Fascism (book)
Encyclopedia
Fascism is a 1995 book edited by Roger Griffin
. It is a reader
, in the Oxford Readers series, which assembles the writings of various author
s on the topic of fascism
and the far-right. It serves as a seminal English-language source book to introduce readers to pre-fascist anti-liberalism
, interwar fascism
in Italy and Germany, as well as associated international variants of fascism from Argentina to Japan.
The book attempts a comprehensive survey of the far-right throughout the 20th century, including topics as diverse as radical ecologism, neo-paganism, ultra-nationalism
, and fanatical racism
. This wide field of authors includes an eclectic mix of philosophers, politicians, poets, agitators, and social critics, ranging from the fairly benign pessimistic poet-scholars of Weimar Germany (such as Stefan George
, Ernst Juenger, and Martin Heidegger
) to the terrifying vitriol of genocidal racists such as Heinrich Himmler
and American white supremacist, William Pierce
.
The book principally examines interwar Italian Fascism
and German National Socialism, with political and historiographical analysis by contemporary and post-war liberals, Marxists, and conservatives. Students of 20th century intellectual history and historiography
should enjoy comparing and analyzing the exceptionally eclectic diversity of fascist and far-right writers, whilst joining the continual debate concerning the definition of fascism, the cause of its interwar and marginal continued popularity, as well as the historical assessment of its consequences and contemporary relevance. The editor compiles a lengthy list of diverse authors, whilst making sure to interject with comments of disgust and dismay concerning the most egregious, while expressing grudging admiration for the most erudite and sophisticated. While this source book cannot be expected to offer a comprehensive analysis or presentation of any particular author or intellectual tradition, it adequately serves its stated purpose of informing English-language readers of the multifaceted international permutations of 20th century fascism
and the far right
.
It was published by Oxford University Press
in 1995 as a 410-page paperback (ISBN 0-19-289249-5).
Roger Griffin
Roger D. Griffin is a British academic political theorist at Oxford Brookes University, England. His recent efforts have focused on a definition and examination of fascism...
. It is a reader
Anthology
An anthology is a collection of literary works chosen by the compiler. It may be a collection of poems, short stories, plays, songs, or excerpts...
, in the Oxford Readers series, which assembles the writings of various author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
s on the topic of fascism
Fascism
Fascism is a radical authoritarian nationalist political ideology. Fascists seek to rejuvenate their nation based on commitment to the national community as an organic entity, in which individuals are bound together in national identity by suprapersonal connections of ancestry, culture, and blood...
and the far-right. It serves as a seminal English-language source book to introduce readers to pre-fascist anti-liberalism
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
, interwar fascism
Fascism
Fascism is a radical authoritarian nationalist political ideology. Fascists seek to rejuvenate their nation based on commitment to the national community as an organic entity, in which individuals are bound together in national identity by suprapersonal connections of ancestry, culture, and blood...
in Italy and Germany, as well as associated international variants of fascism from Argentina to Japan.
The book attempts a comprehensive survey of the far-right throughout the 20th century, including topics as diverse as radical ecologism, neo-paganism, ultra-nationalism
Nationalism
Nationalism is a political ideology that involves a strong identification of a group of individuals with a political entity defined in national terms, i.e. a nation. In the 'modernist' image of the nation, it is nationalism that creates national identity. There are various definitions for what...
, and fanatical racism
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
. This wide field of authors includes an eclectic mix of philosophers, politicians, poets, agitators, and social critics, ranging from the fairly benign pessimistic poet-scholars of Weimar Germany (such as Stefan George
Stefan George
Stefan Anton George was a German poet, editor, and translator.-Biography:George was born in Bingen in Germany in 1868. He spent time in Paris, where he was among the writers and artists who attended the Tuesday soireés held by the poet Stéphane Mallarmé. He began to publish poetry in the 1890s,...
, Ernst Juenger, and Martin Heidegger
Martin Heidegger
Martin Heidegger was a German philosopher known for his existential and phenomenological explorations of the "question of Being."...
) to the terrifying vitriol of genocidal racists such as Heinrich Himmler
Heinrich Himmler
Heinrich Luitpold Himmler was Reichsführer of the SS, a military commander, and a leading member of the Nazi Party. As Chief of the German Police and the Minister of the Interior from 1943, Himmler oversaw all internal and external police and security forces, including the Gestapo...
and American white supremacist, William Pierce
William Luther Pierce
William Luther Pierce III was the leader of the white separatist National Alliance organization, and one of the most important ideologists of the white nationalist movement. Pierce originally worked as an assistant professor of physics at Oregon State University, before he became involved in...
.
The book principally examines interwar Italian Fascism
Italian Fascism
Italian Fascism also known as Fascism with a capital "F" refers to the original fascist ideology in Italy. This ideology is associated with the National Fascist Party which under Benito Mussolini ruled the Kingdom of Italy from 1922 until 1943, the Republican Fascist Party which ruled the Italian...
and German National Socialism, with political and historiographical analysis by contemporary and post-war liberals, Marxists, and conservatives. Students of 20th century intellectual history and historiography
Historiography
Historiography refers either to the study of the history and methodology of history as a discipline, or to a body of historical work on a specialized topic...
should enjoy comparing and analyzing the exceptionally eclectic diversity of fascist and far-right writers, whilst joining the continual debate concerning the definition of fascism, the cause of its interwar and marginal continued popularity, as well as the historical assessment of its consequences and contemporary relevance. The editor compiles a lengthy list of diverse authors, whilst making sure to interject with comments of disgust and dismay concerning the most egregious, while expressing grudging admiration for the most erudite and sophisticated. While this source book cannot be expected to offer a comprehensive analysis or presentation of any particular author or intellectual tradition, it adequately serves its stated purpose of informing English-language readers of the multifaceted international permutations of 20th century fascism
Fascism
Fascism is a radical authoritarian nationalist political ideology. Fascists seek to rejuvenate their nation based on commitment to the national community as an organic entity, in which individuals are bound together in national identity by suprapersonal connections of ancestry, culture, and blood...
and the far right
Far right
Far-right, extreme right, hard right, radical right, and ultra-right are terms used to discuss the qualitative or quantitative position a group or person occupies within right-wing politics. Far-right politics may involve anti-immigration and anti-integration stances towards groups that are...
.
It was published by Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
in 1995 as a 410-page paperback (ISBN 0-19-289249-5).
External links
- Bed Time Book of Famous Beasts, a review by Vasiili E. Molodiakov in The Scorpion.