Fascism was a distinct movement in European history that left deep scars across the continent, but the term 'fascist' is now more broadly applied to those on the political right, especially the new populists who have seized power across much of the globe in recent years. Although most far-right populists vocally disavow historic fascism, many critics see worrying parallels with the earlier movement. Could we be witnessing a return to the fascist politics of Mussolini, Franco and Hitler?

Maximiliano Fuentes Codera and Javier Rodrigo have written both an assessment of the current crisis of democracy and a brief history of fascism and far-right populism around the world. By illuminating the historical record, this book will help readers better understand the distinctive, twenty-first-century challenges faced by our democracies.