About this Item
Dust jacket condition: No Jacket. Very good clean cory, Text free of highlighting and writing. The seduction of some of the twentieth century's great thinkers by Communist ideology and ideals is one of the most intriguing stories in the history of that ill-fated century. How was it that these distinguished intellectuals, public figures, and revolutionaries could enlist in the service of ideas which, when put in practice, proved repressive? Much has been written about the durable attraction of communism; we know far less about the disillusionment it spawned. In The End of Commitment, the distinguished sociologist Paul Hollander investigates how and why those individuals who were attracted to communism finally abandoned the cause that moved them. His is the first book to take a comprehensive, historically comparative view of disillusionment with Communist ideologies and systems, both in the countries where they were introduced and in the West. Relying chiefly on the autobiographies and memoirs of defectors, exiles, and dissidents from Communist states (the Soviet Union, in Eastern Europe, and in the Third World) as well as similar writings of major Western figures, Mr. Hollander examines and compares the sources and expressions of this political disenchantment. Concentrating on the moral conflicts created by the clash of unrealized ideals and actual practice, The End of Commitment sheds new light on the failings and malfunctions of these systems that were fully grasped only by those who lived under them. In a final, provocative section, Mr. Hollander explores the attitudes of some distinguished Western intellectuals who resisted disillusionment and clung to their commitment in the face of a welter of discrediting information. In all, his book offers a new insight into the patterns and processes of political attitude formation, persistence, and change in different social and historical settings. 416 pages. Seller Inventory # 053957
Bibliographic Details
Title: The End of Commitment: Intellectuals, ...
Publisher: Ivan R. Dee
Publication Date: 2006
Binding: Hardcover
Condition: VG
About this title
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Store Description
We guarantee the condition of every book as it's described on the Abebooks web sites. If you're dissatisfied with your purchase (Incorrect Book/Not as Described/Damaged) or if the order hasn't arrived, you're eligible for a refund within 30 days of the estimated delivery date. If you've changed your mind about a book that you've ordered, please use the "Ask bookseller a question" link to contact us.
We generally ship by the next business day. We want your order to reach you in the same condition it leaves our shelves -- so much so that we've created our own brand of shipping mailer. CorgiPack¿ mailers are constructed with a B-flute corrugated fiberboard pad providing solid edge and corner protection in transit, protection sadly lacking in cheap bubble mailers. And they're 100% recyclable -- just put them out with the household paper! International orders are shipped via AIR and should arrive in 7 to 10 days after shipping. Oversize items (e.g. sets containing 2 or more volumes, 4to, folios) and high cost items are sometimes subject to additional shipping charges; we will contact you for your approval if such is the case. Orders shipped outside of the United States may be subject to import taxes, customs duties and fees levied by the destination country. International shipments may be subject to such import taxes, customs duties and fees, which are levied once a shipment reaches the recipient's country. Additional charges for customs clearance must be borne by the recipient; we have no control over these charges and can't predict what they may be. Customs policies vary widely from country to country; you should contact your local customs office for more information. When customs clearance procedures are required, it can cause delays beyond our original delivery estimates.
Payment Methods
accepted by seller
