Der Faschismus

Želju Želev's Fascism is a seminal text on the analysis of totalitarian systems. Written in the late 1960s under conditions of state control, the book conceives of fascism not as a historical phenomenon but as a structure: a political system whose elements—a one-party system, the fusion of state and party, comprehensive conformity, the cult of the leader, and concentration camps—interlock and mutually reinforce one another.

The history of the book itself is a testament to its controversial nature: Published in Bulgaria only in 1982—fifteen years after it was written—it was banned shortly thereafter and circulated underground for years. Fascism is thus not merely an analysis of political rule, but part of the history it describes.

With analytical clarity, Želev describes how this system functions. He shows how power organizes itself and reproduces itself—through propaganda, surveillance, and the deliberate construction of enemy stereotypes. Fascism is thus not presented as an exception in history, but as one possibility among modern societies, whose structures can also recur in other (totalitarian) forms.

Edition Otzvuk, the new imprint of Wolke Verlag, is making this text—which has long been difficult to access and has never been translated into German—available again for the first time. A precise, understated book for anyone who wants to understand how totalitarian systems work—and how to recognize them.

Click here for more information about Edition Otzvuk.

The book will be released on October 2, 2026, and is available for pre-order now!