Communism Fascism And Democracy

Part Two, Fascism, presents central passages from notable Italian and German fascists not readily accessible elsewhere. In this third edition, Part Two is reorganized to exhibit more clearly the relation between the early theoretical defenses of irrationalism and nationalism and the manifestation of these themes in the politics of fascist Italy and Germany.

The authoritarian and totalitarian systems of individual countries have long been studied independently of each other. The separation of Eastern and Western Europe was used as a parameter by historians. This also applies to the analysis of Communism and Mussolini's Fascism. Only in recent years has the comparative perspective in the regional, chronological and system-oriented sense been applied, thus allowing many phenomena to be correctly understood and assessed. Central and Eastern Europe is tied to Western and Southern Europe by the experience of dictatorship and the ongoing need to evaluate and come to terms with these dictatorships. In the present anthology Mussolini's Fascism, National Socialism and Communism are examined comparatively. Similarities, connections and mutual influences in these dictatorships are sought. Finally, the transition from dictatorship to democracy is examined. With this collection of essays the editors intend to give impulse for inter-European comparative research on dictatorships and democracy.

Why did democratization suffer reversal during the interwar years, while fascism and authoritarianism spread across many European countries?