Fascism

Course Code

GRMN 25823 91

Cross Listed Course Code(s)

DEMS 25823, GRMN 35823, HIST 22508, HIST 32508, PHIL 25823, PHIL 35823

Course Description

Developments in recent years have clearly shown a resurgent interest in "fascism". While it designates a phenomenon which might concern everyone, it is also a term used more often in the manner of an insult than a precisely defined concept. One might even say it is what W.B. Gallie once called an essentially contested concept—not because many claim it for themselves today, but on the contrary, because virtually everyone denounces it in their own specific way.

In this course, students will consider what "fascism" means by engaging with several influential explanations of it. We will read and discuss more contemporary philosophical views (Stanley, Eco), historical perspectives and documents (Paxton), but also classic perspectives from political theory (Arendt), philosophy (Burnham), and critical theory (Horkheimer, Adorno, Pollock), as well as political economy (Neumann, Sohn-Rethel, Gerschenkron, Fraenkel, Kalecki).

With an eye to its historical and contemporary applications, our purpose throughout will be to reconstruct the arguments which we will consider in order to develop a rigorous concept of "fascism". The only prerequisite for this course is an open-minded approach to reading and discussion.

Instructor(s)

Daniel Burnfin

¹ UChicago students can self-register.

² Visiting students and pre-college students apply through the same application.