Fascism, for lack of a better word for nationalistic authoritarianism, did not die in a Berlin bunker 1945. It bounced around as military juntas and dictatorships in the developing world during the Cold War but was largely marginalized to the extreme fringes in the politics of the developed world. It was no longer considered acceptable in polite society to suggest things like racial supremacy and ethnic cleansing without being chased out the door but those sentiments were quietly there. It was there in the dank and dimly lit corners of self-publishing conspiracy theories warnings about "international bankers" and the internet troll subculture.

Fascism has returned to the stage.

There is now a wave of fascism sweeping the world. The evil that committed crimes against humanity in the first half of the 20th century has returned in full force. The failures of mainstream right-left politics to adequately deal with the forces of globalization and automation have allowed the rise of fear and resentments among the less sophisticated.

Vladimir Putin saw the writing on the wall years ago and manipulated this force to his will. Rodrigo Duterte , Nigel Farage, Marine Le Pen and Donald Trump are the leaders of the 21st century’s version of fascism.

Gone are the military regalia fetishisms. That was just too crude for today’s cynical internet generation. Now are the ostentatious dressings of billionaire populism.

Donald Trump is a small man in a big chair. He now wields more power than anyone is the history of humanity. He has the power of global surveillance and swarms of drones ready to rain down death from a clear blue sky. He has the power of the NSA, CIA and FBI. Military conquests are not as profitable as they once were so there is hope that World War III will not kick off, just yet. I hope.