The word fascist has regained currency in the last decade, and is being bandied about to label one's opponent with a wide brush indicating that they are against liberty. As a result, the word has lost some of its historical importance, and its power has been diminished. Madeleine Albright, former Secretary of State and a survivor of the Holocaust, wrote Fascism to remind us of the ugliness and evil behind the word and to provide a historical perspective on its return to the political scene in the United States and abroad.
Albright defines a fascist as someone who is unconcerned with anyone's rights but their own, who claims to speak for the whole nation, and who is willing to use violence or any other means necessary to achieve their goals. Fascists sought to harness the power of the nation in an us versus them mentality, with anyone opposing fascists being labelled as unpatriotic and enemies of the nation. The 20th century saw the trend of early fascists like Mussolini and Hitler, only to be replaced after the Second World War by neo-fascists governments in South America and Africa. Ideas that should have been rejected as wrong and evil continue to thrive to this day, and are being advocated by governments and political leaders around the globe.
Albright's warning that fascism remains strong and alive in today's American society is a warning shot to us all not to drop the ball and allow the return of a murderous ideology aimed at gratifying the ego of the leader, not. as it usually implied, in saving the nation. Fans of history will appreciate this deep dive into a political trend and the dangers that it presents for us today.
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