Violence and its narratives. Three interpretations of twentieth century European history

Journal title ITALIA CONTEMPORANEA
Author/s Javier Rodrigo
Publishing Year 2016 Issue 2016/280 Language Italian
Pages 13 P. 127-139 File size 107 KB
DOI 10.3280/IC2016-280007
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This article examines the grand narratives and interpretations that have been offered of 20th century European history, as a century of violence, terror, and genocide. By examining some examples coming from the historiographical debate, as well as several concrete historical processes (such as the debate on genocide, the concentration camp system, civil wars and the Holocaust), the article highlights the main features of these narratives and some of their limits and conceptual limits. Finally, it advances a proposal to analyze some continuities and discontinuities in the history of European collective violence, in terms of historical contingencies.

Keywords: Europe, genocide, violence, terror, historiography

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Javier Rodrigo, La violenza e le sue narrazioni: tre sguardi sull'Europa del XX secolo in "ITALIA CONTEMPORANEA" 280/2016, pp 127-139, DOI: 10.3280/IC2016-280007