It represents a constellation of related and interconnected philosophies and movements with vague religious and nationalistic origins that goes back to the 19th century, and that still flourishes in the world today under a variety of guises, names and forms. Its a glimpse into the foulest cesspools of European culture. Today it manifests itself in a variety of disguised and evolved forms, many of them inhabited by like-minded people who would probably sincerely deny any spiritual connection with the German and Italian dictators.

Fascism once was a major political force in Europe, South America and even in Britain and the USA. There were many other countries affected besides Germany, Italy and Spain, the nations where it actually achieved supremacy. It emerged from its mystical folk Mitteleuropean roots during the Great Depression, as the rising industrial middle classes suddenly found themselves simultaneously threatened by both economic devastation and Marxist revolution.

“Fascism” is as vague, indeterminate and confusing a term as “Socialism”. Both resist precise definition, and there is even some overlap between the two, particularly when it comes to methods and tactics. But when you see them side by side, you’ll have no trouble telling them apart. Take a close look at the Trump administration and there is no doubt you can see Fascism there. You don’t need to see swastikas and goose-stepping storm troopers, or blatant anti-Semitism to identify it.