Overview

Dictatorships and Authoritarianism in Modern German History provides readers with a comprehensive overview of the history of dictatorships in Germany since the French Revolution. Dictatorships have been a defining feature of modern German history. The Nazi dictatorship between 1933 and 1945, which brought about the Second World War and the Holocaust, is still taught in schools and universities as the prime example of the destructiveness of ideologically driven regimes in the 20th century; the state-socialist regime in the German Democratic Republic that lasted for over 40 years bore many of the same dictatorial features. Understanding the factors that made these two regimes possible, their inner workings, but also their impact on the lives of many people, is key to understanding the course of modern German history as a whole and this is discussed at length in this absorbing volume. The book moves beyond the familiar historical narratives to incorporate analysis of key political thinkers and their interpretations of the problem of authoritarian and totalitarian rule. The discussion of these political dimensions is given further depth with the examination of the impact of dictatorship on German society as well as key figures of the 20th century.

Full Product Details

9781350267732

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Reviews

André Keil’s elegantly written text opens up new ways of imagining modern German history as a struggle between authoritarian and democratic forces and brings home to us the urgency of a return to the political when understanding the country’s past and present challenges. * Matthew Stibbe, Professor of Modern European History, Sheffield Hallam University, UK * This concise and student-friendly volume belies its seemingly conventional narrative structure with a host of subtle and sometimes subversive insights. Keil argues it was the dynamic interplay between the forces of revolution and reaction, rather than an inherently authoritarian mindset, that repeatedly led German governments in a dictatorial direction. * Matthew Jefferies, Professor of German History, University of Manchester, UK *

André Keil’s elegantly written text opens up new ways of imagining modern German history as a struggle between authoritarian and democratic forces and brings home to us the urgency of a return to the political when understanding the country’s past and present challenges. * Matthew Stibbe, Professor of Modern European History, Sheffield Hallam University, UK *

Author Information

André Keil is Senior Lecturer in Modern European History at Liverpool John Moores University, UK.

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