The Politics of Unreason
The Frankfurt School and the Origins of Modern Antisemitism
- 600 pages
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
About this book
Although the Frankfurt School represents one of the most influential intellectual traditions of the twentieth century, its multifaceted work on modern antisemitism has so far largely been neglected. The Politics of Unreason fills this gap, providing the first systematic study of the Frankfurt School's philosophical, psychological, political, and social research and theorizing on the problem of antisemitism. Examining the full range of these critical theorists' contributions, from major studies and prominent essays to seemingly marginal pieces and aphorisms, Lars Rensmann reconstructs how the Frankfurt School, faced with the catastrophe of the genocide against the European Jews, explains forms and causes of anti-Jewish politics of hate. The book also pays special attention to research on coded and "secondary" antisemitism after the Holocaust, and how resentments are politically mobilized under conditions of democracy. By revisiting and rereading the Frankfurt School's original work, this book challenges several misperceptions about critical theory's research, making the case that it provides an important source to better understand the social origins and politics of antisemitism, racism, and hate speech in the modern world.
Frequently asked questions
- Essential is ideal for learners and professionals who enjoy exploring a wide range of subjects. Access the Essential Library with 800,000+ trusted titles and best-sellers across business, personal growth, and the humanities. Includes unlimited reading time and Standard Read Aloud voice.
- Complete: Perfect for advanced learners and researchers needing full, unrestricted access. Unlock 1.4M+ books across hundreds of subjects, including academic and specialized titles. The Complete Plan also includes advanced features like Premium Read Aloud and Research Assistant.
Please note we cannot support devices running on iOS 13 and Android 7 or earlier. Learn more about using the app.
Information
Table of contents
- Cover
- Title
- Copyright
- Contents
- Acknowledgments
- 1. Introduction How the Frankfurt School Has Shaped the Study of Modern Antisemitism
- 2. From Odysseus to Postliberal Subjectivity Revisiting Freud and the Civilizational Genesis of Social Domination
- 3. Loving to Hate The Antidemocratic Syndrome and the Social Psychology of Modern Authoritarianism
- 4. Objectifying the Other The Ideology of Antisemitism as False Projection
- 5. The Societal Origins of Modern Antisemitism Judeophobia and Critical Social Theory after Marx and Weber
- 6. Power, Desolation, and the Failed Promise of Freedom Rereading the “Elements of Antisemitism”
- 7. The Politics of Paranoia From Totalitarian Antisemitism to Political Mobilizations of Judeophobia in Democracies
- 8. Guilt, Responsibility, and Post-Holocaust Democracy Interpreting “Secondary” Antisemitism
- 9. Why Critical Theory Matters Antisemitism, Authoritarian Politics, and Human Dignity in the Global Age
- Notes
- Bibliography
- Index
- Back Cover