Vol. 20 No. 1 (2024): Fascism

In orienting the Theme Section around the subject of “Fascism” we have aimed to simultaneously move beyond and welcome disagreement about the precise meaning of that word. We regard the very fact that the word ‘fascism’ is being used in political and scholarly circles alike with growing frequency and urgency a subject of interest in International Affairs unto itself. By “Fascism,” we refer to a series of contemporary developments in right wing mass politics originating following the Global Financial Crisis. Whether best exemplified by right-wing political leaders with distinctly populist political brands (Donald Trump, Nigel Farage, Jair Bolsonaro, Vladimir Putin, etc.), growing mainstream disillusionment with hallmark virtues and institutions of liberal democracy, or other emblems and events (see this issue’s cover for a rather strange syncretism), we imagine nearly all readers and authors of this issue will implicitly recognize what this issue is about even if they disagree about what it is that is taking place before them.