Book excerpt: The emergence in Russia of the antisemitic chauvinist movement, Pamyat, has startled Western society even as it has stirred deep fears and anxiety among Jews and democratic forces within Russia. How could a supposedly Communist society, whose founder, V. I. Lenin, had railed against racism and bigotry, give birth to a proto-fascist ideology and organization? This study seeks to respond to this understandable, if provocative, query.