Du passé faisons table rase ! Histoire et mémoire du communisme en Europe

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When first published in France in 1997, this book ignited significant controversy that persists today. Even some contributors hesitated at chief editor Stéphane Courtois's assertion that Communism, in all its forms, is morally equivalent to Nazism. Courtois contends that both totalitarian systems excelled at killing rather than governing, as history has shown. The authors illustrate Communism's deadly efficiency, citing 25 million deaths in Russia during the Bolshevik and Stalinist periods, around 65 million in China under Mao Zedong, and 2 million in Cambodia, alongside millions more in Africa, Eastern Europe, and Latin America—an astonishing death toll. Courtois argues that this propensity for violence is not incidental but a fundamental aspect of a philosophy aimed at eliminating class distinctions by eradicating the classes themselves. The contributors meticulously document Communism's atrocities across various countries and revolutions, presenting figures that may spark debate among historians and ideologues alike. Courtois provocatively claims that those who admire figures like Lenin, Trotsky, and Ho Chi Minh are unwittingly endorsing a murderous ideology, which, despite its global decline, still retains followers. This work serves as a compelling exploration of history and social critique, deserving of widespread readership and discussion.