I agree with what you seem to imply: The attitudes of nationalism - and the evils it leads to - are well known, but hardly talked about these days. How could we have forgotten?

Poverty and humiliation are powerful catalysts.

If you want to place blame, place it on the bankers who tanked the economy in 2008. We've never really recovered.

When you attack people's livelihoods, they get desperate. And in desperation, they choose despots who promise them their livelihoods, and more.