Fascism was the most consequential political invention of the twentieth century. Its challenge to the liberal, capitalist order of Europe was more momentous – and murderous – than that of communism. The terror and destruction unleashed by the major fascist regimes have left an indelible mark on the course of modern history and our collective memory. The symbols and imagery of fascism remain instantly recognisable, while its ideas have seen a remarkable renaissance in the past twenty years.

Despite this enormous impact, fascism has proved strangely elusive as an object of historical analysis. Since 1945, it has been frequently explained away as a political pathology: a horrific but fleeting deviation from Europe’s path to modernity. This lecture takes fascism seriously: it looks closely at the core myths at the heart of fascist ideology, offering probing explanations for its emergence, resurgence and its continuing appeal.