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A review by princesspersephone
Fascism: A Warning by Madeleine K. Albright
5.0
Madeleine Albright - herself a refugee immigrant who has lived in multiple countries and served as secretary of state - brings forth the clarity and experience of her lived experiences to cement this book as a critical thought piece (see: "A Warning") for our modern landscape. This is a book that I will recommend to others for years to come. I listened to it on audiobook which triumphed with albright's strong and sure voice.
From the first chapter, and again throughout the book, Albright, once serving under the democratic presidency of Clinton, assures readers that fascism is not a partisan issue. On the contrary, fascism is used as a derogatory slur to and from both sides of the political spectrum. Beyond ideology, fascism stands as extreme authoritarian rule characterized by provocation of fears, simplistic empty promises to cull them, and the overreaching powers that extort them for personal gain. My one disappointment with the book is that she offers up no clear and concise definition of fascism itself. Instead, she nods at its ambiguity and consults her international affairs students to help form a more precise picture of where the semantic boundaries of fascism lie.
“A mentality of ‘us against them,’” offered one. Another ticked off “nationalist, authoritarian, antidemocratic.” A third emphasized the violent aspect. A fourth wondered why Fascism was almost always considered right-wing, arguing, “Stalin was as much a Fascist as Hitler.”Still another noted that Fascism is often linked to people who are part of a distinct ethnic or racial group, who are under economic stress, and who feel that they are being denied rewards to which they are entitled. “It’s not so much what people have,” she said, “but what they think they should have—and what they fear.” Fear is why Fascism’s emotional reach can extend to all levels of society. No political movement can grow without popular support, but Fascism is as dependent on the wealthy and powerful as it is on the man or woman in the street—on those who have much to lose and those who have nothing at all.
Not only did Albright intend this book to be a warning, but she understood that without context, many of the assumptions and concerns contained within fall flat. Warning people in and of itself is alarmist (which Albright admits to be a welcoming label for her book), but with the added micro histories offered, the book transforms itself, as well, into a history of fascism and the roots it holds. Understanding the history behind it is of critical importance as our current world powers shift more and more into the self-bolstering grip of fascist influence as a response to globalization and the growing refugee crisis.
Few people elect to be ruled under a fascist government themselves. Instead it often finds its hold through democratic means, and through the slow loss of liberties that are all but unseen to the indifferent eye of the average citizen (It doesnt affect me, its not my problem).
Her historical accounts of countries like Hungary, Venezuela, France, Italy, Russia, China, Korea, the Phillipines, Turkey, and more, paint the signposts of the warnings that she urges us all to be weary of.
In terms of America's future concerning fascism, Albright makes a case of familiar american self-aggrandizement - that the american people are too comfortable and sure of their democratic safeholds to ever think it a possibility to which we might fall. To me this came as both a surprising confession and a natural truth. We as a people need look no further than our dwindling voter turn out to see we are all but idle in the democratic processes of our country. From there she goes on to offer three possibilities for our future as a nation after our current presidency. As a self describe "optimist-who-worries" she is both hopeful and cautious of where we as a world leader will take our own government, as well as how we will influence the less established countries among us. Overall, she offers many informative, calculated, and surprising points throughout the book - which ranks as my favorite read of the year so far.
From the first chapter, and again throughout the book, Albright, once serving under the democratic presidency of Clinton, assures readers that fascism is not a partisan issue. On the contrary, fascism is used as a derogatory slur to and from both sides of the political spectrum. Beyond ideology, fascism stands as extreme authoritarian rule characterized by provocation of fears, simplistic empty promises to cull them, and the overreaching powers that extort them for personal gain. My one disappointment with the book is that she offers up no clear and concise definition of fascism itself. Instead, she nods at its ambiguity and consults her international affairs students to help form a more precise picture of where the semantic boundaries of fascism lie.
“A mentality of ‘us against them,’” offered one. Another ticked off “nationalist, authoritarian, antidemocratic.” A third emphasized the violent aspect. A fourth wondered why Fascism was almost always considered right-wing, arguing, “Stalin was as much a Fascist as Hitler.”Still another noted that Fascism is often linked to people who are part of a distinct ethnic or racial group, who are under economic stress, and who feel that they are being denied rewards to which they are entitled. “It’s not so much what people have,” she said, “but what they think they should have—and what they fear.” Fear is why Fascism’s emotional reach can extend to all levels of society. No political movement can grow without popular support, but Fascism is as dependent on the wealthy and powerful as it is on the man or woman in the street—on those who have much to lose and those who have nothing at all.
Not only did Albright intend this book to be a warning, but she understood that without context, many of the assumptions and concerns contained within fall flat. Warning people in and of itself is alarmist (which Albright admits to be a welcoming label for her book), but with the added micro histories offered, the book transforms itself, as well, into a history of fascism and the roots it holds. Understanding the history behind it is of critical importance as our current world powers shift more and more into the self-bolstering grip of fascist influence as a response to globalization and the growing refugee crisis.
Few people elect to be ruled under a fascist government themselves. Instead it often finds its hold through democratic means, and through the slow loss of liberties that are all but unseen to the indifferent eye of the average citizen (It doesnt affect me, its not my problem).
Her historical accounts of countries like Hungary, Venezuela, France, Italy, Russia, China, Korea, the Phillipines, Turkey, and more, paint the signposts of the warnings that she urges us all to be weary of.
In terms of America's future concerning fascism, Albright makes a case of familiar american self-aggrandizement - that the american people are too comfortable and sure of their democratic safeholds to ever think it a possibility to which we might fall. To me this came as both a surprising confession and a natural truth. We as a people need look no further than our dwindling voter turn out to see we are all but idle in the democratic processes of our country. From there she goes on to offer three possibilities for our future as a nation after our current presidency. As a self describe "optimist-who-worries" she is both hopeful and cautious of where we as a world leader will take our own government, as well as how we will influence the less established countries among us. Overall, she offers many informative, calculated, and surprising points throughout the book - which ranks as my favorite read of the year so far.