The pedigree of fascism: A popular essay on the Western philosophy of politics

Descriere - The pedigree of fascism: A popular essay on the Western philosophy of politics

That passage is the Preface to Fascism and Philosophy: The Political Thought of the Italian Renaissance and Its Influence on Modern Italy (1928) by A. Hamilton Fyfe.

Here's a concise explanation of its meaning and tone:

The author begins by clarifying that he is neither Italian nor Fascist, but, having lived in Italy from 1913 to 1927-a period covering World War I, Mussolini's rise, and the consolidation of Fascism-he feels qualified to comment on the profound transformation the country experienced. Fyfe argues that this transformation was, in his view, for the better, and he wishes to explain, from a specialist's standpoint, the intellectual and social basis of that change.

His goal is not propaganda. He explicitly says he wants to discourage two extremes:

1. Those who wish to import Italian Fascism into other nations.

2. Those who wish to suppress or ignore the philosophical principles that, he believes, underlie Fascism's appeal and intellectual structure.

He emphasizes objectivity and scholarly rigor, stating that he avoided partisan sources, relying instead on respected historians and philosophers such as Michele Rosi and Frederick Windelband. The final paragraph contains the usual acknowledgments to colleagues and experts who reviewed the manuscript for accuracy.

In short, Fyfe positions himself as a British observer and analyst, aiming to understand Fascism's intellectual origins rather than to defend or condemn it outright-though his tone suggests a guarded sympathy for its effects in Italy, at least as he perceived them in the 1920s.