Powerful ideas from top nonfiction
Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.
Get started
Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
Listen to the Intro
Fascism summary
Madeleine Albright
A Warning
26 mins
Brief summary
"Fascism" by Madeleine Albright is a compelling analysis of the rise of fascist regimes and their impact. Exploring past events, it offers insights into current political trends and warns against complacency in the face of growing authoritarianism.
Table of Contents
Fascism
Summary of 9 key ideas
Audio & text in the Blinkist app
Key idea 1 of 9
Fascism is not a political ideology but rather an approach to seizing and holding power.
“Fascism.” The word gets thrown around a lot. In this online forum, you’ll hear it applied to police officers; in that newspaper column, it’s used to describe feminists. Elsewhere, the people referred to might be vegans or bureaucrats.
So what does the word really mean? What is a “fascist”?
Fascism is ideologically vague and can involve the politics of the right and the left.
In 1920s Italy, an early hotbed of fascism, there were fascists on the left arguing for dictatorial rule in the interests of the working class, and fascists on the right who argued for an authoritarian government in which state and companies work closely together.
In Germany, the National Socialists, or Nazis, combined promises of higher pensions and better education with their anti-Semitic propaganda.
Today, governments exhibiting fascist tendencies range across the ideological spectrum, from socialism in Venezuela to conservative nationalism in Hungary.
So what a fascist is isn’t the most revealing question. It’s far more informative to ask which characteristics fascism displays.
Fascism draws strength from an upset or angry public – whether that anger results from a lost war or lost territory, a loss of national pride or a loss of jobs, or any combination of these factors. The most successful fascist leaders have a charisma that enables them to connect emotionally with the crowd, converting public anger into a sense of public solidarity and purpose.
Once in power, fascists consolidate authority by controlling information. Hitler’s regime ruthlessly propagandized – Mein Kampf, Hitler’s own book, was studied like the Bible, while radio addresses enabled the Führer to broadcast his hate-fuelled oratory to 80 million people at once. Today, authoritarian governments such as Russia and Turkey spread disinformation online and seek to quash media outlets that criticize them.
A fascist normally claims to act and speak on behalf of a whole nation, or an entire group, and draws a dividing line between that group and outsiders, such as the Jews in Nazi Germany or the class traitors in Soviet Russia.
Finally, fascist leaders expect the crowd to back them up. Unlike other tyrants, they are not wary of the population and don’t try to calm the crowd; rather, they strive to stir it up.
Next, let’s take a look at how fascists come to power.
Want more?
Read or listen to the key ideas
from 7,500+ titles
Read or listen to the key ideas
from 7,500+ titles
Key ideas in Fascism
More knowledge in less time
Read or listen
Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
Find your next read
Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
Shortcasts New
We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.
What is Fascism about?
Fascism (2018) examines fascism, both as a historical phenomenon and a present-day threat. It explores the factors that lead to fascist governments as well as the common threads connecting them, while also cautioning citizens against complacency. Even today, there are many reasons to fear for the health of democracy.
Fascism Review
Fascism (2018) by Madeleine Albright explores the rise of fascism throughout history and how it continues to impact our world today. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- Offers a comprehensive analysis of the origins, characteristics, and consequences of fascism, providing a deeper understanding of this dangerous ideology.
- Provides insightful perspectives through real-life examples and personal experiences, making the topic engaging and relatable.
- Raises important questions about the fragility of democracy, urging readers to reflect on our present political climate and the risks we face.
Best quote from Fascism
A fascist who launches his career by being voted into office will have a claim to legitimacy that others do not.
—Madeleine Albright
Who should read Fascism?
- History buffs curious about the origins of fascism
- Citizens concerned about the state of political debate and government in America
- Defenders of democracy
Categories with Fascism
Book summaries like Fascism
People ❤️ Blinkist
Sven O.
It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.
Thi Viet Quynh N.
Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.
Jonathan A.
Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.
Renee D.
Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.
People also liked these summaries
4.7 Stars
Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
37 Million
Downloads on all platforms
10+ years
Experience igniting personal growth
Fascism FAQs
What is the main message of Fascism?
The main message of Fascism explores the rise and dangers of authoritarianism and offers insights into how we can safeguard democracy.
How long does it take to read Fascism?
The reading time for Fascism varies depending on the reader's speed, but it typically takes several hours. However, the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Fascism a good book? Is it worth reading?
Fascism is a thought-provoking and insightful book that provides valuable historical context and lessons for understanding the dangers of authoritarianism. It is definitely worth reading.
Who is the author of Fascism?
The author of Fascism is Madeleine Albright.
What to read after Fascism?
If you're wondering what to read next after Fascism, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Populism by Cas Mudde and Cristóbal Rovira Kaltwasser
- The Big Lie by Dinesh D’Souza
- Prequel by Rachel Maddow
- Anarchism by Colin Ward
- The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels
- The Republic by Plato
- How Democracies Die by Steven Levitsky
- The Origins of Totalitarianism by Hannah Arendt
- Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
- The Panama Papers by Bastian Obermayer & Frederik Obermaier