Crises of the Republic: Lying in Politics; Civil Disobedience; On Violence; Thoughts on Politics and Revolution [Paperback]

Hannah Arendt (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 10, 1972

A collection of studies in which Arendt, from the standpoint of a political philosopher, views the crises of the 1960s and early 1970s as challenges to the american form of government. Index.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Hannah Arendt (1906-1975) taught political science and philosophy at the New School for Social Research in New York, Brooklyn College, and the University of Chicago. She also wrote political studies "Origins of Totalitarianism" 1951, "The Human Condition" 1958, "Eichmann in Jerusalem" 1963

Product Details

• Paperback: 252 pages
• Publisher: Mariner Books (May 10, 1972)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0156232006
• ISBN-13: 978-0156232005
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #455,265 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Hannah Arendt (1906-1975) taught political science and philosophy at The New School for Social Research in New York and the University of Chicago. Widely acclaimed as a brilliant and original thinker, her works include Eichmann in Jerusalem and The Human Condition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Honest View vs. Political Lying, January 21, 2006

By 

James E. Egolf "James E. Egolf, MA" (Florida) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Crises of the Republic: Lying in Politics; Civil Disobedience; On Violence; Thoughts on Politics and Revolution (Paperback)

This reviewer considers Hannah Arendt as a "Renaissance Woman." She was learned individual who wrote profoundly on philosophy, history, political thought, etc. Her book CRISES OF THE REPUBLIC again demonstrates her knowledge, profound thought, and ability to write. THE CRISES OF THE REPUBLIC is a book that clearly diagnoses political problems in the United States which she states undermine both civil liberties and government honesty.

This book was first published in 1969 in the midst of the controversy over the Vietnam War. An import section of this book deals with the China Series documents and correspondence between Mao tse Tung who approached American diplomats to extend diplomat overtures because of Chinese leaders fears of Soviet power and influence. These efforts were ignored and only came to light in 1969 which was 16 years after the conclusion of the Korean War which involved the Chinese Communists vs. the Americans. Miss Arendt also reveals documents that showed that that Ho Chi Minh appealed American policy makers to extend U.S. control over Vietnam to avoid re-occupation by the French who had Vietnam as a colony prior to World War II. These efforts were refused and kept secret from Americans so that a Cold War mentality could be maintained at the expense of truth and then the lives of American kids who suffered and died in the Korean and Vietnam wars. In other words, Miss Arendt reveals that documents demonstrate that neither of these wars were necessary. What happened and is happening is that political and bureaucratic blundering have been substituted for truth and honesty.

Part of American political history in the late 1960s included dissent and civil disobedience. Those in power claimed that public demonstrations against the Vietnam War and the draft were part of a secret conspiracy. Miss Arendt demolishes this conclusion by writing that a public demonstraion by its very nature is not a secret conspiracy. Otherwise it is not public. She also warns that radicalism on campuses had a dangerous tendency to impose ideology rather than achieve goals and inform "public opinion."

The latter sections of the book are informative regarding the status of those in power on the other side of the Iron curtain. An interesting point that Miss Arendt makes is that for all the communist propaganda about the Capitialisic West, the gulf between rich and poor behind the iron curtain was much greater. She comments that the communist authorities had devolved from socialist ideals to entrenched bureaucrats who tried to protect their "turf" from economic and political realities. Events since the late 1980s have vindicated Miss Arendt with the collapse of Big Communism.

Hannah Arendt shows her vast knowledge and profound thought in one of her last books. CRISES OF THE REPUBLIC is timely and well written. She makes remarks that should alert Americans about blundering into quagmire wars and creating enemies to insure that useless bureaucrats maintain their positions by lying about supposed enemies who in reality do not exist. This has been expensive in terms of treasure and blood.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Violence is nothing more than the most obvious manifestation of power, July 25, 2011

By 

Luc REYNAERT (Beernem, Belgium) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Crises of the Republic: Lying in Politics; Civil Disobedience; On Violence; Thoughts on Politics and Revolution (Paperback)

The political and social reflections of H. Arendt written in the 1960s and 1970s still remain highly relevant today, as these comments on past events (May 68, the Pentagon Papers or the Vietnam war) prove superbly.

Freedom
For H. Arendt, one of the crucial political problems is the guarantee of freedom (e.g., to be free to say and publish what one wants, or to be sure not to be spied upon). For her, a free and uncorrupted press has a very important political role to play. The evolution in these regards since the publication of her book would most probably have seriously worried her.

Political power and violence
Political power always needs to rely on the strength of numbers, while violence can do without it. 'All against one' is the extreme form of power, while for violence it is `one against all'.
The instruments of violence have reached today such perfection that it is impossible to conceive of a political goal that could correspond to their destructive power. Thus, outright war which was the supreme arbiter in international conflicts has lost much of its effectiveness.

Government and violence
When legality and constitutionality are seriously threatened by the growing influence of intelligence services on the conduct of public affairs, by open threats against fundamental freedoms or by challenges to the legal order, violence against the government in power can be justified.

Hypocrisy and lies
For H. Arendt, truth has never ever figured among the political virtues. The secrets of power, deception, deliberate falsification, hypocritical behavior and outright lies have always been used as means to achieve political objectives.
The realities of our daily life can be constantly torn apart by lies and organized propaganda, whereby an irrational virtual world of appearances is created.

This collection of insightful essays, written by a superb and totally free mind, is highly recommended to all men of good will.

5.0 out of 5 stars utterly brilliant!!!, September 8, 2009

By 

Robert W. Smith "Robert Smith, Ph.D." (Virginia, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Crises of the Republic: Lying in Politics; Civil Disobedience; On Violence; Thoughts on Politics and Revolution (Paperback)

i never heard of hannah arendt in college. however, as i read more and more, i found that her work was often cited. although she passed away some decades ago now, she made an indelible impression upon the moral and political philosophy of the world in the mid-twentieth century and it endures today. she is a brilliant person whom i would have loved to know. with this kind of perception of the author by this reviewer, i must admit that the rest of my review, that is, of her work, "crises of the republic" may be biased.

in crises of the republic, arendt identifies the underlying foundation and need for political stability while introducing measured change. she discusses the political upheaval seen in the USA in the late 60s + . a time of great turmoil, she was able to see the need for political stability clashing with the need for systemic change for the people.

if you have any interest in political and moral philosophy, crises of the republic is a must read. her writing can be dry at times. she doesn't seek to entertain the reader. she informs us and, most of all, makes us think. i read this slowly, pausing to think and take notes.