Abstract
Driven by thirst after just arriving at Auschwitz, told he can’t even break off an icicle to suck, Primo Levi asks, “Why?” A guard answers, “There is no ‘why’ here.” Why did this happen? Why did the Holocaust happen? Why do other genocides continue to happen? Eric D. Weitz, in his book A Century of Genocide: Utopias of Race and Nation, suggests a nation’s attempt to create a utopian society leads to genocide. His answer to this unanswerable, almost unaskable question—why—is courageous and fruitful.
Highlights
Why did this happen? Why did the Holocaust happen? Why do other genocides continue to happen? Eric D
By examining events of four genocides, Weitz shows how a maniacal search for the utopian society leads to exclusion of those “others” who don’t fit in
The Soviets tried to obliterate their moneyed classes to create a proletarian society, the Cambodians tried to obliterate the educated and professional classes to create a classless society, the Serbs tried to eliminate all other ethnic and religious groups to create an exclusively Serbian nation, and the Germans tried to eliminate Jews, Gypsies, and the physically and mentally impaired to create a society of supermen
Summary
Why did this happen? Why did the Holocaust happen? Why do other genocides continue to happen? Eric D. A Century of Genocide: Utopias of Race and Nation* Why do other genocides continue to happen?
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Similar Papers
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.