Summary

In Chapter 16, Albright corrects the mistaken notion that Fascism is an outgrowth of populism. She outlines the history of the populist movement in the US from the founding of the American People's Party in 1890 to the campaign of Ross Perot in 1992. She clears up other misuses of the term populist, which she defines as “a believer in the rights, wisdom, or virtues of the common people” (226). She argues that Fascists, in contrast, are “those who give orders and those who take them” (228). She worries about three possible “bad dreams” (230) that might materialize in the future. Reactionary billionaires could gain control of the media, pour money into elections, and appoint compliant judges who could give the president full authority to do as he pleases. Another scenario envisions wealthy liberals from Hollywood and New York who underwrite candidates they believe might enforce rigid standards of...