Research into dictatorship and democracy in the 20th century

In his essay, the author tries to point out new ways in the research into dictatorship and democracy in the 20th century. A comparative approach, which is still very rarely found in contemporary history, is, in his view, most likely to yield success. By looking further afield and point out the specifics of the research into the age of Enlightenment, he refutes arguments against a comparative approach. Such an approach is, according to the author, imperative in order to grasp the characteristics and landmarks of an epoch like, for example, the period between the wars with its multilateral and dialectic interconnections between the states of Europe. After sketching the history of the two approaches, Moller, goes on to discuss the possibilities and the limits of theories of fascism and of totalitarianism in the light of recent research. As a conclusion, Moller pleads for intensifying the research into the workings of democracy, which he holds to be not only an academic task, but also a political necessity.