MixedThe Times Literary Supplement (UK)Stressing the violent side of fascism is important also when addressing an audience that hasn’t the slightest sympathy for the political actors that Stanley describes as fascist. Some of these readers may find a book like Stanley’s useful, in that it shows that some current politicians are not acting at random but pursuing strategies that may help dismantle democracy. Yet presenting fascism as a mere rhetoric might also create the impression that understanding and recognizing the mechanisms of such a rhetoric is sufficient to protect democracy. If all there is to fascism is a scam-building narrative, figuring out the scam should suffice for one not to fall for it. Treating fascism as a rhetoric risks not only making fascism appear acceptable to some, but also making complacency too easy for others ... It might be more effective not to lump much of current politics under \'fascism\' after all.
