The Moynihan Report The age of American Fascism? Oxford Professor Explains | The Moynihan Report
Jan 28, 2026
Roger Griffin, Oxford Brookes professor and leading scholar of fascism, gives a precise, historical take on what fascism actually means. He contrasts scholarly definitions with casual use. Short, clear discussions cover fascism’s origins, leader-driven mobilization, whether modern politicians fit the model, January 6 as a temptation, and how democracies can resist deliberalization.
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Fascism Needs A Precise Definition
- Roger Griffin distinguishes fascism-as-expletive from a rigorous scholarly definition rooted in interwar movements.
- He argues fascism historically relates to militant, action-focused movements like Mussolini's, not a catch-all insult.
Action And Theatricality Define Fascism
- Griffin emphasizes action, rallies, and theatrical mobilization as core fascist traits rather than doctrine.
- He says fascism values performative energy and crowd dynamics over intellectual programs.
Fascism As Revolutionary State Remaking
- True fascism is revolutionary and replaces liberal constitutional order with a new legal-political system.
- Griffin cites Mussolini (1925) and Hitler (1933) as moments when fascism created alternative state structures.
