A Brief History of Fascist Lies

By: Federico Finchelstein

Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini

"There is no better book on fascism's complex and vexed relationship with truth." (Jason Stanley, author of How Fascism Works: The Politics of Us and Them)

In this short companion to his book From Fascism to Populism in History, world-renowned historian Federico Finchelstein explains why fascists regarded simple and often hateful lies as truth and why so many of their followers believed the falsehoods. Throughout the history of the 20th century, many supporters of fascist ideologies regarded political lies as truth incarnated in their leader. From Hitler to Mussolini, fascist leaders capitalized on lies as the base of their power and popular sovereignty.

This history continues in the present, when lies again seem to increasingly replace empirical truth. Now that actual news is presented as “fake news” and false news becomes government policy, A Brief History of Fascist Lies urges us to remember that the current talk of “post-truth” has a long political and intellectual lineage that we cannot ignore.

©2020 Federico Finchelstein (P)2020 Post Hypnotic Press Inc.

Much Needed Book for this Time

"In A Brief History of Fascist Lies, Federico Finchelstein offers a new historical examination of how fascism does not just embrace lies, but integrates them into a distinctive, irrational structure of ‘truth’ that serves its political ends. This is a worthwhile read that provides a clear and lucid overview of how fascism perceives ‘truth’, reason and leadership, writes Ben Margulies, and will be particularly useful for undergraduate and postgraduate students of politics.

A Brief History of Fascist Lies. Federico Finchelstein. University of California Press. 2019."

Lying is a key tool of totalitarian government. We learn this through studying history. Think of the oft quotes attributed to Joseph Goebbels about the power of ‘the big lie’ or the central lesson of George Orwell's books. Most of us today know that autocratic governments exert control through untruth.

But, do totalitarian rulers believe their own lies? How do they justify them? What is the relationship between bald-faced lying and ideology? Historian Federico Finchelstein explores these questions in relation to fascism and shows how fascism does not just embrace lies, but weaves them into a distinctive, irrational set of ‘truths’ that serves its political ends. Finchelstein’s key arguments help us understand contemporary politics. He shows how lying is a feature, not a bug, of fascism and explores how, for the fascist, the 'truth' is whatever allows them to dominate others. They see their lies as necessary in defending a 'larger truth,' which is, itself, a bigger lie.

This is a short book, but dense with ideas. I appreciated Edoardo Ballerini's clear, engaging narration on this one. You should listen to this book asap.