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A personal and urgent examination of Fascism in the twentieth century and how its legacy shapes today’s world, written by one of America’s most admired public servants, the first woman to serve as U.S. secretary of state A Fascist, observes Madeleine Albright, “is someone who claims to speak for a whole nation or group, is utterly unconcerned with the rights of others, and is willing to use violence and whatever other means are necessary to achieve the goals he or she might have.” The twentieth century was defined by the clash between democracy and Fascism, a struggle that created uncertainty about the survival of human freedom and left millions dead. Given the horrors of that experience, one might expect the world to reject the spiritual successors to Hitler and Mussolini should they arise in our era. In Fascism: A Warning, Madeleine Albright draws on her experiences as a child in war-torn Europe and her distinguished career as a diplomat to question that assumption. Fascism, as she shows, not only endured through the twentieth century but now presents a more virulent threat to peace and justice than at any time since the end of World War II. The momentum toward democracy that swept the world when the Berlin Wall fell has gone into reverse. The United States, which historically championed the free world, is led by a president who exacerbates division and heaps scorn on democratic institutions. In many countries, economic, technological, and cultural factors are weakening the political center and empowering the extremes of right and left. Contemporary leaders such as Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un are employing many of the tactics used by Fascists in the 1920s and 30s. Fascism: A Warning is a book for our times that is relevant to all times. Written by someone who has not only studied history but helped to shape it, this call to arms teaches us the lessons we must understand and the questions we must answer if we are to save ourselves from repeating the tragic errors of the past.
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0Not too long ago I met a young woman from Istanbul who was visiting the United States. I talked with her about what it was like as a young person living in Turkey. I asked for her thoughts on Erdogan, democracy, and what her outlook was on the future of her country. Given her carefree and cheerful personality, I expected her to be hopeful. I was shocked to hear that my new friend had lost faith in democracy and didn't truly believe in it. To her, democracy was meaningless; strong men will always find a way to attain and keep power.
I was heartbroken to hear every word she told me. I expected my friend to share feelings of hope and optimism. Instead, I heard somber acceptance and defeat. After reading this book, I am less shocked and more empathetic towards my friend. As alarmist as it sounds, I can see how hope and optimism might be hard to come by in an era of rising fascism. As someone so accustomed to liberty, I realized that I had begun to take the democracy I live in for granted. I had no response.
Any history major knows this, but after reading Fascism I can personally verify for the 100th time that history does indeed repeat itself. However, with each iteration of history we become better equipped to deal with the worst that may come. To any American in particular who considers themselves to be a part of "the resistance" this book is required reading. Without the understanding of how fascist movements grow and spread we become more vulnerable to the people who do. Trump, Erdogan, Putin, Assad, and many others know the playbook well and have learned to exploit it. We can’t take this beautiful thing we have for granted. Our democratic institutions have to be fought for. A democracy requires a belief in humanity and our mutual commitments to one another.
If there's anything I could have said to my Turkish friend, I would have said what Charlie Chaplin did in The Great Dictator's closing scene: "We have the love of humanity in our hearts. The hate of men will pass, and dictators die, and the power they took from the people will return to the people. . . . Liberty will never perish."
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