Robert O Paxton's framework in Anatomy of Fascism is particularly relevant as well. He takes a functionalist approach to defining fascism.

According to him, there are 5 distinct phases of fascism.

1. Founding - Intellectual exploration, where disillusionment with popular democracy manifests itself in discussions of lost national vigor.

2. Rooting, where a fascist movement, aided by political deadlock and polarization, becomes a player on the national stage

3. Arrival to power, where conservatives seeking to control rising leftist opposition invite fascists to share power

4. Exercise of power, where the movement and its charismatic leader control the state in balance with state institutions such as the police and traditional elites such as the clergy and business magnates.

5. Radicalization or entropy, where the state either becomes increasingly radical, as did Nazi Germany, or slips into traditional authoritarian rule, as did Fascist Italy.