The New Fascination with Fascism: The Case of Nazi Modernism

Abstract

It was not all that long ago that 'fascist modernism' was considered a scandalous contradiction in terms, more recycled third Internationalism than legitimate scholarship. Things, however, have changed considerably in the last fifteen years or so, as 'fascist culture attracts ever-increasing scholarly and media attention. This is most apparent in the outpouring of recent books and exhibitions on nazi modernism. This article attempts to examine some of the cultural causes and effects of the new fascination with fascism.