The American professor explains how the concept of fascism evolved in the recent decades. He elaborates on the relation between ani-Semitism and fascism, and also on the problems of concepts like totalitarianism (the short version of the interview was published in Népszabadság).

Most people are convinced it is good thing to have been schooled and it makes one able to make a judgement on facts and information as well as to think rationally. Educated peoples are supposed to be defenders of democracy. Empirical research, however, suggests that the main function of education is socialisation. (Extract from the book Lies my teacher told me).

From the 1980s, a radical change of view has taken place in the Southern Slav history books dealing with the 20th century. As opposed to the integrism and class struggle, an inward looking nationalism emerged. The entire history of the 20th century has been re-interpreted in a nationalist sentiment.

The German and japanese public life has a different attitude to the legacy of the 20th century. In Germany, the responsibility for agresion and the Holocaust cannot be questioned. In Japan, however, apoligetic works are still part of the everyday discourse.