Obóz koncentracyjny jako narzędzie władzy i transformacji społecznej w XX wieku

• Authors: Lech M. Nijakowski

Title variants

EN

Concentration Camps as a Twentieth-century Tool of Power and Social Transformation

• Languages of publication: PL

Abstracts

EN

The author compares 12 concentration camp systems, from US camps in the Philippines (1901–1902) to Serbian, Croatian, and Bosnian camps in Bosnia and Herzegovina (1992–1995). He uses comparative history for macro-causal analysis, discusses the challenges in defining concentration camps, and compares camps with other institutions. Some of the features outlined in the paper can be found in all concentration camps (forceful isolation of masses of people in accord with a “collectivist logic”, power, and cruelty), while others are limited to certain sub-types (forced labor, medical experiments). The author proves that concentration camps were predominantly a tool that was intended to help win wars, reinforce and stabilize power, and create a new, obedient form of citizen. Therefore, camps were one of the many methods used to pacify hostile populations and internal opposition. At the same time, their potential became apparent and led to the rise and spread of absolute power structures.

Keywords

PL

obóz koncentracyjny; porównawcza socjologia historyczna; władza absolutna; studia nad ludobójstwem

EN

concentration camp; comparative historical sociology; absolute power; genocide studies

• Publisher: Instytut Studiów Politycznych PAN
• Journal: Kultura i Społeczeństwo
• Year: 2019
• Volume: 63
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 9-38

Dates

published

2019-06-28

Contributors

author

Lech M. Nijakowski

Identifiers

DOI

10.35757/KiS.2019.63.2.2