Robert O. Paxton is Mellon Professor Emeritus of the Social Sciences at Columbia University. His other books include Vichy France, Parades and Politics at Vichy, Europe in the Twentieth Century, and French Peasant Fascism. He lives in New York City.
"So fair, so thorough and, in the end, so convincing, it may well
become the most authoritative . . . study of the subject. . . . A
splendid book." "-The New York Times Book Review"
"Useful and timely. . . . Mussolini and Hitler were the
prototypical fascist leaders, and Paxton chronicles their rise to
power--and their global influence and ultimate fall--with a
brilliant economy." -"San Francisco Chronicle"
"A deeply intelligent and very readable book. . . . Historical
analysis at its best." -"The Economist
""[A] helpful contribution, thoughtfully mapping out the descent of
a civilized people -- first the Italians, then the Germans -- into
a primal state (and state of being) ruled by mythology, symbol and
emotion. . . . Serves as a reminder of our power and
responsibility." -"The Washington Post Book World"
"Until now there has been no satisfying account of fascism that
includes a convincing diagnostic kit for identifying its symptoms.
. . . Robert Paxton steps in to restore sanity, with his view that
fascism is not what was believed but what was done." -"Los Angeles
Times Book Review"
Paxton (Mellon Professor Emeritus of the Social Sciences, Columbia Univ.; Vichy France) dissects a historical phenomenon that unleashed the deadliest epoch in world history. It is well known that fascism consumed the passions of Germany and Italy, but Paxton reminds readers that the fascist impulse found expression throughout the globe and still poses a threat to international stability. His goal is to find generic characteristics that shape the dynamics of fascism-not the product of a well-defined ideology, Paxton emphasizes, but rather a visceral response to national crises that defy conventional solutions. Paxton stresses that all fascist movements sanctify violence and view life as a Darwinian struggle; beleaguered constituencies turn toward a leader who revitalizes nationalistic sentiments by demonizing perceived internal and external enemies. The culmination of a lifetime's study, this work is based on a thorough analysis of just about every secondary work on fascism and includes a superb bibliographic essay that will guide students and historians for many years to come. While there are countless studies on fascism, readers will be hard pressed to find anything more in-depth from a scholar with Paxton's credentials. Recommended for all academic libraries and for public libraries with strong political science collections.-Jim Doyle, Marconi P.L., GA Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
"So fair, so thorough and, in the end, so convincing, it may well
become the most authoritative . . . study of the subject. . . . A
splendid book." "-The New York Times Book Review"
"Useful and timely. . . . Mussolini and Hitler were the
prototypical fascist leaders, and Paxton chronicles their rise to
power--and their global influence and ultimate fall--with a
brilliant economy." -"San Francisco Chronicle"
"A deeply intelligent and very readable book. . . . Historical
analysis at its best." -"The Economist
""[A] helpful contribution, thoughtfully mapping out the descent of
a civilized people -- first the Italians, then the Germans -- into
a primal state (and state of being) ruled by mythology, symbol and
emotion. . . . Serves as a reminder of our power and
responsibility." -"The Washington Post Book World"
"Until now there has been no satisfying account of fascism that
includes a convincing diagnostic kit for identifying its symptoms.
. . . Robert Paxton steps in to restore sanity, with his view that
fascism is not what was believed but what was done." -"Los Angeles
Times Book Review"
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