Stanford Confronts the Fascist Moment

Catalog description

What made fascism so attractive and so powerful in 20th century Europe and throughout the world? How did the Stanford community respond to this political ideology that burst onto the scene in the 1920s and engulfed the world in war in the 1940s? Could fascism have another "moment" - in the present or in the future? Students will consider these and other questions in this course, which will discuss the various definitions and theories of fascism and the major fascist movements of the interwar period (primarily Italian Fascism and German Nazism), as well as how the Stanford community responded to them. The course will not just focus on the military and political aspects of fascism, as is traditionally taught, but also social and cultural aspects of fascism, as well. We'll also consider how different groups experienced and reacted to fascism, based on racial background, religious affiliation, gender identity, and sexual orientation. This discussion-based course will also include hands-on archival work in Stanford Special Collections and Hoover Institution Library & Archives.