A Dark Enlightenment: Julius Evola and the Temptation of Esoteric Fascism

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Johnson, C. (2022). A Dark Enlightenment: Julius Evola and the Temptation of Esoteric Fascism. Unc Charlotte Electronic Theses And Dissertations.
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Abstract

From 1926 until 1974, the Italian scholar and spiritualist Julius Evola produced books, articles, and essays on the source of the decline of the modern world. These works showed a devotion to a long-passed Golden age, when power was absolute, hierarchy was indefinitely fixed, and instability was an impossibility. This world and the knowledge associated with it was lost, hidden, or "esoteric." Evola’s Weltanschauung was thus easily assimilable to that of the Italian Fascists and German Nazis. Throughout the fascist era, Evola made connections with low- and high-level fascists in Italy and abroad. After the Second World War ended in an Axis defeat, Evola distanced himself from the fascist regimes of old, even while he inspired the next generation of Italian neofascists. Evola’s political theories thus emulate many of the qualities of historical fascism, while they are also distinct enough to claim intellectual autonomy.

Details
Author

Johnson, Caleb

Title

A Dark Enlightenment: Julius Evola and the Temptation of Esoteric Fascism

Physical Description

1 online resource (113 pages) : PDF

Date

2022

Degree Granting Institution

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Abstract

From 1926 until 1974, the Italian scholar and spiritualist Julius Evola produced books, articles, and essays on the source of the decline of the modern world. These works showed a devotion to a long-passed Golden age, when power was absolute, hierarchy was indefinitely fixed, and instability was an impossibility. This world and the knowledge associated with it was lost, hidden, or "esoteric." Evola’s Weltanschauung was thus easily assimilable to that of the Italian Fascists and German Nazis. Throughout the fascist era, Evola made connections with low- and high-level fascists in Italy and abroad. After the Second World War ended in an Axis defeat, Evola distanced himself from the fascist regimes of old, even while he inspired the next generation of Italian neofascists. Evola’s political theories thus emulate many of the qualities of historical fascism, while they are also distinct enough to claim intellectual autonomy.

Genre

masters theses

Subjects--Topics

History

Degree

M.A.

Keywords

Antisemitism
Esoteric
Fascism
Neofascism
Reactionary
Terrorism

Subject Area

History

Advisor(s)

Sabol, Steve

Committee Members

Thorsheim, Peter
Massino, Jill
Smith, John

Degree Note

Thesis (M.A.)--University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 2022.

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Rights Holder Information

Copyright is held by the author unless otherwise indicated.

Identifier

Johnson_uncc_0694N_13133

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.13093/etd:2978