W/o Comment

The late Tony Judt, recalling the political mood of the 1940s:

It was widely assumed in most countries in postwar Europe that the major threat to Europe after 1945 was not communism … it was the return of fascism. And the return of fascism, given the way that fascism was understood both by academics and politicians in those years—the return of fascism could best be prevented by insuring that there would never again be a return to the conditions of fascism. And that what are the conditions of fascism?  The alienation of the lower middle class (in this understanding) Massive unemployment; a sense of total insecurity, the collapse of the liberal state and people turning in desperation to extreme parties for salvation

Link, at about 27:00.