Description
Book SynopsisIn this accessible, unique study of a forgotten but noteworthy figure, the author tells the story of the life of Kurt Baschwitz (1886—1968), a scholar who fled from the Nazis. He wrote six books, never translated into English, on four related themes: the press, propaganda, politics, and persecution. Baschwitz independently developed concepts that are now seen as key to communication science and social psychology, and the author places Baschwitz’s ideas in the wider context of his dramatic life and times.
Trade Review"By rescuing Baschwitz from oblivion, Van Ginneken (e.g., 1998, 2007) has once again performed a major service to the study of mass communication. It is interesting to note the obvious similarities between the biographer and his subject = Scholars of mass communication would do well not only to remember Baschwitz, but also Van Ginneken" - Tabe Bergman, XJTLU-JC School of Film and Television Arts, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Jiangsu Province, 215123, Suzhou, People’s Republic of China,
The Journal of International Communication, July 2018 "Baschwitz was an instrumental player in the creation of post-war scholarly networks in the then-new field of mass communication = Van Ginneken's book helps to correct Baschwitz's omission from the story of social, political and mass psychology, as well as mass communication and media studies'" - Geert Lovink, Institute of Network Cultures,
Necsus (European Network of Cinema and Media Studies, July 10, 2018). Read the full interview here. "This book presents the extraordinary life and scientific works of the brilliant European scientist Kurt Baschwitz, a founding father of the study of mass psychology, collective behavior sociology and media studies in Europe. This book will eventually help to rediscover the originality of the great contributions of this pioneering scholar." -
Willem Koops, distinguished professor at Utrecht University, The Netherlands Review [in German] on socialnet.de, Das Netz für die Sozialwirtschaft, read here.
Table of ContentsPreface List of illustrations 1. INTRODUCTION 2. YOUTH & JOURNALISM 3. WAR AND PROPAGANDA 4. FIRST BOOK: PROPAGANDA AND ENEMY IMAGES, with Extract 5. WEIMAR AND THE PRESS 6. SECOND BOOK: PRESS AND AUDIENCES, with Extract 7. EXILE AND POLITICS 8. THIRD BOOK: POLITICS AND MASSES, with Extract 9. HIDING AND PERSECUTION 10. FOURTH A.F. BOOKS: PERSECUTION AND WITCH HUNTS, with Extract 11. FOUNDER OF MAJOR INSTITUTIONS 12. RETIREMENT YEARS 13. CONCLUSION EPILOGUE APPENDIX: FULL ESSAY ON ‘THE POWER OF STUPIDITY’ Notes Acknowledgements References Index/ Register Author List of abbreviations
