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Historicizing Fear: Ignorance, Vilification, and Othering
Historicizing Fear is a historical interrogation of the use of fear as a tool to vilify and persecute groups and individuals from a global perspective, offering an unflinching look at racism, fearful framing, oppression, and marginalization across human history.The book examines fear and Othering from a historical context, providing a better understanding of how power and oppression is used in the present day.
Contributors ground their work in the theory of Othering—the reductive action of labeling a person as someone who belongs to a subordinate social category defined as the Other—in relation to historical events, demonstrating that fear of the Other is universal, timeless, and interconnected. Chapters address the music of neo-Nazi white power groups, fear perpetuated through the social construct of black masculinity in a racially hegemonic society, the terror and racial cleansing in early twentieth-century Arkansas, the fear of drug-addicted Vietnam War veterans, the creation of fear by the Tang Dynasty, and more.
Timely, provocative, and rigorously researched, Historicizing Fear shows how the Othering of members of different ethnic groups has been used to propagate fear and social tension, justify state violence, and prevent groups or individuals from gaining equality. Broadening the context of how fear of the Other can be used as a propaganda tool, this book will be of interest to scholars and students of history, anthropology, political science, popular culture, critical race issues, social justice, and ethnic studies, as well as the general reader concerned with the fearful framing prevalent in politics.
Quaylan Allen, Melanie Armstrong, Brecht De Smet, Kirsten Dyck, Adam C. Fong, Jeff Johnson, Łukasz Kamieński, Guy Lancaster, Henry Santos Metcalf, Julie M. Powell, Jelle Versieren
Contributors ground their work in the theory of Othering—the reductive action of labeling a person as someone who belongs to a subordinate social category defined as the Other—in relation to historical events, demonstrating that fear of the Other is universal, timeless, and interconnected. Chapters address the music of neo-Nazi white power groups, fear perpetuated through the social construct of black masculinity in a racially hegemonic society, the terror and racial cleansing in early twentieth-century Arkansas, the fear of drug-addicted Vietnam War veterans, the creation of fear by the Tang Dynasty, and more.
Timely, provocative, and rigorously researched, Historicizing Fear shows how the Othering of members of different ethnic groups has been used to propagate fear and social tension, justify state violence, and prevent groups or individuals from gaining equality. Broadening the context of how fear of the Other can be used as a propaganda tool, this book will be of interest to scholars and students of history, anthropology, political science, popular culture, critical race issues, social justice, and ethnic studies, as well as the general reader concerned with the fearful framing prevalent in politics.
Quaylan Allen, Melanie Armstrong, Brecht De Smet, Kirsten Dyck, Adam C. Fong, Jeff Johnson, Łukasz Kamieński, Guy Lancaster, Henry Santos Metcalf, Julie M. Powell, Jelle Versieren
224 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 21, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 1, 2025
A very compelling book. It took me a while to get through it because I initially approached it like a casual read. In reality, it's more academic in tone and can feel a bit dense at first. But once I got into the rhythm, it was an incredible experience.
The book explores the concepts of othering, fear, and how these forces have been used throughout history across different societies.
We’re living in a time when politicians often scapegoat minorities or immigrants for societal problems, when racism persists, and when fascist ideologies are reemerging. It's crucial that we understand how these patterns have played out in the past so we can avoid repeating the same mistakes.
We can't allow hatred and ignorance to prevail, we must do better.
The book explores the concepts of othering, fear, and how these forces have been used throughout history across different societies.
We’re living in a time when politicians often scapegoat minorities or immigrants for societal problems, when racism persists, and when fascist ideologies are reemerging. It's crucial that we understand how these patterns have played out in the past so we can avoid repeating the same mistakes.
We can't allow hatred and ignorance to prevail, we must do better.
February 12, 2021
Remarkable!
Finally! A book on an important set of socio-political subjects written for the grunts in the trenches. A good, clear text, with sources and bibliography, that lays out the process by which fear is made politically manifest in groups. The examples given are especially helpful. Bravo!
Finally! A book on an important set of socio-political subjects written for the grunts in the trenches. A good, clear text, with sources and bibliography, that lays out the process by which fear is made politically manifest in groups. The examples given are especially helpful. Bravo!
July 13, 2022
I enjoyed this book very much. It offers innovative approaches to othering through history.
It is an edited collection - and the chapters are disparate. There would have been benefits in theorizing fear with greater clarity in the introduction, and also configuring a conclusion that aligned and probed the relationship between the chapters.
This is a well written and researched book.
It is an edited collection - and the chapters are disparate. There would have been benefits in theorizing fear with greater clarity in the introduction, and also configuring a conclusion that aligned and probed the relationship between the chapters.
This is a well written and researched book.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews