In recent years the scholarly impulse to place the history of Nazi Germany in a comparative framework by drawing parallels to the history of Stalinist Russia, to the era of European colonialism, or to the history of slavery in the US – has taken a new turn marked by a growing tendency to compare the fascism of interwar Europe with the contemporary political phenomenon of right-wing populism or ethno-nationalism. How valid are such comparisons? How analytically productive are they? In your mind, do the similarities outweigh the differences or is it, rather, the other way around?
Write an essay in which you address these questions. For sources please refer to the Jason Stanley chapter and the Guardian piece on Socialism, Fascist Style that we read at the beginning of the semester, as well as any other readings you like.
