Fascism remains a topic that fascinates both academic and general audiences. This is the first book to look systematically at the leaders of fascism and related movements in the inter-war era. It shows how fascist leaders came to personify their movements and why the Führeprinzip was applied in all fascist organizations.

Part One Approaching Charisma; Chapter 1 The Concept and Theory of Charismatic Leadership, Roger Eatwell; Chapter 2 Hitler, Charisma and Structure: Reflections on Historical Methodology, Michel Dobry; Part Two The Leaders; Chapter 3 The Model of Charismatic Leadership and its Applicability to the Rule of Adolf Hitler, M. Rainer Lepsius; Chapter 4 Franco, the Spanish Falange and the Institutionalisation of Mission, Stanley G. Payne; Chapter 5 ‘Chaos’ and ‘Order’: Preto, Salazar and Charismatic Appeal in Inter-war Portugal, António Costa Pinto; Chapter 6 Charisma and Hybrid Legitimacy in Pétain's État français (1940–44), Marc Olivier Baruch; Chapter 7 Ante Paveli?, Charisma and National Mission in Wartime Croatia, Ivo Goldstein; Chapter 8 Charisma from below? The Quisling Case in Norway, Stein Ugelvik Larsen; Chapter 9 Codreanu, Romanian National Traditions and Charisma, Stephen Fischer-Galati; Chapter 10 Mussolini as the Prototypical Charismatic Dictator, Emilio Gentile; conclusion Conclusion: Fascism, Dictators and Charisma, António Costa Pinto*, Stein Ugelvik Larsen**;