For much of the twentieth century the appeal of communism was simply a sociological fact; by now it is something that needs to be explained. Communism promised a future that was far better than the present and offered a way to achieve it; it presented a world full of darkness that could be broken by small circles of people who could see the light; and it provided those oppressed around the world with a beacon for their imaginations and hopes. The story of the appeal of communism is a reflection of the reality of suffering and atrocity; it is also one of betrayal, trauma, mass murder, and rethinking.
Welcome to the sixth lecture of my new lecture series, “Hitler and Stalin Today.”
This lecture is titled “Why was Communism appealing?”
Below are the readings that go along with this week:
Thinking the Twentieth Century
As always, thank you for engaging with these lectures. I hope you enjoy and consider sharing them.
Below are some more of my works if you’d be interested in reading:
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