Utopia and Terror in the 20th Century
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Utopia and Terror in the 20th Century
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Narrated by:
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Vejas Gabriel Liulevicius
About this listen
From the trenches of World War I to Nazi Germany to Saddam Hussein's Iraq, the 20th century was a time of unprecedented violence. Yet while such monumental violence seems senseless, it is not inexplicable. If we can understand the origins of violence, we may prevent even greater horrors in the century to come.
These 24 necessary lectures trace the violent history of the 20th century, beginning with its early roots in the American and, especially, the French revolutions. With each passing lecture, you will see how the 20th century's violence was the result of specific historical developments that eventually combined, with explosive results.
You'll see how:
- The French Revolution proved that ideological movements could mobilize the public and, through violence transform society
- The Industrial Revolution and subsequent technology created vastly more powerful weapons
- Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection was perverted into Social Darwinism and eugenics.
The most sinister development of all, however, was the notion that utopia was not just a perfect paradise to look forward to in the afterlife. Instead, utopia could be built right now, in this life. Such 20th-century ideologies as Marxism, Nazism, Communism, and Fascism embraced this idea willingly - even enthusiastically - and used terror to implement it.
You'll see how leaders of totalitarian governments act as mobsters, and how regimes create fear and command allegiance through the use of bureaucratic "machines," such as the cult of the leader, secret police, and the media. In the final lectures, Professor Liulevicius considers recent figures such as Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden and assesses terrorism in the contemporary world.PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.
©2003 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2003 The Great CoursesListeners also enjoyed...
What listeners say about Utopia and Terror in the 20th Century
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Shaun gaines
- 24-09-16
moshe
Rarely do you listen to a lecture or a read book that can transform your understanding and that takes you òn a journey through history. I'm tempted to listen to the series straight away.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 20-03-21
Grass isn't Always Greener
A good starting point for anyone wanting to engage in the background of ideological political history. The closing segment of the book is particularly pertinent for those of us who believe in democracy and Liberal society. To be mindful of the seductive powers of utopia. As we battle through our own psuedo-dystopian present and emerge from Covid-19 we would do well to remember the lessons within this course.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Bill Atkinson
- 03-08-22
It’s a lecture
I have listened to a number of these lectures and find them very informative. The way they are delivered makes it feel like you are in college. They are not like a book narration
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 24-07-21
Why was 20th Century so brutal ?
Lecturer is absolute class. Clear, listenable overview of some of the main movements in the 20th Century that led to such carnage. Course helps to understand how each of these didn't come out of nowhere & presents lessons to learn from these repeated patterns. But suggests we've not seen the end of it.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Robert S.
- 02-05-21
One of the greats
Very good series of lectures. Went into a good level of detail about things that I thought I knew, but was able to see from a new perspective. Has given me a lot to think about, and I think I will be reflecting back on these lectures for many years still.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- John
- 10-11-15
Perfect balance
This presentation was one of the most informative I have listened too. The presentation has added greatly to my understanding of this important period .A perfect balance between detailed information historical events and dates made for compelling listening.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- mr
- 06-12-14
Excellent
A lot better than I thought and my only complaint is I wanted more. A broad overview of idealistic movements devolving into, well words don't do it justice.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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- Giulia
- 15-11-17
Great examples to add gravity to the finally chapt
Great examples to add gravity to the finally chapter.
have listened to several chapters more than once.
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
- Andrew
- 08-12-21
Simplistic to the point of dishonesty.
I know this is an introductory survey course, but I had to stop list after his lectures on the French Revolution and Marx. Analysis lacked all nuance and was so simplified it wasn't worth listening to. Below the level of high school history class.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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- George S.
- 01-01-19
Good overview, however lacks detailed analysis
This course is a well researched catalogue of the horrors of twentieth century ethnic and social engineering projects. Missing, however, is any reference to Latin America, which was a bit disappointing. Also, there is little in the way of deep analysis, with the lecturer simply listing different regimes and their respective crimes.
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