The Dark Side of Liberation: When Historical Movements for Change Go Wrong
Location
Massey Board Room
Presentation Type
Presentation
Start Date
15-9-2011 12:30 PM
Description
Americans love a good liberation movement. Whether it is our own Founding Fathers, the Civil Rights Movement, Gandhi’s call for the independence of India, or even the revolutionaries of this year’s Arab Spring, we love to listen to the voices of liberation and cheer for their victories. Yet we don’t like to dwell on the uncomfortable truth that movements for liberation often go off the rails. Sometimes they are crushed by their opponents. Sometimes – and this is more troubling – movements for liberation succeed, but then turn into something authoritarian or even totalitarian. Dr. Dan Schafer, professor of history at Belmont University, will explore some of the reasons that liberation movements often fall short of their promise.
Recommended Citation
Schafer, Daniel, "The Dark Side of Liberation: When Historical Movements for Change Go Wrong" (2011). Humanities Symposium. 22.
https://repository.belmont.edu/humanities_symposium/2011/2011/22
The Dark Side of Liberation: When Historical Movements for Change Go Wrong
Massey Board Room
Americans love a good liberation movement. Whether it is our own Founding Fathers, the Civil Rights Movement, Gandhi’s call for the independence of India, or even the revolutionaries of this year’s Arab Spring, we love to listen to the voices of liberation and cheer for their victories. Yet we don’t like to dwell on the uncomfortable truth that movements for liberation often go off the rails. Sometimes they are crushed by their opponents. Sometimes – and this is more troubling – movements for liberation succeed, but then turn into something authoritarian or even totalitarian. Dr. Dan Schafer, professor of history at Belmont University, will explore some of the reasons that liberation movements often fall short of their promise.
Comments
Convocation Credit: Academic Lecture