In The Fascist Effect, Reto Hofmann argues that fascism was not one thing but actually that its basic attributes were constantly reconstituted throughout its diverse histories. Hofmann provides a clear historical analysis of transnational connections between fascisms in Asia and Europe and significantly increases our knowledge of the global processes of exchange and reformulation of political ideas in the modern ... Read moreera.
Federico Finchelstein, The New School, author of Transatlantic Fascism: Ideology, Violence and the Sacred in Argentina and Italy, 1919-1945 The Fascist Effect is brilliantly researched, conceptually sophisticated, and engagingly written. The transnational focus on Italy and the circuits of exchange between Italian fascist thinkers and political figures and their Japanese counterparts have never been explored with such rigor and control. While enlivening his text with vivid biographical portraits, Reto Hofmann illuminates the contribution of Japanese thinkers to global fascism as well as the long-term engagement of Japanese fascists with the Italian right. In tying culture and ideas together with shifting economic and political realities, Hofmann opens up many new and exciting questions about fascism as a question of global modernity.
Takashi Fujitani, Dr. David Chu Professor and Director in Asia Pacific Studies, University of Toronto, author of Race for Empire: Koreans as Japanese and Japanese as Americans during World War II This book is an important addition to the growing body of literature that examines fascism in a transnational context. The author provides an insightful and highly original exploration of the dialogue between Italian Fascism and Japanese political and sociocultural debates of the period. Throughout the work, Reco Hofmann does especially well in highlighting the ambiguities and contradictions in the debate over fascism's applicability to Japan, in particular the tensions between its nationalist and internationalist impulses.
The Historian
Hofmann has produced a readable and exceptionally sensible volume on the global production of fascist ideology, which will be of tremendous value for scholars who teach comparative history... Hofmann's book opens the door to a debate truly worth having in Japanese history circles.
Journal of Japanese Studies
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