The entire essay is good. I think he originally wrote it in English, which is helpful; I didn't have to worry about mistranslations. Eco makes some interesting connections between things I wouldn't ordinarily connect with fascism.
I found Robert Paxton's "Anatomy of Fascism" helpful as well, above all his observation that "fascism is more plausibly linked to a set of 'mobilizing passions' that shape fascist action than to a consistent and fully articulated philosophy." In keeping with that, the nine points he lays out right at the end are what I'd think of as "practical" rather than philosophical.
Yes. I am having my students read Eco's list this semester
The entire essay is good. I think he originally wrote it in English, which is helpful; I didn't have to worry about mistranslations. Eco makes some interesting connections between things I wouldn't ordinarily connect with fascism.
I found Robert Paxton's "Anatomy of Fascism" helpful as well, above all his observation that "fascism is more plausibly linked to a set of 'mobilizing passions' that shape fascist action than to a consistent and fully articulated philosophy." In keeping with that, the nine points he lays out right at the end are what I'd think of as "practical" rather than philosophical.