Varieties of Fascism: Doctrines of Revolution in the Twentieth Century (Anvil Series) [Paperback]

Eugen Weber (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 089874444X | ISBN-13: 978-0898744446 | Publication Date: May 1, 1982

A general discussion of `Fascist' ideas is succeeded by short surveys of several Fascist or National Socialist movements in Europe between the World Wars, noting similarities and differences. The volume discusses the particular characteristics of recurring aspects of fascism and how they relate to the movement as a whole. The book also evaluates the success of Fascist movements in achieving their aims and the degree to which the means contributed to the desired ends.

Product Details

• Paperback: 191 pages
• Publisher: Krieger Pub Co (May 1, 1982)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 089874444X
• ISBN-13: 978-0898744446
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 4.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #386,487 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Probably the best introduction to fascism, December 18, 2006

By 

D. McClain (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Varieties of Fascism: Doctrines of Revolution in the Twentieth Century (Anvil Series) (Paperback)

Prof. Weber begins by finding the roots of fascist tendencies in the thought of Rousseau and proceeds to sift through the substrate of ideas, primarily anti-liberalism (abandonment of laissez-faire and individualism) and nationalism, that fertilized and led to the eventual flowering of fascist movements. That nationalism is collectivistic in nature is a point that is frequently overlooked, and readers will be reminded that nationalism and socialism are both products of the same assumptions. Once this is recognized, it is easy to understand why the author views fascism and communism as not antithetical but rather "fréres ennemis".

He goes on to pinpoint in a very straightforward and persuasive way the general dynamics of fascism. This discussion yields several gems too numerous to list here, including the observation that fascist ideology contains both an equalitarian [egalitarian] AND elitist element...an observation pregnant with implications that go a long way toward explaining why fascism became so immensely popular. The book concludes with a brief analysis of several better- and lesser-known fascist movements that have appeared throughout Europe, along with a list of readings pertaining to same.

This is a compact volume, but its size is deceiving. Readers will find more substance packed into these 191 pages than in most works twice as long. You won't learn everything that is important to know about fascism from this book but as a quick and concise introduction to the subject it is, for anyone with an earnest interest, indispensable.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascism as a Reaction to Economic Collapse, Political Ineptness, World War I, and Fears of Big Comunism, March 31, 2008

By 

James E. Egolf "James E. Egolf, MA" (Florida) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Varieties of Fascism: Doctrines of Revolution in the Twentieth Century (Anvil Series) (Paperback)

Four unintended results of World War I were the Great Depression, the rise of Big Communism, obviously World War II, and the rise of Fascism. Some historians argue that the rise of Big Fascism may have been the result of the the other unintended consequences. John Maynard Keynes served clear warning of the economic consequences only to be ignored and later, too late, to be proved correct and prophetic. Eugene Weber's book titled VARIETIES OF FASCISM is a surprising informative book on the emergence of Fascism. This small book was well written and very comprehensive for such a small book as a previous reviewer has noted.

Weber begins this book with ideas and trends of the second half of the 19th. century. He traced one source of Fascism to Rosseau's political thinking. Weber also comments on Euroepean economic conditions especially after 1850. Some European merchants accepted Classical Liberalism and laissez-faire economic theorizing as well some some respect for civil liberties. However, when some businessmen and merchants realized that they were being undermined by international corporations and banking institutions, they began to look for other political responces to these problems as Classical Liberalism appeared to be either a failure or too corrupt.

Weber was clear in this book that Fascism was usually a combination of socialism and nationalism. Communism which represented international socialism and class warfare did not appeal to most industrial workers. Weber cited some comments made by European workers who thought that the notions of class warfare and international socialism were ludicrous. Many industrial workers and failed businessmen saw socialism as national socialism which is a key to Weber's book.

Weber treated Fascist movements in Britain (Oswald Mosley), France (Mauras & co.) Belgium (Degrelle and the Rexists), Hungary (Szlazy and the Hungarian Arrow Cross), Germany (Hitler and the National Socialists), Italy (Musolini and the Fascists), etc. Weber was clear that each of these Fascist leaders rose to popularity and some to actual political power based on promises to reform the economic disasters of the Great Depression which in turn can be traced to World War I. Each leader demanded control over the economy but did not want to take private property. The prominent British historian, A.J.P. Taylor, has an interesing comment in his book THE ORIGINS OF WORLD WAR II that Hitler and co. stumbled on the econmics exactly as FDR did with FDR's New Deal.

Weber also made mention of the fact all Fascist leaders exhibited fears of Big Communism. In parts of Central and Eastern Europe fears of Big Communism were very real. Weber implied and Nolte states very clearly that without Big Communism there may not have been Big Fascism. Weber repeatedly mentioned that angry memories of W.W. I on part of both the "winners" and losers were long standing. Any honest historian will state that actually no one won that blood bath.

Weber made interesing comments regarding Franco and the Spanish Phlangists. Weber contended that Franco got control of the Spanish Phlangists before there could be a Fascist revolution in Spain, and Franco used the Phlangists to fight against what was seen as a Communist grab for power in Spain. Franco disbanded the Phlangists and politically harrassed them after the Spanish Leftists were defeated. Readers should note that once the Spanish Leftists were defeated, Franco obstructed Hitler's plans to invade Gilbralter which was British. Franco kept Spain neutral during World War II.

Weber could have mentioned the Bolsheviks which some historians think had Fascist tendencies. For example, Lenin, not Stalin, crushed spontaneous workers' movements early in the Russian Revolution. Borkenau and Nolte commented that both Lenin and Stalin secretly fostered anti-Semitism. If Fascism is defined as anti-Communism, the Stalin regime may have been Fascist. Stalin & co. launched the biggest purges of Communists in history, and everyone of Lenin's followers were destroyed by Stalin' purges. The only exception was Lenin's wife. Nolte makes interesting comments on this phenomenon in his book titled THE THREE FACES OF FASCISM.

Weber's VARIETIES OF FASCISM has a good section of excerpts of Fascist comments made througout Europe. The bibliography is brief but is very useful. For those who want a better understanding of Fascism which has been used too loosely in poltical parlance, Weber's book helps to correct some of the confusion. Again, this is a surprisingly good book for its size which another review has mentioned. This book is recommended.