Paxton sought to establish a more concise definition of fascism in an era where people used the term loosely.
[1] The author argued that fascism only took root in countries which had more dysfunctional societies and in which conservative elites chose to allow them to form coalitions with them.
Philip Gordon and Stanley Hoffman in Foreign Affairs wrote that this essay "will guide scholars and graduate students for years to come.
"[1] Samantha Power in The New York Times stated that the book "may well become the most authoritative" work on the subject due to it being "convincing", "fair", and "thorough".
[2] Publishers Weekly gave the book a starred review, stating that "This is sure to take its place among classics in the field".