Hannah Arendt and Authoritarianism with Roger Berkowitz

In 'Past and Future,' Hannah Arendt assembles essays that engage with the crises of modernity and the practice of thinking itself. The collection addresses themes like tradition, authority, education, and the role of thought in political life. Arendt treats thinking as an exercise crucial to moral and political judgment, arguing for its relevance in times of crisis. The essays combine historical insight with philosophical inquiry to explore how societies remember and imagine political futures. The volume offers readers a concise entry into Arendt's method and central concerns.

In *Our Revolution: A Future to Believe In*, Bernie Sanders shares his personal experiences from the 2016 presidential campaign trail, recounting the details of his historic primary fight and the people who made it possible. The book outlines a progressive economic, environmental, racial, and social justice agenda aimed at creating jobs, raising wages, protecting the environment, and providing health care for all. Sanders emphasizes that the political revolution has just started and that the struggle to transform the country and the world continues.

In 'The Human Condition,' Hannah Arendt provides a comprehensive account of how human activities have been understood throughout Western history. She contrasts the 'vita activa' (active life) with the 'vita contemplativa' (contemplative life) and identifies three primary human activities: labor, work, and action. Arendt discusses how these activities have evolved and been affected by changes in Western history, emphasizing the importance of action in disclosing human identity and creating a 'space of appearances' through speech and deeds. The book addresses issues such as diminishing human agency, political freedom, and the paradox of increased human powers without corresponding control over their consequences.

In this seminal work, Hannah Arendt explores the historical and philosophical roots of totalitarianism. The book is structured into three essays: 'Antisemitism', 'Imperialism', and 'Totalitarianism'. Arendt examines the rise of anti-Semitism in 19th-century Europe, the role of European colonial imperialism, and the emergence of totalitarian movements in Nazi Germany and Stalinist Russia. She argues that totalitarianism is a novel form of government that differs from other forms of political oppression by its use of terror to subjugate mass populations and its aim for global domination. The book also delves into the mechanics of totalitarian movements, including the transformation of classes into masses, the role of propaganda, and the use of terror to maintain control.