The logic of hatred and its social and historical expressions: From the great witch-hunt to terror and present-day djihadism

Abstract

In two important books, the French philosopher Jacob Rogozinski analyses the logic of hatred underlying the great witch-hunt at the beginning of modern times, the period of terror following the French and the Russian Revolution and present-day djihadism. According to his analysis, the same logic of hatred is at work in these historical phenomena. The confrontation with the martyrs-murderers of djihadism, challenges the self-understanding of the defenders of democracy. Just as, on the level of religion, one must give up the dream of a reformation that would make Islam more « moderate », and help the Islamic believers become more radical, but otherwise than more fanatical, by rediscovering their forgotten treasures, on a political level, democracy too needs to be radicalized.