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We know a lot about the sociology of fascism, but how have sociologists responded to fascism when confronted with it in their own lives? How courageous or compromising have they been? And why has this history been shrouded in silence for so long? In this major work of historical scholarship sociologists from around the world describe and evaluate the reactions of sociologists to the rise and practice of fascism.
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SOCIOLOGY RESPONDS TO FASCISM Over recent years there has been growing interest in the relations between academic intellectuals and professionals and the Nazi regime—several works on Heidegger, Nazi doctors and Paul de Man have appeared. This book attempts to do for sociology what has been done for other Fields: to demythologize the prewar role of sociologists and provide a serious historical basis for reflection on it. The myth is simple: that the noble and clear-sighted Frankfurt School was expelled by Hitler and raised the consciousness of the West. The realities are considerably more complex. During and after the war, a consensus account of fascism emerged, but in the interwar years sociologists misanalysed, misunderstood or supported fascism. The book examines the historical record in Germany, Austria, Italy, Hungary, the USA and the UK to provide a rich and at times perplexing account of sociologists and fascism. Novel in its comparative framework and invigorating in its conclusions, the book will occupy the centre of debate for many years to come. It will appeal to sociologists with an interest in history, and historians with an interest in sociology. ‘Turner and Käsler have done professional social science a profoundly necessary, if painful service . A major contribution to the history of sociology as a discipline and institution . A refreshingly unsentimental exposé of the collaboration and connivance between academic sociology and fascism, it should be widely studied and debated.’ Professor Bryan S.Turner, Department of Sociology, Essex University Stephen Turner is Distinguished Research Professor at the University of South Florida, and Dirk Käsler is Professor of Sociology at Hamburg University. SOCIOLOGY RESPONDS TO FASCISM Edited by Stephen P.Turner and Dirk Käsler London and New York First published in 1992 by Routledge 11 New Fetter Lane, London EC4P 4EE Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada by Routledge 29 West 35th Street, New York, NY 10001 This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2005. “To purchase your own copy of this or any of Taylor & Francis or Routledge’s collection of thousands of eBooks please go to www.eBookstore.tandf.co.uk.” © 1992 Selection and editorial matter, Stephen P.Turner and Dirk Käsler; individual chapters, the contributors. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilized in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloguing in Publication Data Turner, Stephen P., 1951– Sociology Responds to Fascism/Stephen P.Turner and Dirk Käsler. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. 1. Sociology—United States—History–20th century. 2. Sociology—Europe—History–20th century. 3. Fascism—History. 4. Sociologists— United States—History–20th century. 5 Sociologists—Europe–20th century. I. Käsler, Dirk, 1944–. II. Title. HM22.U5T873 1992 91–43900 301–dc20 CIP ISBN 0-203-16907-7 Master e-book ISBN ISBN 0-203-26443-6 (Adobe eReader Format) ISBN 0-415-04086-8 (Print Edition) To the memory of Theo and Sasha Suess, and the son wh