American politicians are once again accusing their opponents of planning to introduce Socialism into the U.S. At the same time, the label “Fascist” also crops up. In light of their reentry into present political discourse, I think it would be instructive to examine the backstories of Socialism and Fascism - as well as related “isms”. These discussions may help us judge how accurate our current crop of politicians are when they throw around these terms.

Socialism and Fascism are not as easily defined as many of our journalists seem to think. In seven sessions this course will look at the origins of both, the roles they have played in modern history, and the degree to which they still exist in recognizable form. We will also look at several variations, including Nationalism, Populism, and Anarchism. The course will consist of lecture, discussion, and assigned readings.