Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Portrait of the American Agitator

1948; Oxford University Press; Volume: 12; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1086/265973

1537-5331

Leo Löwenthal, Norbert Guterman,

Italian Fascism and Post-war Society

Before and during the past war Americans were amazed to find that there existed in their midst a number of individuals who strikingly resembled the local Naze führers of the 1920's. Most of these openly expressed admiration for Hitler and Mussolini, were rabidly anti-Semitic, and indulged in intensive vituperation of our national leaders. In addition, most of them headed small “movements” and published penodicals. They all made frequent political speeches, and some gave aid and comfort to the enemics with whom we were at war. These are the “agitators” of whom the authors speak in this study1. How do they differ from reformers and revolutionaries? How do they obtain a hold over their followers? Why is it that they appeared when they did? What are the social and psychological conditions under which they flourish? All these questions are discussed in the light of statements made by the agitators themselves, and the significance of agitation for our society is pointed out.