Remaking Identities God, Nation, and Race in World History [Hardcover]

Lieberman proficiently documents the destruction, creation, and intriguing dual realities that emerge when groups attempt to plant their universal and exclusive ideologies in foreign soil. The author builds off his previous work on genocide by offering seven essays documenting the varying intensities of violence and genocide resulting from monotheistic expansion (the realm of Islam and Christendom), nation building (North American colonial frontier and early-20th-century Balkan nation-states), and racial empire (Nazi Germany). Lieberman demonstrates in each historical episode that the question was it genocide? is not the crucial topic. He contends that genocidal actions were one of many methods (persuasion, teaching, narratives, and remaking local geographies) utilized to create identity. Thus, the important question becomes how and why certain methods and levels of genocide were used in particular times and places. Lieberman convincingly demonstrates through historical record and thoughtful storytelling how practicality determined the particular method of implanting an ideology/identity. A main contribution to the literature concerns his theory that some of the worst violence emanated from the tension due to dual realities, which, Lieberman contends, is inherent in attempts at remaking identities. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and above.What do you say to someone who suggests that genocide is not just destructive, but constructive? This is the basic theme of Benjamin Liebermans excellent new book Remaking Identities: God, Nation and Race in World History. The book surveys two thousand years of history to explain how people have used violence to reconstruct identities. This obviously involves death and destruction. But it also involves recasting the identities of survivors. It involves evangelism and religious conversion. It entails education and persuasion. It sometimes requires forced separation from ones community and integratilÃq