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An urgent reflection on fascism in the twentieth century and how its legacy shapes today's world, written by one of America's most recognizable public officials, the first woman to serve as U.S. Secretary of State.

"There is invaluable wisdom on every page." Kirkus Starred review

"The fascist," observes Madeleine Albright, "is someone who claims to speak for an entire nation or group, is completely incompatible with the rights of others, and is willing to use violence and any means necessary to achieve his goals.

The twentieth century was defined by the confrontation between democracy and fascism, a conflict that created uncertainty about the survival of human freedom and left millions of innocent people dead. Given the horror of this experience, one would expect the world to reject the spiritual successors of Hitler and Mussolini if they appeared in our time. In "Fascism: A Warning," Madeleine Albright draws on her own experiences as a child in war-torn Europe and from her distinguished career as a diplomat to challenge this assumption.

Fascism, as Albright shows, not only endured during the twentieth century but today poses a more virulent threat to international peace and justice than at any time since the end of World War II. The push towards democracy that swept the world when the Berlin Wall fell has receded. The United States, historically championing the free world, is led by a president who intensifies popular discord and scorns democratic institutions. In many countries, economic, technological, and cultural factors are weakening the political center and empowering the extremes of both the right and left wings. Modern leaders like Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un use many of the same tactics that fascists used in the 1920s and 1930s.

"Fascism: A Warning" is a book for our times that is relevant in all times. Written with wisdom by someone who has not only studied history but has also helped shape it, this call to action teaches us the lessons we need to understand and the questions we must answer if we are to save ourselves from the repetition of the tragic mistakes of the past.

Pages: 304, Dimensions: 12.9x12.9cm