This section examines the psychological and cultural roots of dystopian thought.
: Traces the development of totalitarianism from the French Revolution's Jacobinism to the rise of Stalinism.
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.
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.
: 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.
: Explores group psychology, the "crowd," and how fear functions as a foundational social emotion.
: Traces the prehistory of "enemies" through early concepts of monsters, the devil, witchcraft, and religious persecution. Part II: Totalitarianism and Dystopia