Professor: Robert Mauro

4.00 credits

• CRN 32257: Monday & Wednesday, 2:00-3:50 PM @ CHA 201

  
  Fascism is an ideology, a system of government, and a way of relating to other people in which the individual is subservient to the state.  It often combines elements of totalitarianism, nationalism, and corporatism.  Before World War II, many groups in Europe and the United States openly touted fascism. Because of the war crimes committed by the Nazis, few groups today would accept the label “fascist.” However, the key components remain attractive to many – the glorification of strong leaders and the military, the denial of individual civil rights, ethnocentrism, scapegoating, and the suppression of dissent through propaganda, censorship, and violence.  Why are so many enamored of fascism?  Why are people so willing to give up their rights and independence to follow a “strong” leader? Many psychologists, sociologists, political scientists, and historians have sought to understand the attraction of fascism. 

  In this course, we will read texts from a variety of disciplines, but we will focus on trying to understand the psychological and social psychological roots of the phenomenon. We will watch and discuss relevant films and hear from guest speakers and discuss their insights with them. By the end of this class, students will have developed a reasonably deep understanding of how and why fascism has taken root at various times in various groups. In the process of developing this understanding, they will have honed their abilities to reason about complex social issues and to communicate their analyses coherently orally and in written form. Students will be required to read the assigned texts and post their thoughts about the readings the evening prior to the class meeting at which the texts will be discussed. During class, students will be expected to actively engage in discussions. Students will also work together to produce an evidence based guide providing cues for the early recognition and prevention of fascism before it takes root."