Totalitarianism and Political Religions Volume III: Concepts for the Comparison Of Dictatorships - Theory & History of Interpretations (Totalitarianism Movements and Political Religions)

Available for the first time in English language translation, the third volume of __Totalitarianism and Political Religions__ completes the set. It provides a comprehensive overview of key theories and theorists of totalitarianism and of political religions, from Hannah Arendt and Raymond Aron to Leo Strauss and Simone Weill. Edited by the eminent Professor Hans Maier, it represents a major study, examining how new models for understanding political history arose from the experience of modern despotic regimes. Where volumes one and two were concerned with questioning the common elements between twentieth century despotic regimes - Communism, Fascism, National Socialism, Maoism – this volume draws a general balance. It brings together the findings of research undertaken during the decade 1992-2002 with the cooperation of leading philosophers, historians and social scientists for the Institute of Philosophy at the University of Munich. Following the demise of Italian Fascism (1943-45), German National Socialism (1945) and Soviet Communism (1989-91), a comparative approach to the three regimes is possible. A broad field of interpretation of the entire phenomenon of totalitarian and political religions opens up. This comprehensive study examines a vast topic which affects the political and historical landscape over the whole of the last century. Moreover, dictatorships and their motivations are still present in current affairs, today in the twenty-first century. The three volumes of __Totalitarianism and Political Religions__ are a vital resource for scholars of fascism, Nazism, communism, totalitarianism, comparative politics and political theory.

available For The First Time In English Language Translation, This Is The Long-awaited Second Volume Of The Three Part Set On totalitarianism And Political Religions, Edited By The Eminent Professor Hans Maier. This Represents A Major Study, With Contributions From Leading Scholars Of Political Extremism, Sociology And Modern History, The Book Shows How New Models For Understanding Political History Arose From The Experience Of Modern Despotic Regimes.

we Are Used To Distinguishing The Despotic Regimes Of The Twentieth Century - Communism, Fascism, National Socialism, Maoism - Very Precisely According To Place And Time, Origins And Influences. But What Should We Call That Which They Have In Common? On This Question, There Has Been, And Still Is, A Passionate Debate. Indeed, The Question Seemed For A Long Time Not Even To Be Admissible. Clearly This State Of Affairs Is Unsatisfactory.

the Debate Has Been Renewed In The Past Few Years. After The Collapse Of The Communist Systems In Central, East And Southern Europe, A (scarcely Surveyable) Mass Of Archival Material Has Become Available. Following The Lead Of Fascism And National Socialism, Communist And Socialist Regimes Throughout The World Now Belong To The Historical Past As Well. This Leads To The Resumption Of Old Questions: What Place Do Modern Despotisms Assume In The History Of The Twentieth Century? What Is Their Relation To One Another? Should They Be Captured Using Traditional Concepts – Autocracy, Tyranny, Despotism, Dictatorship – Or Are New Concepts Required?

here, The Most Important Concepts - Totalitarianism And Political Religions - Are Discussed And Tested In Terms Of Their Usefulness. This Set Of Volumes Is As Topical And Relevant To Current World Events In The Twenty First Century.

Book Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 6 Copyright......Page 7 Contents......Page 8 Notes on contributors......Page 10 Foreword......Page 12 Part I Introduction......Page 14 1 On the interpretation of totalitarian rule 1919–89......Page 16 Part II The classical understanding......Page 36 2 The classical understanding: Tyranny and despotism......Page 38 Part III The new approaches......Page 114 3 Early uses of the concept ‘political religion’: Campanella, Clasen and Wieland......Page 116 4 The thinkers of the total: Ernst Junger, Carl Schmitt and Erich Ludendorff......Page 127 5 The interpretation of totalitarianism as religion......Page 134 6 Eschatological interpretations: Vondung, Talmon......Page 177 7 Supplementary approaches: Leo Strauss and Hannah Arendt......Page 189 Part IV On the concept and theory of political religions......Page 208 8 Political religion – state religion – civil religion – political theology: Distinguishing four key terms......Page 210 9 On the instrumentalisation of religion in modern systems of rule......Page 215 10 Excursis: Eric Voegelin’s concept of ‘gnosis’......Page 227 Part V Fascism and non-democratic regimes......Page 236 11 Fascism and non-democratic regimes......Page 238 Part VI Interpreters of totalitarianism......Page 306 12 Interpreters of totalitarianism: A lexicographical survey......Page 308 Bibliography......Page 369 Index......Page 413 Humanities Book Cover 1 Title 6 Copyright 7 Contents 8 Notes on contributors 10 Foreword 12 Part I Introduction 14 1 On the interpretation of totalitarian rule 1919–89 16 Part II The classical understanding 36 2 The classical understanding: Tyranny and despotism 38 Part III The new approaches 114 3 Early uses of the concept ‘political religion’: Campanella, Clasen and Wieland 116 4 The thinkers of the total: Ernst Junger, Carl Schmitt and Erich Ludendorff 127 5 The interpretation of totalitarianism as religion 134 6 Eschatological interpretations: Vondung, Talmon 177 7 Supplementary approaches: Leo Strauss and Hannah Arendt 189 Part IV On the concept and theory of political religions 208 8 Political religion – state religion – civil religion – political theology: Distinguishing four key terms 210 9 On the instrumentalisation of religion in modern systems of rule 215 10 Excursis: Eric Voegelin’s concept of ‘gnosis’ 227 Part V Fascism and non-democratic regimes 236 11 Fascism and non-democratic regimes 238 Part VI Interpreters of totalitarianism 306 12 Interpreters of totalitarianism: A lexicographical survey 308 Bibliography 369 Index 413 The third volume of Totalitarianism and Political Religions provides a comprehensive overview of key theories and theorists of totalitarianism and of political religions from Hannah Arendt and Raymond Aron to Leo Strauss and Simone Weill.