Language:
German
Year of publication:
1997
Titel der Quelle:
Merkur; deutsche Zeitschrift für europäisches Denken
Angaben zur Quelle:
51,2 (1997) 105-116
Keywords:
Goldhagen, Daniel Jonah.
;
Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) Historiography
Abstract:
Disputes Goldhagen's thesis that the Holocaust could have been carried out only by Germans because of their traditional "eliminatory antisemitism." Describes many other equally horrifying instances of genocide or "democide" in the 20th century (e.g. by the Japanese or the Khmer Rouge). Argues, in the wake of Rudolph Rummel, that the masses of "willing executioners" act not spontaneously but on the instigation of leaders striving toward a utopian society purified of foreign or dangerous elements. Only a participatory democracy and civil courage can keep such leaders from coming to power.
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