This book was devoted, for the most part, to attempts to better understand why many Western intellectuals thought well of various contemporary dictators and the political systems they created and dominated. Since in my earlier work (Political Pilgrims) I examined such misjudgments that pertained only to communist states, this time I was interested in finding out if dictatorships of different ideological foundations and histories were also similarly misperceived and idealized. Italian fascism, Nazi Germany, and dictatorships in the Arab world, among others, allowed broader comparisons. It became apparent that there was no shortage of similar misjudgments and illusions inspired by these regimes and their leaders. These findings suggest that the beliefs and dispositions in question have deep roots that transcend the attractions of specific (mostly leftist) ideologies and the political systems that sought to realize them. These sentiments, and the associated misjudgments, originate in a combination of ignorance, idealism, high expectations, wishful thinking, and possibly some other shared personal traits (yet to be identified) of the individuals we call intellectuals.

As to ignorance, Anthony Daniels (whose opinions I respect) disagrees:

Doubtless such information was available but not widely disseminated, and those favorably disposed toward the regimes concerned were not anxious to seek it out, and if encountered preferred to question it.