Date of Defense
Fall 11-19-2001
Department
Sociology
First Advisor
Vyacheslav Karpov, Sociology
Second Advisor
Gerald Markle, Sociology
Third Advisor
John Martell, Lee Honors College
Abstract
The Soviet Gulag and the Holocaust are two formative events that claimed millions of victims in the twentieth century; however, the Gulag has received markedly less interest from scholars. Why does such a major discrepancy exist in the amount of attention that is focused on the Gulag as compared to the Holocaust? This paper offers a response to the above question. It explores the scale and dimensions of the discrepancy through a comparative analysis of a Gulag bibliography and a Holocaust bibliography. The paper also offers a response to the question of why the discrepancy exists by inquiring into the historical, political, and intellectual roots of the discrepancy. Through the exploration of possible causes, the paper will also offer a response another important question: will it be possible for the level of Gulag research to reach that of Holocaust research? Thus, the primary purpose of the research is to address the need for more research on the Gulag by initiating the process of working towards a sociological understand of the Soviet concentration camp system.
Recommended Citation
Schroeder, Rachel, "The Holocaust, Gulag, and Sociology: Why is There Less Scholarly Interest in the Soviet Repressive System?" (2001). Honors Theses. 475.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/honors_theses/475
Access Setting
Honors Thesis-Open Access
Included in
European History Commons, Jewish Studies Commons, Political History Commons, Social History Commons