The author analyses the situation of the liberal and moderately conservative Christian
socialist forces in the world between the two world wars, which faced three aggressive
totalitarian regimes: Fascist, Nazi and Bolshevik. The Liberal and moderately conservative
political forces found themselves in a subordinate and defensive position vis-à-vis the
totalitarian regimes from the moment these emerged. After the First World War the liberal
political system failed in its struggle against totalitarianism, unable to find a coalition
partner either among the Socialists on the left, or the moderately conservative parties on the
right. These, by and large, rejected anything liberal or socialist, showing more sympathy for
fascism. Liberalism was rescued by Great Britain and the United States of America (F. D.
Roosevelt). Only during the Second World War did renowned Catholics find their way into
the anti-fascist coalition.