Fascism Has an American History, Too

Fascism Has an American History, Too Olivier Burtin (bio) The specter of fascism is once again haunting the United States. After victory in 2016 presidential election a candidate who showed clear affinities with authoritarian leaders abroad and white supremacists at home, many Americans realized that their country was not as immune to such forces they had thought. On night election, “fascism” most searched word on Merriam-Webster online dictionary.1 While term always been popular throwaway epithet condemn one’s political opponents, publication few monographs topic aftermath marked its return important scholarly category own right. In Fascism: A Warning (2018), former Secretary State Madeleine Albright cautioned her readers new president anti-democratic “instincts” leading “herd” other like-minded rulers “in Fascist direction.”2 same year, philosopher Jason Stanley dissected various elements fascist politics, from use mythical past vocabulary victimhood, call for reject this type right-wing nationalism.3 It coincidence both authors were children Central European émigrés fled States 1930s 1940s. Almost three-quarters century later, feared history might repeat itself. Not everyone agreed right express these anxieties, however. right, voices dismissed language yet another attempt by left prevent healthy exchange ideas marking opponents beyond pale. Perhaps more surprisingly, also received mixed reviews liberal progressive circles. Historian Samuel Moyn argued, instance, concept hid than it revealed: only did obscure profoundly roots 45th Presidency, but “[spared] ourselves trouble analyzing what really about it” focusing common distant past.4 David Bell joined him discarding label, pointing differences between present situation well fact “an alien, foreign ideology” whereas Donald Trump [End Page 494] very phenomenon.5 Other scholars have raised concern using could serve delegitimize participatory politics whole give surveillance powers “security state.”6 rejecting “fascism,” critics seemed share assumption phenomenon never taken America. Here I demonstrate opposite. This essay reaches contemporary order assess whether form behavior alien U.S. we often assume be. Bringing together recent works variety subfields, argue relative absence historiographical debates after mid-twentieth tells us less historical record does blinders hinder historians’ vision. Though invented interwar Europe, kind describes be found early mid-nineteenth paving way collapse Reconstruction rise Jim Crow, groups continued play active role throughout much twentieth century. Scholars failed take seriously number reasons. first has do long debate populist tradition, which defined large extent opposition 1960s onwards. second related strength exceptionalism, made historians reluctant compare country’s others, importantly import analytical tools initially developed (especially when those associated darker episodes past). Finally, Second...