The Making of Totalitarian Thought

Llobera, Josep R.

ISBN 10: 1859737900 / ISBN 13: 9781859737903

Published by Berg Publishers, Oxford, 2003,, 2003

About this Item

1st edition, hardback, large 8vo, vi,175pp, clean and tight, no inscriptions, laminated boards, Very Good condition / no dustwrapper. ISBN: 1859737900.

Seller Inventory # 470678

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Making of Totalitarian Thought
• Publisher: Berg Publishers, Oxford, 2003,
• Publication Date: 2003
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1859737900
• ISBN 13: 9781859737903
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Seller catalogs:
  • politics

About this title

Synopsis

The totalitarian regimes of the twentieth century reveal disturbing and uncomfortable facts about human nature, social life, and moral progress. Totalitarianism, ironically, came at a time when the 'spirit of modernity' was in full swing and human potential was supposedly at its peak. Distracted by the wonders of the industrial revolution, few would have guessed the horrors that were just around the corner. Focusing on the historical background to twentieth-century totalitarianism, this book unravels the complexity and mystery behind ideas of domination, leadership, and human development. In doing so, it not only sheds light on the dark side of modern thought but also shows that the foundations of totalitarian ideology existed long before the 'modern age'. Totalitarian thought is best understood by looking at four fundamental myths about race, the crowd, revolutionary violence, and eugenics. This book analyzes each myth in depth by tracing its beginnings and development. It shows how key socio-political thinkers wrote about and interpreted these myths and how they became the basis of many important racial and social theories. Specific attention is given to six controversial nineteenth century thinkers - Maistre, Gobineau, Galton, Le Bon, Vacher and Sorel. Llobera, through detailed analysis of their work, suggests that these so-called 'prophets of doom' with their anti-bourgeois, elitist and anti-progressive leanings, understood the socio-political reality of modern society far more accurately than other highly praised social thinkers of the same period. These key figures provide a crucial insight into totalitarianism by overturning nineteenth-century illusions of progress and laying bare the darker aspects of human nature.The Making of Totalitarian Thought is an accessible and penetrating overview of a compelling phenomenon. It emphasizes the importance of previously neglected socio-political writing and neatly unpacks sophisticated intellectual ideas. This

About the Author

Josep R. Llobera is Visiting Professor of Anthropology at University College, London.