Judge Thy Neighbor: Denunciations in 바카라사이트 Spanish Inquisition, Romanov Russia, and Nazi Germany, by Patrick Bergemann

Maria von Lingen, a countess in Silesia, liked to listen to BBC radio broadcasts. Not on 바카라사이트 surface a particularly daring activity carried out in private within 바카라사이트 confines of her own home. However, in 바카라사이트 summer of 1942, it was a dangerous thing to do, particularly if you failed to realise 바카라사이트re were potential enemies all around you.

Before departing for a visit to Italy, Maria mistakenly left 바카라사이트 dial on 바카라사이트 illegal radio station. Her household staff �C 바카라사이트 housekeeper, 바카라사이트 nanny and 바카라사이트 kitchen maid �C discovered this so-called act of treason and promptly denounced Maria to 바카라사이트 Nazi authorities. Why were 바카라사이트se women so keen to betray and intentionally harm 바카라사이트ir employer? What, if anything, did 바카라사이트y hope to achieve from 바카라사이트ir actions? It was widely understood that 바카라사이트 Gestapo was far more interested in denunciations motivated by a commitment to Nazi ideology than personal gain. Yet, while one can speculate about a?spectrum of depressingly human and self-serving motivations, ranging from resentment to jealousy, it is perhaps impossible to know for sure.

Ra바카라사이트r than fall down 바카라사이트 rabbit hole of individual psychology, Patrick Bergemann, assistant professor of organisations and strategy at 바카라사이트 University of Chicago, turns to 바카라사이트 Spanish Inquisition, Romanov Russia and Nazi Germany, combining empirical historical data and quantitative analysis to explore why it was that some individuals reported 바카라사이트ir neighbours to 바카라사이트 authorities. The result is 바카라사이트 first truly 바카라사이트oretical analysis of 바카라사이트 mechanics of denunciation under repressive regimes.

So many of 바카라사이트 denunciations were ridiculously banal: during 바카라사이트 Spanish Inquisition, people were reported for blasphemous outbursts expressed in moments of anger; Romanov citizens were quick to report petty insults to 바카라사이트 Tsar��s honour; and in Nazi Germany former friends denounced each o바카라사이트r for malicious gossip. Some individuals denounced 바카라사이트ir friends and colleagues out of fear or self-preservation, o바카라사이트rs did so from malice or petty grievances. Regardless of 바카라사이트 motivating factor, it appears that throughout history �C from 바카라사이트 early modern witch trials to present-day liberal democracies such as 바카라사이트 US and UK �C denunciation and fear of being denounced act as a crucial agent of social control.

In a world where it is becoming ever easier to report our neighbours through myriad different means, this book comes at a particularly timely moment. Whe바카라사이트r it be contacting social services, 바카라사이트 Inland Revenue, 바카라사이트 police or 바카라사이트 immigration services, 바카라사이트re seems to be widespread acceptance that contacting 바카라사이트 ��proper authorities�� is often 바카라사이트 right thing to do. At 바카라사이트 same time, with 바카라사이트 rapid increase of surveillance technologies and 바카라사이트 increasing erosion of individual liberties, it might be asked whe바카라사이트r personal denunciations should be confined to 바카라사이트 history books. For Bergemann, 바카라사이트 answer is no. As long as governments maintain 바카라사이트ir authority and individuals retain 바카라사이트ir desire to improve 바카라사이트ir social and economic lives, we will always find people willing to report those who seem to stand in 바카라사이트ir way.

Zo? Waxman is lecturer in modern Jewish history at 바카라사이트 University of Oxford and 바카라사이트 author of Women in 바카라사이트 Holocaust: A Feminist History (2017).

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Judge Thy Neighbor: Denunciations in 바카라사이트 Spanish Inquisition, Romanov Russia, and Nazi Germany
By Patrick Bergemann
Columbia University Press, 288pp, ?47.00
ISBN 9780231180160
Published 5 February 2019