Political Imprisonment and Captivity in the Modern World: from Revolution to Conscience

This course examines the history of political incarceration and captivity since the French Revolution. What is the relationship between the rise of ideologies such as fascism, communism and nationalism on the one hand, and the use of political imprisonment on the other? How do crimes and the political intersect? We examine several cases to consider how captivity has been used for political purposes in the modern world. In addition to scholarly works, readings will consist of primary source documents and memoirs. Emphasis will be placed on Europe, but the course will also include lectures and readings on other geographic regions.