked to destroying the decadence (and decay) and regenerating (BUT NOT RE-CREATING) a new organism (the Nation-State) of idealized human beings ...being reborn and maxed to their full potential. Proactive and constructive, the Fascist sees the importance of past, present, and future. He sees the need for rational and irrational aspects of human nature (all areas of humanity are considered usable and positive, even selfishness and suffering .... as well as compassion and self-sacrifice). [Unfortunately, Fascists theory and practice are usually two different things.] However, as to which country they come from the fascist mode is different and deals with situations differently but mostly towards the same goals.
To put differently, communism, is a one dimensional plane point of view, democratic-republicanism is on a two dimensional plane and Fascism is on a three dimensional plane. That is why people who write on the former two cannot understand the latter in its true essence. They actually (in all their passion and intensity) truly understood human nature. One example: As I stated earlier, people have to remember rational and irrationality are BOTH part of human nature. Both have to be nurtured. Anyway, each of these people (for the most part) sees the decadence and decay all around them and wants its death. Next, they want a rebirth into a new era and beautiful stage of development that adapts to all aspects of the human condition. The phoenix is a great visual common denominator value here. Their interests are in the past, present and future (Unlike today where Americans and Europeans are only concerned with the present). Whatever proactive approach they take to make corrections, their country's basic principles are reflected in this new synthesized role. Along with present collective action to steer down the right path and set the course ... Correctly ... towards the New Future. One interesting point is how they almost achieved (but fell short of) harmonizing the three sources of intellectual culture. Raising the indicators OF Each Individual's awareness of classical, realist and romanticist sides or personalities. To make the complete social person in an actualized Organism of the Nation-State ... using mental and physical revolution to bring about their goals and influencing all areas of social life.
I do have two problems with this book: One - The main reason being the bad coverage on National Socialism in Germany. Some of it is good, but too much was wasted on the racial aspect of NS ... and redundant. R. Griffin even admits the bad coverage because, he says, there is enough good material written on it. This is incorrect. Two - I am also surprised at the lack of pointing out the pragmatic workings of the fascist machine, which shows its somewhat progressive side.
This is the best book on Fascism. There is no better way to truly understand something unless to go to the SOURCE(S).
These three books will give you THE best insight on Fascism. No others come close to the brilliance of the material.
1) Fascism by Roger Griffin (edited by Roger Griffin)
2) Fascism A Very Short Introduction by Kevin Passmore
3) The Nature of Fascism edited by S.J. Woolf (NOT the book by R. Griffin on the same title)
In conclusion, Oxford University Press (UK) and the University of Chicago (USA) crank out some great books on political philosophy etc.
An astounding piece of work, Roger Griffin's political and social insight into Fascism is Godly. Although the book is 90% full of political and philosophical contributions from writers around the world, R. Griffin's introductions and prefaces are very insightful and intelligent evaluations of the particular documents at hand. Pure Genius - Roger Griffin IS THE Premier Theorist of Fascism that I have ever read! One big interesting point is the numerous philosophical ideologies that supported and built the framework of Fascism; more mental and intellectual work than I think most people would understand and a lot more went into this political ideology than communism and democratic-republicanism.
In the past 35 years, there has been a lot of crap written on POLITICAL HISTORY, etc.... I have never seen so much human waste in my life. Writers today do not have a clue as to what communism, fascism or even demorcatic-republicanism is. There is a bunch of idiots out there. I believe it is drugs and the fact that professors nowadays HAVE to write literature in their line of profession to keep their jobs - so they put out crap because they do not give a rat's arse about it .... but it keeps their job for them. Also, and most importantly, the US universities have many leftover Marxists (and the like... lefty liberals, etc). Marxists are morons! They have a one-dimensional view of reality and Fascism being a polymer of philosophical ideals is beyond their comprehension (Roger Griffin also implies this in this book). Some of their books are interesting. They always lead off with the key words, or catch phases, like proletariat and bourgeoisie. Then further, into writing about Fascism (or even democratic-republicanism) you can tell they get frustrated and confused in their own corner they work themselves into. That is when they jump in with the racist deal (right in the middle of everything) to divert the reader from the fact that THEY HAVE NOT A CLUE AS TO WHAT THEY ARE WRITING ABOUT. Then they pat themselves on the back because they followed through with the emotional racial (politically correct) statement and thus feel like they accomplished something and believe their own book to be something great. THIS IS ONE EXAMPLE OF WHY STUDENTS AND ADULTS ARE DISINTERESTED IN HUMANITIES IN GENERAL.
Well Roger Griffin knows what Fascism is and gives the reader a much needed understanding (in common sense, down-to-earth language) of what went on in these people's minds. Here you have writings by various people (around the Globe) of perceptions of Fascist theories and ideas, by intellectuals and the common people. Roger puts his 2 cents in but uses his statements more as footnotes as to what is going on and fills in the blanks ... and it makes this piece of work invaluable and a landmark in literary genius.
The ideological dynamics of Fascism are (finally) put here on paper as whole and complete. Roger Griffin tunes in and activates the complex and internal machinery of a very intense form of government. Fascism reminds me of the first Alien movie. It is a core idealistic "alien", a breed of highly developed thought, that can and does inject into an selected organism (a particular country of culture) and produces a super-organism (a blended species) adaptable to its environment ... ready to take over and ready to lead. In these writings, you will FEEL just how each sees the basic reality of their situations. You will read the common perceptions each has that is linked to destroying the decadence (and decay) and regenerating (BUT NOT RE-CREATING) a new organism (the Nation-State) of idealized human beings ...being reborn and maxed to their full potential. Proactive and constructive, the Fascist sees the importance of past, present, and future. He sees the need for rational and irrational aspects of human nature (all areas of humanity are considered usable and positive, even selfishness and suffering .... as well as compassion and self-sacrifice). [Unfortunately, Fascists theory and practice are usually two different things.] However, as to which country they come from the fascist mode is different and deals with situations differently but mostly towards the same goals.
To put differently, communism, is a one dimensional plane point of view, democratic-republicanism is on a two dimensional plane and Fascism is on a three dimensional plane. That is why people who write on the former two cannot understand the latter in its true essence. They actually (in all their passion and intensity) truly understood human nature. One example: As I stated earlier, people have to remember rational and irrationality are BOTH part of human nature. Both have to be nurtured. Anyway, each of these people (for the most part) sees the decadence and decay all around them and wants its death. Next, they want a rebirth into a new era and beautiful stage of development that adapts to all aspects of the human condition. The phoenix is a great visual common denominator value here. Their interests are in the past, present and future (Unlike today where Americans and Europeans are only concerned with the present). Whatever proactive approach they take to make corrections, their country's basic principles are reflected in this new synthesized role. Along with present collective action to steer down the right path and set the course ... Correctly ... towards the New Future. One interesting point is how they almost achieved (but fell short of) harmonizing the three sources of intellectual culture. Raising the indicators OF Each Individual's awareness of classical, realist and romanticist sides or personalities. To make the complete social person in an actualized Organism of the Nation-State ... using mental and physical revolution to bring about their goals and influencing all areas of social life.
I do have two problems with this book: One - The main reason being the bad coverage on National Socialism in Germany. Some of it is good, but too much was wasted on the racial aspect of NS ... and redundant. R. Griffin even admits the bad coverage because, he says, there is enough good material written on it. This is incorrect. Two - I am also surprised at the lack of pointing out the pragmatic workings of the fascist machine, which shows its somewhat progressive side.
This is the best book on Fascism. There is no better way to truly understand something unless to go to the SOURCE(S).
These three books will give you THE best insight on Fascism. No others come close to the brilliance of the material.
1) Fascism by Roger Griffin (edited by Roger Griffin)
2) Fascism A Very Short Introduction by Kevin Passmore
3) The Nature of Fascism edited by S.J. Woolf (NOT the book by R. Griffin on the same title)
In conclusion, Oxford University Press (UK) and the University of Chicago (USA) crank out some great books on political philosophy etc.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
5 reviews
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
The Most Complete Compendium Regarding Fascism
24 July 2005
Format:Paperback
Like every other Oxford Readers book in the market....ABSOLUTELY GREAT!
This book allows you to appropiate the basic concepts regarding what is Fascism, this allows you to move on to more especific books on the subject and therefore make a move to more thorough analysis on the subject.It also presents you with the main theorists that have supported fascism since the early twenties until the end of the century.
Another very interesting thing is that it also introduces you to very non orthodox fascisms, as well as to some that are not really known to the common reader. It analyses Fascisms from places such as Ireland, Estonia, Hungary, BraziL and South Africa among others.
This book allows you to appropiate the basic concepts regarding what is Fascism, this allows you to move on to more especific books on the subject and therefore make a move to more thorough analysis on the subject.It also presents you with the main theorists that have supported fascism since the early twenties until the end of the century.
Another very interesting thing is that it also introduces you to very non orthodox fascisms, as well as to some that are not really known to the common reader. It analyses Fascisms from places such as Ireland, Estonia, Hungary, BraziL and South Africa among others.
19 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Straight From The Horse's Mouth
14 July 2007
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book was both disillusioning and awe-inspiring. I will admit that I've always had a soft spot for fascism. Of course it has its flaws-as does any ideology- but I've always been instinctively drawn to the discipline, honor, idealism, cultural rejuvenation and national solidarity that is fascism. I've also grown to resent the fact that fascism is uniformly vilified as the incarnation of pure evil while the equally murderous history of communism is often downplayed or given a free pass altogether. We are constantly reminded of the horrors of the holocaust and inundated with the notion that fascism is synonymous with mass-murder, yet who today speaks of the millions (mostly Christians) liquidated by the Bolsheviks in their collectivizations? Indeed, editor Roger Griffin is guilty of this himself in this otherwise phenomenal book. With that said, I have to say that my sympathy for fascism has been somewhat lessened by this book. While I still admire certain aspects of it, and I would find it preferable to communism any day of the week, my conscience will not allow me to support the utter ruthlessness that many of the writings in this book represent.
The book is basically a massive collection of fascist writings from across the spectrum. The sections are broken down nicely by country and time period, giving the reader a comprehensive and chronological look at the evolution of fascism through the words of the fascists themselves. Italy and Germany obviously receive the bulk of attention, but also covered are smaller and lesser-known fascist movements throughout the world. Whether or not National Socialism is a form of fascism is actually still a topic of debate and this is briefly discussed. Griffin concludes that except for a few significant differences, NS does fall into the category of fascism. As editor, Griffin's contributions are essentially limited to the writing of introductions to each section and even briefer intros to each individual writing. He is clearly well versed in the subject matter but nevertheless seems incapable of writing about it in an objective manner. He makes no secret of his contempt for fascism, and while this does not discredit the book, I was expecting a bit more objectivity from an `Oxford Reader.' That being said, I have to give him credit for amassing this anthology, many of which undoubtedly being previously unavailable in English.
Contrary to popular belief, fascism is an highly intellectual movement, not a mere collection of racist thugs acting out violently. They may be crude and hateful at times, but after reading some of these works, there is no denying that many of the authors were brilliant in their own right, and that much thought and logic went into their worldviews (see Mario Machado's review for an excellent description). I'd just like to point out that fascism does not exist in a vacuum. There were many external factors that affected its development- i.e. the spread of communism- and it is important to keep this in mind when studying it objectively. I would also argue against the popular notion that the current leaders of the US are fascist. They might have adopted certain aspects of fascist movements, but their motives are far different. So if you want to truly understand what fascism is, I don't think you could find a more exhaustive source than this book. This is fascism straight from the horse's mouth.
The book is basically a massive collection of fascist writings from across the spectrum. The sections are broken down nicely by country and time period, giving the reader a comprehensive and chronological look at the evolution of fascism through the words of the fascists themselves. Italy and Germany obviously receive the bulk of attention, but also covered are smaller and lesser-known fascist movements throughout the world. Whether or not National Socialism is a form of fascism is actually still a topic of debate and this is briefly discussed. Griffin concludes that except for a few significant differences, NS does fall into the category of fascism. As editor, Griffin's contributions are essentially limited to the writing of introductions to each section and even briefer intros to each individual writing. He is clearly well versed in the subject matter but nevertheless seems incapable of writing about it in an objective manner. He makes no secret of his contempt for fascism, and while this does not discredit the book, I was expecting a bit more objectivity from an `Oxford Reader.' That being said, I have to give him credit for amassing this anthology, many of which undoubtedly being previously unavailable in English.
Contrary to popular belief, fascism is an highly intellectual movement, not a mere collection of racist thugs acting out violently. They may be crude and hateful at times, but after reading some of these works, there is no denying that many of the authors were brilliant in their own right, and that much thought and logic went into their worldviews (see Mario Machado's review for an excellent description). I'd just like to point out that fascism does not exist in a vacuum. There were many external factors that affected its development- i.e. the spread of communism- and it is important to keep this in mind when studying it objectively. I would also argue against the popular notion that the current leaders of the US are fascist. They might have adopted certain aspects of fascist movements, but their motives are far different. So if you want to truly understand what fascism is, I don't think you could find a more exhaustive source than this book. This is fascism straight from the horse's mouth.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
SUPERB!
19 Sep 2007
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I cannot recommend this book enough to students of history and political science. Utterly indespensible and completely fascinating from front to back. It was immediately put to use on a research paper and I will use it again and again in the future.
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