Is The Holocaust Unique?: Perspectives On Comparative Genocide [Hardcover]

Alan S Rosenbaum (Editor), Israel W. Charny (Foreword)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0813326419 | ISBN-13: 978-0813326412 | Publication Date: May 9, 1996

Evaluating the Jewish Holocaust is by no means a simple matter, and one of the most controversial questions for academics is whether there have been any historical parallels for it. Have Armenians, Gypsies, American Indians, or others undergone a comparable genocide? In this fiercely controversial volume, distinguished scholars offer new discussions of this question. Presenting a wide range of strongly held views, they provide no easy consensus.Some critics contend that if the Holocaust is seen as fundamentally different in kind from other genocides or mass deaths, the suffering of other persecuted groups will be diminished. Others argue that denying the uniqueness of the Holocaust will trivialize it. Alan Rosenbaum’s introduction provides a much-needed context for readers to come to terms with this multi-dimensional dispute, to help them understand why it has recently intensified, and to enable them to appreciate what universal lessons might be gleaned from studying the Holocaust.This volume makes an important contribution to our comprehension of one of the defining events of modern history. It should be essential reading for scholars, students, and general readers interested in the Holocaust and its relationship to other instances of politically inspired mass murder.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A thought-provoking inquiry into the Holocaust." -- Jewish Book World

"An important book.... This is definitely a book to promote thought, discussion, and debate. It should be purchased by all libraries and used not only by students of the Holocaust but by historians, philosophers, theologians, and political scientists." -- History

"Intellectual engagement at its best. Thought-provoking and confrontational scholars present their assessments and disagree with each other in revealing and direct essays. While few perspectives emerge unscathed, the field is enhanced and the issue illumined." -- Michael Berenbaum, United States Holocaust Research Institute

"The collection will be of particular interest to teachers who attempt to place in perspective such events as those in Bosnia, Somalia, Rwanda, and Cambodia in light of this history of genocide." -- Choice

"The uniqueness of the Holocaust remains a question as politically charged as it is philosophically vexed. Without solving this possibly unsolvable problem,these essays reveal every side of the question, including some of the most extreme. This book provides an invaluable service to readers struggling with the definition of genocide, this century's unenviable contribution to the human vocabulary." -- David Biale, Center for Jewish Studies, Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley

"What are the similarities and differences between the Holocaust and the destruction of Native Americans, the Atlantic slave trade, Stalin's great famine, the Armenian Genocide, and the Nazis' treatment of Gypsies? Does the argument for the Holocaust's 'uniqueness' accurately focus attention on something new in history, or does it engender forgetfulness of other genocides and a sordid competition for 'highest victim' status? These passio -- Edward T. Linenthal, author of Preserving Memory: The Struggle to Create America's Holocaust Museum

"Written by leading scholars, this distinctive collection combines careful scholarship and persuasive argumentation to shed important light on these issues. No book is likely to answer such questions to everyone's satisfaction, but this one advances the analysis in insightful ways." -- John K. Roth, Claremont McKenna College --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Publisher

Evaluating the Jewish Holocaust is by no means a simple matter, and one of the most controversial questions for academics is whether there have been any historical parallels for it. Have Armenians, Gypsies, American Indians, or others undergone a comparable genocide? In this fiercely controversial volume, distinguished scholars offer new discussions of this question. Presenting a wide range of strongly held views, they provide no easy consensus.

Some critics contend that if the Holocaust is seen as fundamentally different in kind from other genocides or mass deaths, the suffering of other persecuted groups will be diminished. Others argue that denying the uniqueness of the Holocaust will trivialize it. Alan Rosenbaum's introduction provides a much needed context for readers to come to terms with this multidimensional dispute, to help them understand why it has recently intensified, and to enable them to appreciate what universal lessons might be gleaned from studying the Holocaust.

This volume makes an important contribution to our comprehension of one of the defining events of modern history. It should be essential reading for scholars, students, and general readers interested in the Holocaust and its relationship to other instances of politically inspired mass murder.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Westview Press (May 9, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0813326419
• ISBN-13: 978-0813326412
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,565,273 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thought-provoking and insightful., April 29, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Is The Holocaust Unique?: Perspectives On Comparative Genocide (Paperback)

This is a very interesting book that discusses matters that are usually overlooked in discussions of the Holocaust. It gives a good introduction and comparison of other historical events that involved the elimination of thousands of people and that are sometimes ignored in mainstream discussions about genocide. Topics include the killings of the Gypsies, Armenians, Ukrainians and Native Americans.

17 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Worth it for Stannard, September 10, 2001

By 

Adam J. Jones (Kelowna, BC, Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Is The Holocaust Unique?: Perspectives On Comparative Genocide (Paperback)

This is a fine collection taken as a whole, but the standout essay is certainly David Stannard's "Uniqueness as Denial." Indeed, it is one of the finest and bravest essays I have ever read, although absolutely merciless in its polemic against "uniqueness" theories.

21 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent discussion about a pseudo-issue, February 19, 2000

By 

Mariusz T. Wesolowski - See all my reviews

This review is from: Is The Holocaust Unique?: Perspectives On Comparative Genocide (Paperback)

To any person who has the ability of thinking in a more or less logical fashion, the statement that the Nazi holocaust of the Jews was "unique" is simply absurd. The politically motivated proponents of this concept not only confuse "unique" with "different", but also do so for morally suspicious reasons. This book reflects the current state of the debate; especially important is the essay by David E. Stannard ("Uniqueness as Denial: The Politics of Genocide Scholarship") in which he totally demolishes all pro-uniqueness arguments, and the foreword by Israel S. Charny where he discusses various data-doctoring attempts by the writers presented in the volume. All in all, "Is the Holocaust Unique?" should be required reading in any Holocaust studies curriculum.