Three Reflections on New Directions in Comparative Fascism Studies

In this article, three leading scholars of comparative fascism studies offer their thoughts and reflections on the state of the field. It seeks to stimulate debate and reflection on how to study fascism in the years to come and addresses a number of challenges facing this area of study. Aristotle Kallis focuses on the need to recognise the value of ‘associational’ perspectives, to highlight how fascism historically drew together a constellation of ideas on powerful ways that allowed a new form of politics to emerge. Roger Griffin builds on this discussion by warning that the term ‘fascism’ is in danger of becoming overused, especially to comment on contemporary developments, and such over-inflation threatens the term’s analytical value in identifying political forms that aspire to revolutionary change. Finally, Constantin Iordachi concludes the article by addressing East Central European contexts and explores the relationship between fascist radicalisations and de-democratisation processes, both in the interwar period and following the collapse of communist states from 1989 to highlight the continued importance of fascism as a tool for the study of ongoing contexts as well as the past.