Friedrich Hayek's The Road to Serfdom (1944) analyzes the ways in which excessive government planning can erode democracy. The work draws influential parallels between the totalitarianism of both left and right, questioning the central government control exerted by Western democracies. Drawing on evidence from Fascist Italy, Nazi Germany, and the Soviet Union, Hayek argues that economic planning, erodes individual freedom. The Road to Serfdom continues to be hailed by opponents of big government and central planning, as well as defenders of free-market capitalism. Hayek has been translated into more than 20 languages and has influenced the economic policies of many governments.