New Books Network Alex Alvarez and Richard R. Fernandez, "Lethal Elites: The Institutions and Professionals That Made the Holocaust Possible" (Bloomsbury, 2025)
Feb 15, 2026
Alex Alvarez, a criminology professor who studies genocide, discusses Lethal Elites. He explores how professionals and institutions legitimized and facilitated the Holocaust. He outlines which sectors—science, law, clergy, military, industry—were implicated. He warns that prestige, careerism, and institutional incentives can normalize atrocities.
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Elites Enabled Systemic Murder
- The Holocaust was not only carried out by uneducated thugs but involved highly educated professionals across sectors.
- Elites in medicine, law, religion, and industry provided expertise and legitimacy essential to planning and execution.
Bureaucracy Made Crimes Ordinary
- Institutions and bureaucracies shaped perpetrators' actions by dividing tasks into limited roles.
- Bureaucratic structures allowed many to claim they were "just doing their job" while enabling mass violence.
Ordinary Motives Drove Participation
- Motivations among elites varied widely and are rarely singular or pathological.
- Careerism, promotions, and material benefits often pushed professionals to participate or innovate in killing.
