An interesting aspect of the reading by Levack is that although the specific hunting of witches has for the most part ended in western nations the same processes that caused it remain. The fear of modern social deviants has resulted in similar persecution as those perceived to be witches in early modern Europe. In the United States there were witch-hunts for communists during the Cold War and in Europe during Nazi occupation, Jews and other social and ethnic minorities were persecuted to an extent that dwarfs the persecutions experienced by perceived witches in the past. The main difference between the witch-hunts of early modern Europe and those that have happened more recently or could potentially happen in the future is that it is the modern state in western society that is mainly persecuting "witches". Should they be they members of a particular ideology contrary to their government's positions or styled terrorists the people now representing witches can be persecuted on a much larger scale than was ever possible when it was mainly local communities who were responsible for persecutions. Although witches are not necessarily being persecuted currently, the the capacity for witch-hunt style persecutions against others is just as great now as it was during the early modern era in Europe.
Do you believe that mass persecution in the style of witch-hunts is possible today? How is it that the change in the source of the persecution from local communities to the state has changed the groups being targeted for mass persecution?
Thanks for the post Ian! I definitely believe that mass persecution-style witch-hunts are possible even in the 21st century. In regards to the effect that the change from community persecution to state persecution has seen the rise in greater numbers of victims. Although there was a significant number of people who were accused, charged, and/or found guilty of being witches during the early modern era, we do not see the large numbers of victims that are symbolic of modern witch-hunts (i.e. the Holocaust, the internment of Japanese-Americans during WWII, McCarthyism, the Rwandan civil war, the hunt for "terrorists" today, etc.). I feel that without the support of major backing, coming from the state, the number of persecuted is more likely to being less in most cases. Thanks again!
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Ian! One example that definitely comes to mind about modern witch-hunts is the persecution of Muslims. In fact, the debate about Syrian refugees has often been compared to that of the persecution of the Jews in Nazi Germany. As far as answering your second question, I think Dylan put it perfectly and I couldn't have said it better myself. :)
ReplyDeleteI feel like it is certainly a possibility in today's society, however not to such a large extent. I've always been really interested in the Cold War and as Dylan pointed out McCarthyism was a much more recent example. In the case of McCarthyism it was peoples jobs on the line rather than their lives but the key elements are the same. People were persecuted out of fear and were judged on little to no evidence at all. I don't see any reason that something similar couldn't happen today.
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