This is a history of political ideologies during the period famously described by Eric Hobsbawn as ‘The Age of Extremes’ - from the First World War to the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Ideologies in the Age of Extremes introduces the key ideologies of the age; liberalism, conservatism, communism and fascism. Willie Thompson identifies the political influence of mass movements as a key feature. He uses a powerful approach that considers the different ideologies in relation to each other. This allows him to shows that they often emerged from a common root or merged into a common future, stealing each other’s clothes and reinventing themselves as the stark opposite of a competing ideology.

This sophisticated yet accessible analysis will be of great interest to students of 20th century history and political theory.

PART 1 – AGE OF CATASTROPHE 1918-45
1 – Economic and Social Developments
2 – Liberalism 1918-1945
4 – Conservatism 1917-1945
4 – Communism 1914-1945
5 – Fascism 1917-1945
PART 2 – GOLDEN YEARS
6 – Economic & Social Conditions
7 – Liberalism on the Right 1945-73
8 – Liberalism on the Left 1945-73
9 – Communism 1945-73
10 – Conservatism and Fascism 1945-73
PART 3 – CRISIS
11 – Economic and Social Conditions 1973-91
12 – Liberalism And Conservatism Coalesce 1973-1991
13 – Communism 1973-91
14 – Fascism 1973-91
15 – Aftermath
Notes
Index