A short, much-read essay in which Eco, who grew up under Mussolini's regime, reflects on fascism and why it can return in new forms. He argues that it has no single fixed doctrine but can be recognised by a cluster of habits, such as a cult of tradition, a fear of difference and a distrust of critical thinking.
Originally a lecture, it is clear, personal and cautionary, and it offers readers a way to think about political language and attitudes.