A History of Fascism, 1914-1945 [Hardcover]

Stanley G. Payne (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1995

“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

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In a magisterial, wholly accessible, engaging study, University of Wisconsin history professor 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. While focusing on Mussolini's dictatorship and Hitler's Nazi regime, he also scrutinizes significant fascist movements, groups and regimes that flourished in Austria, Hungary, Romania, Yugoslavia, Spain, France, Poland, Latvia and elsewhere. Payne (The Franco Regime) argues compellingly that Lenin's new political model of communist totalitarianism, based on one-party dictatorship and systematic mass violence, initiated most of the practices and institutions adopted or emulated by fascist states. He asserts that the Western world has been insulated from fascism since 1945, but he is alarmed at the growth of neo-fascist and radical-right groups in Russia, Serbia and Romania. This is an invaluable, dispassionate survey.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

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

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 592 pages
• Publisher: University of Wisconsin Press; 1 edition (January 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 029914870X
• ISBN-13: 978-0299148706
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.4 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,710,126 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent history., April 27, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: A History of Fascism, 1914-1945 (Paperback)

(The numerical rating above is a default setting of
Amazon's. This reviewer does not employ numerical
ratings.)

"Fascism" has been a term so abused by careless
application as to render it meaningless.

Payne restores the term's usefulness first by
carefully defining the phenomenon, then tracing its
roots in the disrupted and blood-soaked soil of
World War I. By delineating the distinctions
between the various "authoritarian nationalisms" he
is able to develop a typological description that
illuminates the distinctive characteristics of
fascism and shows it to be a phenomenon of a
particular time and space, growing out of specific
social, political, and economic preconditions.

The author examines the similarities and differences
of the various national movements, with an especially
valuable analysis of the rise of Nazism; discusses
the rise of variants in other countries such as
Spain and Romania, and assesses the minor movements
in Scandanavia and elsewhere.

Considering Neofascism and the authoritarian
nationalisms of today, Payne reassuringly dismisses
any likelihood of resurgence in the West but is
concerned by the potential of trouble from the East,
especially when fueled by religious fundamentalism.
Admirably readable; highly recommended.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent overview of Fascism, January 19, 2008

By 

Lehigh History Student (Bethlehem, PA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A History of Fascism, 1914-1945 (Paperback)

Stanley Payne provides one of the most thorough and accurate overviews of Fascism in this book. The biggest problem with much of the fascist literature is that it combines fascism and Nazism into one category when in fact they are quite different. Payne grasps these nuances quite well and shows the nature and development of each. He tracks not only the rise of fascism in Italy but across Europe and the world. It looks at the failed movements in Scandinavia and Eastern Europe and the budding movements of the Middle East and the crushing defeats of fascism in Asia. The book is well written and thoroughly covered with an excellent bibliography for further study. All and all a great overview of fascism and one not to be missed.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Detailed explanation of Fascism, March 18, 2006

By 

L. Greaves (Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A History of Fascism, 1914-1945 (Paperback)

I thought this was a detailed account of the different forms of fascism. It goes beyond comparing Hitler and Mussolini, and shows the connections that existed between all of the fascist parties in Europe and beyond. I highly reccommend this book.