Accusatory Practices: Denunciation in Modern European History, 1789-1989 (Studies in European History from the Journal of Modern History)

“Produced by religious intolerance political fanaticism or social resentment denunciation is a modern democratic practice too long neglected by historians. This fascinating book written by excellent specialists establishes a first inventory of this practice leading the reader through the revolutionary and counter-revolutionary cultures of the last two centuries.”Francois Furet “This is a fascinating and highly original exploration of a familiar though poorly understood phenomenon of modern societies in general and totalitarian systems in particular. From the French Revolution to the NKVD Gestapo and Stasi denunciation is analyzed both as a function of political surveillance and as deeply rooted in the social practices of community and the workplace. The book represents a refreshing amalgam of deeply archival research and theoretical rigor.”Norman M. Naimark Stanford University