• Succinct history of fascism, from its pre-First World War origins to the contemporary resurgence of the far right
• Draws on recent research on fascism, making sense of the highly complicated and various forms and ideas of fascism
• Coverage of eastern as well as western Europe
• Anchors the analysis in narrative history, making the complex ideas manageable

New to this Edition:

• Updated section on the importance of crowd psychology in fascism
• Includes a new chapter on fascism and culture
• Includes new findings on transnational research
• Traces the progress of the far right since 2002
• Updated further reading section

   
What is fascism? Is it revolutionary? Or is it reactionary? Can it be both? 

Fascism is notoriously hard to define. How do we make sense of an ideology that appeals to streetfighters and intellectuals alike? That is overtly macho in style, yet attracts many women? That calls for a return to tradition while maintaining a fascination with technology? And that preaches violence in the name of an ordered society?

In the new edition of this Very Short Introduction, Kevin Passmore brilliantly unravels the paradoxes of one of the most important phenomena in the modern world—tracing its origins in the intellectual, political, and social crises of the late nineteenth century, the rise of fascism following World War I, including fascist regimes in Italy and Germany, and the fortunes of 'failed' fascist movements in Eastern Europe, Spain, and the Americas. He also considers fascism in culture, the new interest in transnational research, and the progress of the far right since 2002.