What was or is Fascism?

The importance of fascism in 20^th Century Europe is beyond question. But what was - or is - fascism?

It is synonymous with authoritarian rule or the totalitarian state, or with both? In political terms, is fascism ‘right-wing' or ‘left-wing', revolutionary or reactionary? Why did it develop? Was it truly only a phenomenon of Mussolini's Italy? Who were the fascists? Should we explain the movement in psychological terms?

These are the problems which R. A. H. Robinson discusses in this pamphlet.