"Fascism is notoriously hard to define. Kevin Passmore unravels the paradoxes of one of the most important phenomena of the modern world - tracing its origins in the intellectual, political, and social crises of the late nineteenth century, fascist movements and regimes in Italy and Germany, and the fortunes of 'failed' fascist movements in Eastern Europe, Spain, and the Americas. He shows how important racist nationalism was to fascism, examines its appeal to women and men, workers and capitalists, and concludes with a look at the recent revival of the extreme right in Europe."--Jacket.

Includes maps of: Romania; Italy.

Scenes from the history of fascism -- 'A and not A': what is fascism? -- Fascism before fascism? -- Italy: 'making history with the fist' -- Germany: the racial state -- Fascisms and conservatisms in the early 20th century -- Phoenix from the ashes? -- Fascism, nation, and race -- Fascism and gender -- Fascism and class -- Fascism and us.