Understanding Genocide

Paper Summary:

The paper analyzes Elie Wiesel's Holocaust recollections in his book "Night" with the goal of pinpointing the sociological realities that tend to breed genocide. The paper poses three central preconditions of genocide; the technological means of genocide, the role of propaganda and the role of extreme nationalism. The paper shows how Wiesel substantiates these preconditions of genocide in his book.

Outline:
Propaganda
The Mobilization of Technology
Nationalism
Never Again?
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"It would not be an exaggeration to write that Elie Wiesel's Night occupies a special place in the anthology of holocaust autobiographies. Of late, this short work has enjoyed a resurgence of sorts, and has skyrocketed to the top of numerous newspapers' bestselling lists. This paper, however, does not aim to delve into a literary analysis of the book--its inimitable style, its conciseness of language, and its mesmerizing refusal to lend itself to a clearly recognizable literary genre. This book, for all its concern with language and memory, is an autobiography that is grounded deeply in time and place--Poland of the Second World War. Wiesel's book, then, must be read as an autobiography of a Jewish man's appalling journey through that broken period. Consequently, it is up to the reader to make what he/she will of the work and to derive its sociological significance."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Anderson, B. (1983). Imagined Communities: Reflection on the Origin and Spread of Nationalism. London: Verso.
• Arendt, H. (1963). Eichmann in Jerusalem: A Report on the Banality of Evil. New York: The Viking Press.
• Hobsbawm, E. (1994). The Age of Extremes: The History of the World, 1914-1991. New York: Vintage
• Power, S. (2003). A Problem from Hell: America and the Age of Genocide. New York: Harper Collins.
• Prunier, G. (1995). The Rwanda Crisis: History of A Genocide. New York: Columbia University Press.

More papers on Understanding Genocide:

• Term Paper # 124784 : "Genocide in Rwanda and Germany"
• Term Paper # 98446 : "Genocide"
• Essay # 33732 : "The Rwandan Genocide"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: