A History of Fascism, 1914-1945 / Edition 1

by Stanley G. Payne

Overview

"A History of Fascism is an invaluable sourcebook, offering a rare combination of detailed information and thoughtful analysis. It is a masterpiece of comparative history, for the comparisons enhance our understanding of each part of the whole. The term 'fascist, ' used so freely these days as a pejorative epithet that has nearly lost its meaning, is precisely defined, carefully applied and skillfully explained. The analysis effectively restores the dimension of evil."--Susan Zuccotti, The Nation

"A magisterial, wholly accessible, engaging study. . . . Payne defines fascism as a form of ultranationalism espousing a myth of national rebirth and marked by extreme elitism, mobilization of the masses, exaltation of hierarchy and subordination, oppression of women and an embrace of violence and war as virtues."--Publishers Weekly

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780299148744
Publisher:	University of Wisconsin Press
Publication date:	07/15/1996
Edition description:	1
Pages:	632
Sales rank:	370,022
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.50(d)

About the Author

Stanley G. Payne is the Hilldale–Jaume Vicens Vives Professor of History at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. His many books include The Franco Regime: 1936–1975; Fascism: Comparison and Definition; and Spain's First Democracy: The Second Republic, 1931–1936, all published by the University of Wisconsin Press.

Table of Contents

Fascism - A Working Definition Part 1: History: The Cultural Transformation of the Fin de Siecle Radical and Authoritarian Nationalism in Late 19th-century Europe The Impact of World War I The Rise of Italian Fascism, 1919-29 The Growth of Nonfascist Authoritarianism in Southern and Eastern Europe, 1919-29 German National Socialism The Transformation of Italian Fascism, 1929-39 Four Major Variants of Fascism The Minor Movements Fascism outside Europe? World War II - Climax and Destruction of Fascism Part 2: Interpretation: Interpretations of Fascism Generic Fascism Fascism and Modernization Elements of a Retrodictive Theory of Fascism Epilogue - Neofascism - A Fascism in our Future?

Editorial Reviews

Likely to be the definitive study of its subject for a considerable time.”—New York Times Book Review

From the Publisher

Focusing mostly on Italy and Germany but also considering Spain, Romania, Japan, and movements in other countries, Payne (history, U. of Wisconsin) describes fascism as revolutionary ultranationalism based on national rebirth, extreme elitism, mass mobilization, and the promotion of violence and military virtues. He also suggests that the early Russian communists borrowed many techniques from fascism, and that though we are fairly well inoculated against fascism itself, the values it represents could still emerge in new forms. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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