Structure

The structure of Madeleine Albright book resembles a graduate level course syllabus on the history and impact of 20th-century Fascism. She frames Fascism with the classroom discussions she had with her students at the Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. The first "bookend" occurs in the first chapter when she and her students develop a working definition of Fascism and compile a checklist of characteristics by which to recognize Fascists. These are the tools they will use to guide them as they explore the complex term. In the last chapter, the other "bookend", she forms some conclusions with her students about the nature of Fascism and Fascists. In between the two bookends she presents an historical overview of the Fascist movement from its beginnings with Mussolini's takeover of Italy and Hitler's rise to power in Germany all the way to the present day. This overview...