The nature of fascism (Themes in right-wing ideology and politics series)

There is probably no more debased word in the political lexicon than "fascist". Used as a term of abuse or a catch-all description of extreme Right-wing nationalism, it has lost almost all specific meaning. Roger Griffin brings a new analytic perspective to the study of fascism in an historical context that examines the origin of fascism as an ideology and a political system and identifies the particular characters that differentiate fascism from any other political structure. Griffin's depiction of fascism as "palinagenetic ultra-nationalism" that seeks rebirth of a new order from a decadent society is a striking reinterpretation of world fascist movements that seeks to enhance our understanding of an extremely complex political fact. His original approach uses evidence from political theory, philosophy, history, iconography and social theory to produce a tour-de-force of synthesis.