A BOOK DISCUSSION with
Wendy Lower, University of Munich, Germany
Volker R. Berghahn, Columbia University
Alexander Alvarez, Northern Arizona University

18 October 2011, 3-6 p.m., Strassler Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies, Clark University, 11 Hawthorne St, Worcester MA 01610

What enabled millions of Germans to perpetrate or condone the murder of the Jews? In his new book, Thomas Kühne shows that it wasn’t only hatred of Jews or coercion through the Gestapo that created a genocidal society. Rather, the desire for a united “people’s community” made Germans conform and join together in mass crime. Perpetrators and bystanders energized social life and established collective identity through committing genocide. Exploring private letters, diaries, memoirs, secret reports, trial records, and other documents, this book highlights the ‘constructive’ side of mass violence and shows how the Nazis used such common human needs as community, belonging, and solidarity to forge the German nation conducting the Holocaust.

In this book discussion, three acclaimed scholars will, critically examine the arguments and findings of Belonging and Genocide and engage in a discussion with the author.

The event is open to the public.

Program: 3:00-3:10 pm: Welcome, Deborah Dwork, Rose Professor of Holocaust History, Clark University
3:10-3:30 pm: The Basic Arguments of Belonging and Genocide, Thomas Kühne, Strassler Professor of Holocaust History, Clark University
3:30-3:50 pm: Holocaust Perpetrator Studies and Belonging and Genocide, Wendy Lower, Researcher, Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich
3:50-4:10 pm: The Debate on German Peculiarities and Belonging and Genocide, Volker R. Berghahn, Seth Low Professor of History, Columbia University
4:10-4:30 pm: Genocide Studies, Criminology, and Belonging and Genocide, Alexander Alvarez, Professor of Criminal Justice, Northern Arizona University
4:30-5:00 pm: Coffee Break
5:00-6:00 pm: Plenums Discussion

For further information call 508-793-8897.