This might not be exactly what youre looking for, but its certainly a refreshing break from nonfiction books on the criticism of capitalism. Being limited to 100 books the list is not complete and doesnt represent all the books worth your time. Find descriptive alternatives for little black book. Mills liberal response to marxs communist critique of capitalism yujun huang in the communist manifesto, marx and engels present the flaws of the modern capitalistic society by pointing out its unfair ruling class, the phenomenon of alienation, and excessive individuality in order to emphasize the aim of. Common types of primary sources include works of literature, historical documents, original philosophical writings, and religious texts. This international bestseller plumbs archives in the former soviet bloc to reveal the actual, practical accomplishments of communism around. The black book of communism, an 800page collection of essays about the human toll exacted by communist regimes in the twentieth century, reaches a much simpler conclusion. It is a shibboleth of anti communism, whether liberal, conservative, russian, western, etc. Anarchocommunism, also referred to as anarchist communism, communist anarchism, free communism, libertarian communism and stateless communism, is a political philosophy and anarchist school of thought which advocates the abolition of the state, capitalism, wage labour, and private property while retaining respect for personal property, along with collectivelyowned items, goods and. Criticism of marxism, which is criticism of the political ideology and principles most often identified with the word communism. As the industrial revolution advanced, socialist critics blamed capitalism for the misery of the proletariat a new class of urban factory workers who labored under oftenhazardous conditions. After learning about canadas ridiculous monument to the victims of communism and finding out that theres a similar monument in my own city, i looked at the. So many people in our country are ignorant of these things and they need to be informed so we dont buy into the propaganda and repeat the. Seventeen hours a day we had to sit like that and hear from the morning to the evening.
In this book, anne applebaum goes into the area between the old russian empire, germany and the old turkish empire, and sees how it has developed. But is also presents many facts and historical events regarding communism. Such a thing doesnt even enter in the mind of somebody. Origins of communism early forms and theories communism as a theory of government and social reform may be said, in a limited sense, to have begun with the ancient greek idea of the golden age, a concept of a world of communal bliss and harmony without the institution of private property. Synonyms for communism at with free online thesaurus, antonyms, and definitions. Buzzfeed writer criticism of communism white nationalism. Full text of the black book of communism internet archive. Some critics have objected to the book s depiction of communism and nazism as being similar, others have criticized the approach the book takes to assigning blame of deaths, and still others, most notably j. The fraudulent death tolls contained in the book are the single most quoted anticommunist source in the world.
The first section, by pascal fontaine, is a 35page overview of cuba, nicaragua under sandinista rule, and the sendero luminoso in peru. Yet austere though this inventory is, its cumulative impact is overwhelming. It is a major study that deepens our understanding of communism and poses a philosophical and political challenge that cannot be ignored. Apr 26, 2016 pastor steve waldron, new life of albany albany, ga. The best anarchist, communist, and socialist books reading list covers nearly all the essential writers of leftwing philosophy and their essential texts. Crimes, terror, repression is a book authored by several european academics and edited by stephane courtois, which documents a history of repressions, both political and civilian, by communist states, including genocides, extrajudicial executions, deportations, and artificial famines. Why we should revisit the black book of communism now. Black book puts to rest the odious fiction that has softened communisms image for so long. Already famous throughout europe, this international bestseller plumbs recently opened archives in the former soviet bloc to reveal the actual, practical accomplishments of communism around the world. A unique attempt by french historiansas important in its way as the works of solzhenitsynto chronicle the crimes of communism wherever it has attained power in the world. For the cumulative toll of victims of communist rule, estimated by the authors at between 85 and 100 million.
Probably the most important historical study published since the collapse of the soviet union in 1991 allowed access to kremlin archives for the first time, the black book sparked passionate national debate when it was first published in france in 1997 and. The black book of communism crimes, terror, repression stephane courtois nicolas werth jeanlouis panne andrzej paczkowski karel bartosek jeanlouis margolin harvard university press cambridge, massachusetts london, england 1999 translated by jonathan murphy and mark kramer. The black book of communism by stephane courtois kirkus. This book goes into great detail about the crimes against humanity committed by communist governments trying to create utopia. It is incredible that most people know so little about it. This is an assembly of extensive articles published in france two years ago and now. A thoughtprovoking work of history and social criticism, the black book of communism fully merits the broadest possible readership and discussion. Communism appeared at a time when human beings were at the peak of the competition for the worlds resources. Communism has caused more human suffering than any other ideology in our history and the scale of that suffering bogles the mind. A primary source is a work that is being studied, or that provides firsthand or direct evidence on a topic. Synonyms for criticism at with free online thesaurus, antonyms, and definitions. Why doesnt the black book of communism include the almost. The murderous communism of pol pot was crushed by the vietnamese communists while the west, in alliance with china, opposed an intervention that. In late 1997 a leading french publishing house, robert laffont, published le livre noir du communisme the black book of communism, an 850page book of scholarly essays that collectively provide a history of communism in the 20th century.
A critique of communism and socialism from a christian. Crimes, terror, repression harvard university press, cambridge 1999, pp. Lets talk about anne applebaums book, between east and west. The black book of communism stephane courtois, nicolas. Crimes, terror, repression by stephane courtois and five other writers, translated from the french 1999, 850 pages. The book is set in the notsodistant future where the entire economy and environment. In 1800, there wasnt what i would call a ukrainian or still less a belarusian nation. But the authors of the black book of communism do what none of the other authors had done before. And they communists played the martyr in order to sanctify the communist cause and to silence all criticisms of it for communism, antifascism. A writer for buzzfeed has claimed that criticism of communism is a form of white nationalism. Nov 08, 2017 a writer for buzzfeed has claimed that criticism of communism is a form of white nationalism. Crimes, terror, repression is a 1997 book by stephane courtois, nicolas werth, andrzej paczkowski and several other european academics documenting a history of political repressions by communist states, including genocides, extrajudicial executions, deportations, killing populations in labor camps and artificially created famines. Gorbachev, perestroika, and the attempt to reform communism, 198587 481 25.
In its modern form, communism grew out of the socialist movement in 19thcentury europe. Criticism of communist party rule, which is criticism of the practical policies implemented by 20th century governments claiming to follow the ideology of marxismleninism usually known as communist states. Incidentally, i have done the same kind of thing concerning bukharin. Overall, somehow or another, the black book of communism has managed to raise the debate one notch. For example, eric hobsbawms text on marxism is included, and even though his age of. They said the changes would be made in the next edition. Historically, however, race was also a synonym for a nation or, even, a family. Communism is good, communism is good, communism is good, communism is good, until you heard one who was already 20 years in prison under the communists shouting, communism is good, communism is good, communism is good, i give my life for communism.
Jan 01, 2001 black book puts to rest the odious fiction that has softened communisms image for so long. Crimes, terror, repression is a book written by several european academics and edited by stephane courtois, and documents a history of repressions, both political and civilian, by communist states, including genocides, extrajudicial executions, deportations, and artificial famines. Uncritical reading and the discourse of anticommunism. There is, in fact, no such necessary connection between socialism and anti racism. The book has evoked a wide variety of responses, ranging from enthusiastic support to severe criticism.
The collected conservative writings of david horowitz duration. The fifth part of the book, le tiersmonde the third world, deals with communist regimes in other parts of the third world. The authors are prisoners of history in the sense that a residue of their gullibility remains and distorts the book. This book is a must read and discusses many scholarly issues regarding the nature of totalitarianism, communism and fascism. Antiracists should think twice about allying with socialism. Before the russian revolution of 1917, socialism and communism were synonyms. Why doesnt the black book of communism include the almost 6 million nazis killed by communism. He is the author of six books in the john russell espionage series, set in wwii berlin. Jun 05, 2009 the murderous communism of pol pot was crushed by the vietnamese communists while the west, in alliance with china, opposed an intervention that, as brown points out, saved an incalculable number. Aug 24, 2017 the black book of communism alleges that communism killed 94 million people during the 20th century. Henceforth, the term communism was applied to the ideology of the parties founded under the aegis of the comintern. Essay about critique of the communist manifesto 861. The black book of communism crimes, terror, repression. The most significant difference between the communist revolution and the cultural revolution is that the cultural revolution occurred in one country over a specific period of time, and the communist.
Buy the black book of communism crimes, terror, repression. This might not be exactly what youre looking for, but its certainly a refreshing break from nonfiction books on the criticism of capitalism i recently finished reading an interesting science fiction book called the windup girl by paolo bacigalupi. Communism, it seems, is on its last legs in todays 21st century world. The authors did such a bad job they were forced to admit it and print a retraction. The black book of communism gives a balance sheet of our present knowledge of communisms human costs, archivally based where possible, and otherwise drawing on the best secondary works, and with due allowance for the difficulties of quantification. Marxist critique of the communist manifesto, marx and engels 2021 words 9 pages. Essay about critique of the communist manifesto 861 words. Buy the black book of communism by stephane courtois, nicolas werth from waterstones today. Full text of the black book of communism see other formats. List of books and articles about communism in america. The communist manifesto by karl marx, animal farm by george orwell, one day in the life of ivan denisovich by aleksandr solzh. I suggest you check out friedrich hayeks books for this topic. Whereas chapters of the book, where it describes the events in separate communist states, were highly praised, some.
Like most contemporary socialists, lenin believed that socialism could not be attained. After learning about canadas ridiculous monument to the victims of communism and finding out that theres a similar monument in my own city, i looked at the claims made by the reactionaries funding the projects. Communism from latin communis, common, universal is a philosophical, social, political, economic ideology and movement whose ultimate goal is the establishment of a communist society, namely a socioeconomic order structured upon the ideas of common ownership of the means of production and the absence of social classes, money and the state communism includes a variety of schools of. The book not only bashes socialism and makes it out to be worse than fascism, it outright tries to portray fascism as a good thing. Zoo station, silesian station, stettin station, potsdam station, lehrter station, and masaryk station and the nonfiction work, sealing their fate. Not the least remarkable thing about this book is that this is the first time such a study has been made. The scourge of the socialist revolution around the world gave us 6 million people killed by artificial famines in ukraine and, as documented by the black book of communism, 20 million victims in the u. Synonyms for black book at with free online thesaurus, antonyms, and definitions. The xyzs of socialism foundation for economic education.
Quoting survivors, escapees, and what little information had been published in the soviet press, the black book of communism. Communism from latin communis, common, universal is a philosophical, social, political, economic ideology and movement whose ultimate goal is the establishment of a communist society, namely a socioeconomic order structured upon the ideas of common ownership of the means of production and the absence of social classes, money and the state. The best books on communism five books expert recommendations. Sep 05, 2017 this book is a must read and discusses many scholarly issues regarding the nature of totalitarianism, communism and fascism. Pastor steve waldron, new life of albany albany, ga. A weak point of the book is that a leftist bias remains. The black book of communism alleges that communism killed 94 million people during the 20th century. I will tell you something of which may be laughable for you. It is a shibboleth of anticommunism, whether liberal, conservative, russian, western, etc. Maos great leap forward needed only two years to destroy tens of millions of peasants. The most common economic criticism of the soviet bloc has long been its failure to.
The black book of communism was originally published in france on november 8, 1997, the eightieth anniversary of the russian revolution. Nevetheless, the book, published in paris in 1927, was one of the first to describe the soviet unions earliest political prisons, located on the solovetsky islands in the white sea. The first printing sold out in a matter of weeks, and the. The communism versus nazism comparison was the only comparison of figures offered in the book and it is mostly a comparison of war time deaths with some extra and invented famine deaths thrown in on the soviet side, which we will address further in the essay below. The contributors to the book include some of the finest scholars from both east and west, who have drawn extensively on new archival findings. Why doesnt the black book of communism include the almost 6.
Although communism has played a bigger role in the history of real world governments such as chinas and the former soviet unions, anarchism has long been a very important philosophy among political. Aug 10, 2011 the biggest lies ever concerning communism are debunked. The biggest lies ever concerning communism are debunked. The book was originally published in 1997 in france under the title le livre noir du. The black book of communism, written by stephane courtois has been called into question on multiple different grounds. Modern racial justice movements like black lives matter are embracing the. Rubashov, the hero of arthur koestlers darkness at noon, who confesses out of loyalty to the party, was based on bukharin.
It is a measure of the success of the class struggle that the reactionary intelligentsia felt compelled to write an 854 page book touching on the death toll of communism. List of books and articles about communism online research. The book is set in the notsodistant future where the entire economy and environment collapses, and the worlds economy now runs on calories. The black book of communism, which is finally appearing in english, is an extraordinary and almost unspeakably chilling book. For the cumulative toll of victims of communist rule, estimated by the authors at between 85 and 100. The dismantling of soviet communism, 198889 503 26. This number is accumulated from more than 10 different nations and various movements around the. According to the black book of communism 1999, at least 94 million people were. Astonishing in the sheer detail it amasses, the book is the first comprehensive attempt to catalogue and analyze the crimes of communism. Their program called for the uniting of all the workers of the world for the coming world revolution, which would be followed by the establishment of a dictatorship of the proletariat and state socialism. Some of the atrocities of the reds are documented, although there is undue emphasis on communist victims of the relentless communist purges. But defenders of property and human liberty should always remain vigilant against totalitarian leftism, which is why weve selected the top 5 anticommunist books ever written. The black book of communism by stephane courtois, nicolas. Crimes, terror, repression jeanlouis panne, andrzej paczkowski, karel bartosek, jeanlouis margolin, nicolas werth, stephane courtois, mark kramer, jonathan murphy, mark kramer on.