Past as Prologue: Unpacking Right-Wing Politics in Europe

The chapter sets the background to the rise of right-wing parties in Europe. It analyses the inter-war period to understand the factors that led to the rise of the Fascist and Nazist movements. The concepts of Fascism and Nazism are intrinsic part of European history and the rise of right-wing parties cannot be analysed without a historical background as certain parties trace their roots to these movements. This chapter deals with—first the basic understanding of concepts of Fascism and Nazism and the second—with the marginalisation following the defeat of Fascist and Nazist parties.