Below are topics covering material from Hannah Arendt, The origins of Totalitarianism. Select one topic and write an informal essay. Essay should carefully and thoroghly consider the issues raised. Essay may be expositional, interpretative, or critical, as you choose.
1. Race is a relatively new concept, dating only to the late eighteenth century. Racism, likewise, is a relatively recent development. Discuss the origins of racism and its varieties that can now be seen as the forerunners of the Nazi’s ideology of the pure aryan race. Discuss racism’s effect upon ideas such as humanity, justice, and equality.
2. The rise of totalitarian depended upon societies of masses, isolated people no matter how crowded together, bound together by no interest, class, or other ground for solidarity. Explain how mass society arose in Europe during the first decades of the twentieth centruy and describe at least one method by which totalitarians(Nazi) maintained and expanded the society of mass men. Why was such a mass of isolated men and women susceptible to totalitarian propaganda.
Reference: Use the book The origins of Totalitarianism, by Hannah Arendt to answer questions and give own thoughts on Hannah‘s writing.
