The Story of Fascism: Rick Steves’ Documentary Helps Us Be taught from the Painful Classes of the Twentieth Century
From Rick Steves comes a thought-provoking documalestary that revisits the rise of fascism in Europe, reminding us of how charismatic figures like Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler got here to power by promising to create a wagerter future for his or her frustrated, economically depressed nations–a future that recaptured the glory of some mythologized previous. As soon as in power, these fascist leaders changed democracy with a cult of personality, steadily eroded democratic norms and reality, ratcheted up violence, and located scapegoats to victimize–one thing facilitated by the unfold of conspiracy theories and professionalpaganda by way of modern media. They’d lead their nations into struggle, and ultimately smash, however not earlier than creating a playebook for other charismatic autocrats who entice voters with simplistic solutions to complex problems.
Originally aired on television, Steves has launched the documalestary on YouTube, hoping that Twenty first-century citizens can “be taught from the exhausting classes of Twentieth-century Europe.” The textual content accompanying his documalestary reads as follows:
On this one-hour special, Rick travels again a century to find out how fascism rose after which fell in Europe — taking millions of people with it. We’ll hint fascism’s history from its roots within the turbulent aftermath of World Conflict I, when masses of offended people rose up, to the rise of charismatic leaders who manipulated that anger, the entireitarian societies they constructed, and the brutal measures they used to implement their ideology. We’ll see the horrific consequences: genocide and complete struggle. And we’ll be impressed by the stories of those that resisted. Alongside the way in which, we’ll visit poignant sights by way ofout Europe relating to fascism, and discuss with Europeans whose families lived by way of these instances. Our aim: to be taught from the exhausting classes of Twentieth-century Europe, and to recognize that ideology within the Twenty first century.
The Story of Fascism (which might be added to our checklist of Free Documalestaries) is recommended for students and adults alike. With World Conflict II fading from living memory, we may use reminder, says Steves, of how “nationalism may be channeled into evil, and the way our freedoms and democracies will not be indestructible…the truth is, they’re fragile.”
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