Biopolitical Destruction: The irrevocable consequences of genocide within 20th century. Another look on Raphael Lemkin´s concept of modern genocide As a scholar of genocide within 20th century, its aims, measures, and techniques, in general, and the mass murder of the Armenian people as organised by the Ottoman state during the First World War ("Armenocide") especially, I will try to give me best and work out a specific, and ´modern´, aspect according to the basic concept Raphael Lemkin (1901-1959) taught us when defining central features of the most destructive human event -both an outstanding crime against humanity and civilisation- named genocide: the a-priori planned physical destruction of an entire people or ethnic (and sometimes religious) group with its irrevocable consequences over several generations - a sort of extreme and anti-human(istic) dystopia [utopia in the very negative]. This very aspect was, in quite a cynical way, expressed in the well-know rhetorical question Herr Hitler worked out (August 22th, 1939) when adjuring his leading military commanders to attac Poland (as at first planned Aug. 25th, 1939): "Who the fuck´s still talking ´bout the annihilation of Ottoman Armenians ?" [...]
Table of Contents
1. PAST
1.1. Biopolitical Destruction: The irrevocable consequences of genocide within 20th century. Another look on Raphael Lemkin´s concept of modern genocide
1.2. The Politics of Denial - Genocide in 20th Century: The Meaning of the Turkish Case: Ideological Fiction & National Myth of "Modern Turkey" after the Destruction of The Ottoman Empire
1.3. International Terrorism at the End of the 20th Century: An Episode from Germany, 1998, or the First Hint for New Tendencies in International Terrorism - Privatezation & Sectezation ?
2. PRESENT
2.1. ´Leading Culture in Germany´: No chance for conservative minorstreaming within political culture in Germany at the beginning of the 21th century ? - On possible reasons why the German Christian Union Party (CDU) instead of showing the willy drew in their horns, in Novembre, 2000
2.2. Social In/Justice: Neither ´moral outrage´ nor ´mental surplus´: In search of a good red herring...
3. FUTURE
3.1. Smooth Institution - Resistant Mentality: Reflections of a German Social-Psychologist on ´The Two Walls´ in Germany, 15 Years After the Fall of the Outer One
3.2. Multiple Modernities Within a New One World: The Utopian Paradigm and its Consequences
3.3. Sense of Possibility, The Utopian Paradigm, and Border Studies: Another Look on the Third
Research Objectives and Core Themes
This work aims to provide an integrative sociological framework for understanding 20th-century mass-destructive events, denial politics, and contemporary societal shifts by applying interpretative methods of "sociological impressionism" and the "sense of possibility."
- Analysis of the biopolitical dimensions of genocide and the enduring "politics of denial."
- Exploration of "mental surplus" and "social in/justice" in advanced Western societies.
- Investigation of cultural mentalities and "social walls" in post-unification Germany.
- Evaluation of the "Utopian Paradigm" as a methodological tool for cross-border studies.
- Critique of mainstream sociological theories regarding unanticipated consequences of social action.
Excerpt from the Book
1.1. Biopolitical Destruction: The irrevocable consequences of genocide within 20th century. Another look on Raphael Lemkin´s concept of modern genocide
As a scholar of genocide within 20th century, its aims, measures, and techniques, in general, and the mass murder of the Armenian people as organised by the Ottoman state during the First World War ("Armenocide") especially, I will try to give me best and work out a specific, and ´modern´, aspect according to the basic concept Raphael Lemkin (1901-1959) taught us when defining central features of the most destructive human event -both an outstanding crime against humanity and civilisation- named genocide: the a-priori planned physical destruction of an entire people or ethnic (and sometimes religious) group with its irrevocable consequences over several generations - a sort of extreme and anti-human(istic) dystopia [utopia in the very negative].
This very aspect was, in quite a cynical way, expressed in the well-know rhetorical question Herr Hitler worked out (August 22th, 1939) when adjuring his leading military commanders to attac Poland (as at first planned Aug. 25th, 1939): "Who the fuck´s still talking ´bout the annihilation of Ottoman Armenians ?"
From my own viewpoint Raphael Lemkins emphasis on the biopolitical dimension and its irrevocable consequences is the most relevant aspect of his ´definition´ of genocide when writing (1944): "In this respect genocide is a new technique of occupation aimed at winning the peace even though the war itself is lost."
Summary of Chapters
1. PAST: This chapter examines the historical foundations of genocide, focusing on biopolitical destruction, the politics of denial, and the emergence of early international terrorism.
2. PRESENT: This section offers a cultural diagnosis of contemporary Germany, analyzing political discourse and the structural complexities of social justice.
3. FUTURE: The final chapter explores future sociological perspectives, discussing mentalities in post-wall Germany, the "Utopian Paradigm," and the potential of border studies.
Keywords
Genocide, Biopolitics, Politics of Denial, Raphael Lemkin, Social In/Justice, Mental Surplus, Sociology of Knowledge, Armenian Case, Modernity, Utopian Paradigm, Border Studies, Social Psychology, Germany, Collective Memory, Ideological Fiction.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary scope of this work?
The work provides a sociological analysis of mass-destructive events, focusing on their historical roots in the 20th century and their lingering impact on contemporary societal structures.
What are the central thematic fields discussed?
The core themes include the biopolitics of genocide, the nature of denial in modern states, the structural dynamics of social justice, and evolving cultural mentalities in a unified Germany.
What is the main research objective?
The objective is to move beyond mainstream, narrow-minded sociological theories by employing "intellectual craftsmanship" and creative methods to make invisible societal phenomena visible.
Which scientific methodologies are employed?
The author uses interpretative methods of sociological impressionism, the "Gedankenexperiment" (experiment in mind), and a projective sociological approach to analyze historical and contemporary data.
What is covered in the main body of the text?
The text is structured into three parts—Past, Present, and Future—investigating genocidal techniques, the "Leitkultur" debate in Germany, and the "Utopian Paradigm" as a framework for future research.
Which keywords best characterize the work?
Key terms include Genocide, Biopolitics, Politics of Denial, Social In/Justice, Mental Surplus, and the Utopian Paradigm.
How does the author define "mental surplus"?
It refers to a fluctuating potential within the backstage of society that serves as a precursor to new social orders and is central to explaining contradictory social relations.
What is the significance of the "Armenian case" in this work?
It serves as the foundation for the author's investigation into "modern genocide," illustrating the effectiveness of denial politics in creating long-term fictional national myths.
- Quote paper
- Dr. Richard Albrecht (Author), 2005, PPF - Past, Present, Future - Aspects of an integrative concept for social scientists, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/39890
