Research Catalog

Title

Terror, force, and states : the path from modernity / Rosemary H.T. O'Kane.

Author

O'Kane, Rosemary H. T.

Publication

Cheltenham, UK ; Brookfield, US Edward Elgar, c1996.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Holdings

Details

Description

x, 214 p.; 24 cm.

Summary

"Terror, Force and States offers a new theoretical explanation of the nature and causes of terror states." "The theory is developed through a critical examination of the works of Bauman, Weber, Arendt, Friedrich and Brzezinski, as well through detailed case studies of terror regimes including Nazi Germany, Stalin's Russia and Pol Pot's Cambodia." "The view of force as a form of power is rejected by Rosemary O'Kane who carefully distinguishes between repressive and terror governments and, crucially, between totalitarian dictatorships and totalitarian regimes." "The lessons drawn suggests that the Holocaust and modern genocide are not intrinsically related their modernity. Terror regimes, she argues, operate not through the state but from behind a state facade within a secret society. Economic crisis is given prominence in their explanation with the decisive explanatory factor argued to be the move from plans to substantive irrationality. Indeed it is the economic rationality of modern society, most particularly in respect to labour markets, which acts as the barrier to terror's rule." "All those with an interest in politics, sociology, history and Holocaust and genocide studies will welcome this important book which generates a new theory of terror states."--Jacket.

Subject

• State-sponsored terrorism
• Totalitarianism

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references (p. 197-205) and index.

Processing Action (note)

• committed to retain

Contents

1. Power, force, violence, terror and government -- 2. Modernity and the Holocaust -- 3. Totalitarian dictatorship and totalitarian regime -- 4. From origins towards causes of terror regimes -- Case 1 Russia under Stalin -- introduction -- 5. Before Stalinism to the early years of terror as government -- 6. Substantive irrationality and terror under Stalin -- Case 2 Germany under Hitler -- introduction -- 7. Background to Nazism and Nazi dictatorship -- 8. Germany 1938-45: substantive irrationality and terror as government -- 9. Terror as government and its causes, Cambodia, April 1975-January 1979 -- Conclusion Terror and modernity.

ISBN

1852786949

LCCN

^^^95034568^

Owning Institutions

Harvard Library