It is by understanding how past fascisms worked, and not by checking the color of shirts (...) that we may be able to recognize it. The well-known warning signals — extreme nationalist propaganda and hate crimes — are important but insufficient. Knowing what we do about the fascist cycle, we can find more ominous warning signals in situations of political deadlock in the face of crisis, threatened conservatives looking for tougher allies, ready to give up due process and the rule of law, seeking mass support by nationalist and racialist demagoguery. Fascists are close to power when conservatives begin to borrow their techniques, appeal to their “mobilizing passions,” and try to co-opt the fascist following.

It is by understanding how past fascisms worked, and not by checking the color of shirts (...) that we may be able to recognize it. The well...