“In his article ‘How not to think about Fascism’ (2000), David Roberts described the movements and regimes known collectively as Fascism as a “messy mixture”, defying reduction to simplistic taxonomic terms or generic concepts. Here for the first time, we are offered a forensic analysis of the varied components of that mixture under Mussolini, followed by a comprehensive account of how after 1945 Fascism, as it became marginalized as a political force, grew ever more heterogenous and incoherent as new ideological components were added to the hodgepodge in response to the many new supposed threats to the nation that arose in the post war democratic era. Unlike so many of its cousins published on the far right, this is a genuine handbook, indispensable as much to neophytes to fascist studies as it is to seasoned academics doggedly in pursuit of the fascist Jabberwock.”Roger Griffin, Author of Fascism: An Introduction to Comparative Fascist Studies “As Giorgia Meloni prepares to break records for Italy’s longest-serving post-Second World War government, it is good to reflect on the ideological tradition she comes from and the wider implications of her success. The Routledge Handbook of Fascism and Neofascism provides a wealth of insight about the diversity of far-right tendencies, the strength of their transnational engagement, and the flexibility embedded in their ideological commitments. The chapters in this volume neither excuse nor whitewash Italy’s troubled past; what they suggest is how to understand the complicated continuities that contemporary Italian politics represents in a wider European context. The book is an essential reference for anyone trying to decipher contemporary European politics.”Erik Jones, Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies, European University Institute “This handbook stands as a vital and timely contribution to the study of modern Italian political history. By critically re-examining fascist ideology and its complex post-war developments, the book dispels simplistic categorisations that have long obscured the true diversity within far-right movements. Its nuanced analysis traces the ideological evolution from the movement’s revolutionary origins through its consolidation and later radical rearticulation, revealing the internal debates and shifting alliances that shaped its legacy. The authors skilfully illuminate how post-war heirs to Fascism diverged from their predecessors, embracing new geopolitical alignments and fragmenting into varied currents—each with distinct ideological and organisational features. Through a transnational analytical lens, the handbook situates Italian developments within broader European and global contexts. This work is essential reading for scholars and students seeking a sophisticated, conceptually rigorous framework for understanding the pluralism and transformation that define the Italian far right today. It is highly recommended for anyone interested in Far-Right Studies, Radicalisation Studies, Terrorism and Critical Terrorism Studies; Political Science, Law and Criminology, or Italian Politics more generally.”Christian Kaunert, Dublin City University “The Routledge Handbook of Italian Fascism and Neofascism is a hugely impressive collection on a subject of genuine contemporary import. Its distinguished contributors provide a much-needed critical reappraisal of Italian fascism, drawing out its intrinsic complexity and diversity of practice and ideology, while also convincingly mapping its broader contours and intersections. Its twenty-five chapters provide a comprehensive analytical and historical analysis from the origins of Italian fascism to its present day contemporary expressions. Illuminating, penetrating and richly detailed, it is highly recommended.”Richard Jackson, University of Otago “The Routledge Handbook of Fascism and Neofascism offers a rigorous and much-needed reappraisal of fascist ideology and its post-war trajectories, challenging simplistic and monolithic categories that are often used as catch-all concepts. By treating historical Fascism as a fluid and internally contested formation, and by tracing the ideological, organisational, and geopolitical transformations of its alleged heirs after 1945, the volume provides a conceptually sophisticated and empirically rich account of continuity and change. Particularly impressive are its transnational analytical lens and the editor's deliberate effort to bring together a new generation of scholars. Together, these elements result in genuinely fresh perspectives that significantly advance our understanding of fascism, neofascism, and contemporary radical right politics.”Cristobal Rovira Kaltwasser, Universidad Católica de Chile “Post-war Italy has a rich tradition of fascist groups and parties. This volume helps to understand the various strands of this political spectrum throughout the decades. It covers its ideological variations, its international orientations and bonds, as well as its violent expressions. The handbook is a must read for everyone studying Italian fascism and neofascism.”Fabian Virchow, Hochschule Düsseldorf“A deep dive into the history, nature and structure of Italian Fascism with countless essential insights for the study of the far right in general. A milestone for the field.”Daniel Koehler, German Institute on Radicalization and De-Radicalization Studies (GIRDS) “The Routledge Handbook of Fascism and Neofascism offers a deeply researched map of fascism, with an emphasis on Italian fascism's afterlives at a time when clarity about the far right is urgently needed. Drawing on leading historians and political scientists, the volume moves beyond catch-all labels to unpack the ideological and geopolitical diversity of fascist currents from Mussolini to Meloni. For anyone trying to understand today's radical-right ecosystems, this is an indispensable guide—nuanced, sophisticated, and essential.”Jason Blazakis, Middlebury Institute of International Studies (MIIS) “For those students and scholars interested in understanding fascism and neofascism look no further than the Routledge Handbook of Fascism and Neofascism. This handbook offers a comprehensive examination of the topic from its historical roots through to the contemporary period and is attentive to the intrinsic complexity of the phenomenon.”Rachel Monaghan, Coventry University
