The book defines dystopia as a "spectrum of sociability" dominated by fear, paranoia, and the demonisation of "enemies," serving as the psychological and social counterpart to utopia’s ideal of enhanced friendship.
The work is structured into three distinct parts that bridge the gap between historical reality and fictional narratives.
: Traces the prehistory of "enemies" through early concepts of monsters, the devil, witchcraft, and religious persecution. Part II: Totalitarianism and Dystopia Dystopia : a natural history : a study of moder...
A historical analysis of real-world "dystopian moments" in the 20th century.
: Traces the development of totalitarianism from the French Revolution's Jacobinism to the rise of Stalinism. The book defines dystopia as a "spectrum of
: Explores group psychology, the "crowd," and how fear functions as a foundational social emotion.
: Surveys major despotic regimes, including Nazi Germany, the Chinese Cultural Revolution, and Cambodia, through the lens of "political religion". Part III: The Literary Revolt against Collectivism An examination of how the genre evolved in literature. Part II: Totalitarianism and Dystopia A historical analysis
is a comprehensive 2017 monograph by historian Gregory Claeys that explores the concept of dystopia across three main areas: intellectual theory, historical totalitarian regimes, and literary traditions.
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