The Devil in History

Communism, Fascism, and Some Lessons of the Twentieth Century

Nonfiction, History, World History, European General, Social & Cultural Studies, Political Science
Cover of the book The Devil in History by Vladimir Tismaneanu, University of California Press
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Vladimir Tismaneanu ISBN: 9780520954175
Publisher: University of California Press Publication: September 28, 2012
Imprint: University of California Press Language: English
Author: Vladimir Tismaneanu
ISBN: 9780520954175
Publisher: University of California Press
Publication: September 28, 2012
Imprint: University of California Press
Language: English

The Devil in History is a provocative analysis of the relationship between communism and fascism. Reflecting the author’s personal experiences within communist totalitarianism, this is a book about political passions, radicalism, utopian ideals, and their catastrophic consequences in the twentieth century’s experiments in social engineering. Vladimir Tismaneanu brilliantly compares communism and fascism as competing, sometimes overlapping, and occasionally strikingly similar systems of political totalitarianism. He examines the inherent ideological appeal of these radical, revolutionary political movements, the visions of salvation and revolution they pursued, the value and types of charisma of leaders within these political movements, the place of violence within these systems, and their legacies in contemporary politics.

The author discusses thinkers who have shaped contemporary understanding of totalitarian movements—people such as Hannah Arendt, Raymond Aron, Isaiah Berlin, Albert Camus, François Furet, Tony Judt, Ian Kershaw, Leszek Kolakowski, Richard Pipes, and Robert C. Tucker. As much a theoretical analysis of the practical philosophies of Marxism-Leninism and Fascism as it is a political biography of particular figures, this book deals with the incarnation of diabolically nihilistic principles of human subjugation and conditioning in the name of presumably pure and purifying goals. Ultimately, the author claims that no ideological commitment, no matter how absorbing, should ever prevail over the sanctity of human life. He comes to the conclusion that no party, movement, or leader holds the right to dictate to the followers to renounce their critical faculties and to embrace a pseudo-miraculous, a mystically self-centered, delusional vision of mandatory happiness.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

The Devil in History is a provocative analysis of the relationship between communism and fascism. Reflecting the author’s personal experiences within communist totalitarianism, this is a book about political passions, radicalism, utopian ideals, and their catastrophic consequences in the twentieth century’s experiments in social engineering. Vladimir Tismaneanu brilliantly compares communism and fascism as competing, sometimes overlapping, and occasionally strikingly similar systems of political totalitarianism. He examines the inherent ideological appeal of these radical, revolutionary political movements, the visions of salvation and revolution they pursued, the value and types of charisma of leaders within these political movements, the place of violence within these systems, and their legacies in contemporary politics.

The author discusses thinkers who have shaped contemporary understanding of totalitarian movements—people such as Hannah Arendt, Raymond Aron, Isaiah Berlin, Albert Camus, François Furet, Tony Judt, Ian Kershaw, Leszek Kolakowski, Richard Pipes, and Robert C. Tucker. As much a theoretical analysis of the practical philosophies of Marxism-Leninism and Fascism as it is a political biography of particular figures, this book deals with the incarnation of diabolically nihilistic principles of human subjugation and conditioning in the name of presumably pure and purifying goals. Ultimately, the author claims that no ideological commitment, no matter how absorbing, should ever prevail over the sanctity of human life. He comes to the conclusion that no party, movement, or leader holds the right to dictate to the followers to renounce their critical faculties and to embrace a pseudo-miraculous, a mystically self-centered, delusional vision of mandatory happiness.

More books from University of California Press

Cover of the book Sal Si Puedes (Escape If You Can) by Vladimir Tismaneanu
Cover of the book Of Indigo and Saffron by Vladimir Tismaneanu
Cover of the book Introduction to California Chaparral by Vladimir Tismaneanu
Cover of the book Drop That Knowledge by Vladimir Tismaneanu
Cover of the book Agrarian Dreams by Vladimir Tismaneanu
Cover of the book Caligula by Vladimir Tismaneanu
Cover of the book Everyone's a Winner by Vladimir Tismaneanu
Cover of the book Dangerous Games by Vladimir Tismaneanu
Cover of the book Coastal Sage by Vladimir Tismaneanu
Cover of the book The Gods Left First by Vladimir Tismaneanu
Cover of the book Handbook of Religion and the Asian City by Vladimir Tismaneanu
Cover of the book Slave Next Door by Vladimir Tismaneanu
Cover of the book The Wines of Burgundy by Vladimir Tismaneanu
Cover of the book The Face of the Earth by Vladimir Tismaneanu
Cover of the book Killing Your Neighbors by Vladimir Tismaneanu
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy