Calling our enemies fascists means ignoring their true nature

Robert O. Paxton says we should not stick old epithets on those we disagree with, as it absolves us of the responsibility of thinking up new and more suitable labels

In 2015, ‘fascism’ once again became the highest octane political epithet in general use. Of course, the temptation to apply the fascism label is almost overwhelming when we confront language and behaviour that superficially resembles that of Hitler and Mussolini.

At the moment, it is being widely applied to cases as disparate as Donald Trump, the Tea Party, the National Front in France, and radical Islamist assassins. But, though the temptation to call such actors “fascist” is understandable, it should be resisted.