We introduce a novel definition of “clerical fascism.” Building on Griffin's only available conceptualization, we define “clerical fascism,” in its ideal type, as a political regime put forward or significantly shaped by a movement or factions within a movement dominated by clerics and theologians who advocate a symbiosis of Christian and fascist principles. Our definition of “clerical fascism” is derived from case-based research into interwar and wartime Slovakia. We begin by following the etymological trail of the concept and its historical context. We then expand on Griffin's understanding of the term. Our definition of “clerical fascism” rests on the three aspects of the political—policy, politics and polity. We show the analytical potential of our model by applying it to the political praxis of 1939–45 Slovakia. Our essay concludes by extending on the larger implications of this model for the study of religion and political radicalism in the past and present.

中文翻译：

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神父与国家：斯洛伐克的教权法西斯主义与理论

我们引入了“教权法西斯主义”的新定义。基于格里芬唯一可用的概念，我们将理想类型的“教权法西斯主义”定义为一种政治体制，由倡导基督教和法西斯主义原则共生的神职人员和神学家主导的运动或运动中的一个或多个派别提出或显着塑造. 我们对“教权法西斯主义”的定义源自对两次世界大战之间和战时斯洛伐克的案例研究。我们首先遵循这个概念的词源轨迹及其历史背景。然后我们扩展了格里芬对该术语的理解。我们对“教权法西斯主义”的定义基于政治的三个方面——政策、政治和政体。我们通过将模型应用于 1939-45 斯洛伐克的政治实践来展示我们模型的分析潜力。