@article{Larson1987, author = {Larson, Ronald}, title = {Toward an Understanding of Totalitarianism and Antisemitism}, journal = {The Midwest Quarterly, Vol. 28 (No. 2, winter 1987), pp. 161-175.}, year = {1987}, abstract = {Using a historical context, an attempt is made to demonstrate that totalitarianism and virulent anti-Semitism are natural consequences of equalitarianism. This is so because democratic societies, characterized by social equality, foster malignant individualism, which ultimately impoverishes collective life (both spiritually and materially); the unhappy final consequence of this process is that the human animal, in the context of a global economic crisis, will suffer from existential anxiety to such a degree that >Big Brother< will be called on to assuage it. Democratic politicians and intellectuals-guided by the philosophy of utilitarianism-will unwittingly precipitate the crisis by blindly pursuing public policies that lead to massive indebtedness, the collapse of international banking, and, ultimately, worldwide misery. Once again the Jew-the banker, the intellectual, and the Zionist-will be blamed for it all. In support of his argument, ideas are drawn on from the following artists and scientists: Ernest Becker, Herman Melville, Erich FROMM, Emile Durkheim, Erving Goffman, Alexis de Tocqueville, and George Orwell.}, language = {en} }