Description
Book SynopsisThere is no better book on fascism's complex and vexed relationship with truth.Jason Stanley, author of How Fascism Works: The Politics of Us and Them In this short companion to his bookFrom Fascism to Populism in History,world-renowned historian Federico Finchelstein explains why fascists regarded simple and often hateful lies as truth, and why so many of their followers believed the falsehoods. Throughout the history of the twentieth century, many supporters of fascist ideologies regarded political lies as truth incarnated in their leader. From Hitler to Mussolini, fascist leaders capitalized on lies as the base of their power and popular sovereignty. This history continues in the present, when lies again seem to increasingly replace empirical truth. Now that actual news is presented as fake news and false news becomes government policy,A Brief History of Fascist Liesurges us to remember that the current talk of post-truth has a long political and intellectual lineage that we can
Trade Review“Federico Finchelstein, who is one of the world’s leading experts on both fascism and populism, is essential reading for the times in which we live.” * Times Literary Supplement *
"A lucid examination of how fascism does not just embrace lies, but integrates them into a distinctive, irrational structure of ‘truth’ that serves its political ends. Finchelstein’s key arguments are immensely valuable to our understanding of contemporary politics." * London School of Economics Review *
“Finchelstein leaves us with the importance of understanding mythic nationalist ideologies, and not simply the behavior of leaders who mobilize myths.” * Los Angeles Review of Books *
“Neatly summarizes. . . a principal goal of fascism is ‘to leave reason behind and return to prejudice.’” * Salon.com *
Table of ContentsIntroduction
1. On Fascist Lies
2. Truth and Mythology in the History of Fascism
3. Fascism Incarnate
4. Enemies of the Truth?
5. Truth and Power
6. Revelations
7. The Fascist Unconscious
8. Fascism against Psychoanalysis
9. Democracy and Dictatorship
10. The Forces of Destruction
Epilogue: The Populist War against History
Acknowledgments
Notes
Index
