Hayek watched soviet Russia, Nazi Germany and fascist Italy form. This book was written in 1944 during the collectivist ascendency in Britain.
"...the position which precedes the suppression of democratic institutions and the creation of a totalitarian regime. In this stage it is the general demand for quick and determined government action that is the dominating element in the situation, dissatisfaction with the slow and cumbersome which makes action for action's sake the goal. It is then the man or the party who seems strong and resolute enough to 'get things done' who exercises the greatest appeal. 'Strong' in this sense means not merely a majority-it is the ineffectiveness of parliamentary majorities with which people are dissatisfied...It is here that the new type of party, organized on military lines, comes in."
".....We have to descend to the regions of lower moral and intellectual standards where the primitive and 'common' instincts and tastes prevail.This does not mean that the majority of people have low standards:...It is as it were the lowest common denominator which unites the largest number of people. IF A NUMEROUS GROUP IS NEEDED, STRONG ENOUGH TO IMPOSE THEIR VIEWS ON THE VALUES OF LIFE ON ALL THE REST...IT WILL BE THOSE WHO FORM THE 'MASS' IN THE DEROGATORY SENSE OF THE TERM, THE LEAST ORIGINAL AND INDEPENDENT, who will be able to put the weight of their number behind their particular ideals." (emphasis mine) The Road to Serfdom, . Why the Worst get on Top, Hayek