ABSTRACT
In the last few years the study of the Holocaust has been profoundly transformed. This development may be seen as the second phase in a trend that dates back to the 1970s, when the Nazi genocide of the Jews began to be perceived by both scholars and the general public as an historical event of major importance. Hence, while the findings and analyses of the 1980s and 1990s will be discussed here, many of the chapters reflect the most updated scholarly work of recent years. To be sure, this scholarship builds on half a century of research and interpretation. But the intention of this collection is to provide readers with some knowledge of current developments and debates in an expanding field of inquiry concerned with one of the greatest catastrophes of the twentieth century, whose relevance for, and impact on, our civilization’s present condition is becoming increasingly apparent.
