Crises of the Republic

by Hannah Arendt

Assigned by 1 of the 9 reading lists, catalogue entry only

Written
1972
Form
Essay
Language
English
Length
Medium · 240 pp120 to 300 pages
Difficulty
Demanding3 of 5 for a first-year reader

We recommendCrises of the RepublicHarvest (Harcourt), 1972The standard paperback of the collection as Arendt assembled it.

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Four essays written between 1969 and 1971 in response to the Vietnam War, the Pentagon Papers and the student movements. Lying in Politics examines how deception and image-making replaced facts in American war policy. Civil Disobedience argues that organised lawbreaking by minorities is a legitimate form of voluntary association in the American tradition. On Violence distinguishes power, which rests on the consent of a group, from violence, which is instrumental and destroys power. The last piece is an interview on politics and revolution.

No reading guide yet

The catalogue entry above is complete: the dates, the form, the themes and every program that assigns Crises of the Republic are verified against each program's published list.

What is missing is the part that takes real work: the summary, the key passages, and a recommended translation. The edition named below is the one most programs assign, so the buy links are useful already.

Browse the 48 works that do have a guide →

Lying in Politics, Civil Disobedience, On Violence, Thoughts on Politics and Revolution, On Violence, Civil Disobedience, Lying in Politics, Pentagon Papers, Vietnam, power versus violence, student movement, Johanna Arendt