Learning About Fascism From Novels

Fiction Is A Great Teacher

I have always preferred reading fiction to nonfiction, and actually feel I’ve learned more from reading fiction than nonfiction, especially when it comes to imagining alternative futures, and following the threads of cultural norms and trends to their logical, sometimes catastrophic, conclusions.

With that in mind, here is a list of some of the best fiction novels for learning about authoritarianism and fascism. Each offers a powerful critique of oppressive regimes and the psychological, social, and political dynamics they create:

1. 1984 by George Orwell

• Orwell's dystopian classic, 1984 is first on the list because it is my favorite (something I was reminded of when someone recently recommended that I reread it many years after my first encounter with the book). It remains one of the most profound explorations of authoritarianism. The novel presents a totalitarian state where surveillance, censorship, and propaganda are tools of control. Through the story of Winston Smith, Orwell reveals the ways in which a regime can manipulate truth, control thought, and suppress dissent.

2. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

• Set in the fictional Republic of Gilead, in which a fundamentalist theocratic regime that oppresses women, The Handmaid’s Tale explores how authoritarian governments often drive their agendas down avenues of gender, and can use religious dogma and patriarchal structures to subjugate people, especially women. The story follows Offred, a woman forced into reproductive servitude, as she navigates the horrors of a society based on fear and oppression.

3. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

• In Brave New World, Huxley explores a different kind of authoritarianism, one where control is maintained not through fear, but through pleasure, consumption, and genetic engineering. People are kept complacent through conditioning, drug use, and consumerism, creating a dystopia where freedom is sacrificed for comfort and stability.

4. The Plot Against America by Philip Roth

• In The Plot Against America, Roth imagines an alternate history where Charles Lindbergh, an aviation hero with pro-Nazi sympathies, wins the presidency in 1940. The novel explores the rise of fascism in America and how quickly democratic norms can collapse when xenophobia and authoritarianism are legitimized by leaders.

5. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

• Fahrenheit 451 portrays a future where books are banned, and "firemen" burn any that are found. Bradbury's story critiques authoritarian governments that suppress dissent and intellectual freedom. The protagonist, Guy Montag, begins to question the regime's control over knowledge and embarks on a journey toward intellectual freedom.

6. The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick

• Set in an alternate history where the Axis powers won World War II and split the United States into territories controlled by Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan, The Man in the High Castle explores life under fascist regimes. It delves into how authoritarian governments manipulate history and truth to maintain power.

7. We by Yevgeny Zamyatin

• We, a precursor to Orwell’s 1984, is set in a dystopian future where the state controls every aspect of life, even individual thoughts. Zamyatin explores the loss of individuality and freedom under an all-powerful regime, making it one of the earliest critiques of totalitarianism in literature.

8. It Can’t Happen Here by Sinclair Lewis

• Overview: Published in 1935, It Can’t Happen Here imagines a populist demagogue, Senator Berzelius "Buzz" Windrip, winning the U.S. presidency and establishing a fascist regime. Lewis explores how fascism could emerge in America through political manipulation, propaganda, and the erosion of democratic norms.

9. The Iron Heel by Jack London

• The Iron Heel, an early 20th-century novel, tells the story of a future dystopian America ruled by a fascist oligarchy known as "The Iron Heel." Through the protagonist’s narration, London examines how capitalist and authoritarian forces can work together to oppress the working class.

10. Darkness at Noon by Arthur Koestler

• Darkness at Noon is a reflection on the Stalinist purges of the Soviet Union, told through the experiences of a political prisoner, Rubashov, who is caught in the machinery of a totalitarian state. Koestler explores the psychological and moral consequences of living under such a regime.

All of these novels provide profound insights into how authoritarian regimes operate, the psychological and social impacts of living under such systems, and the importance of resisting oppression. They offer valuable lessons for understanding and confronting fascism and authoritarianism in any era.