Premise: A course on the intellectual history and nachleben of the notion of a “European decline”…

Trigger warning

Invovles critical readings of literature and politics of European alt-right

Reading List

Ur-Texts

Spengler 1918/22, Der Untergang des Abendlandes (The Decline of the West) — as a sort of ur-text for this idea. Project Gutenberg has vol 1 in english, and both volumes in German
Spengler 1933, Jahre der Entscheidung. Deutschland und die weltgeschichtliche Entwicklung (The Hour of Decision: Germany and World-Historical Evolution) — introduce the idea of “downward” (class) and “outward” (ethnic) threats. Routledge has an English edition

Some history

Ibrahim 2018, Sword and Scimitar: Fourteen Centuries of War between Islam and the West — set up historical context for references to Siege of Constantinople, Battle of Tours, Siege of Vienna, referred to in other documents, although the author has a clear axe to grind (which is itself teachable/relevant)

The Post Cold-War Era

Fukuyama 1992, The End of History and the Last Man — Yay, the Cold War is over. Western liberal democratic ideals for the win! (as a counterpoint to what follows…)
Barber 1995, Jihad versus McWorld. “No, no Fukuyama: Tribal forces are going to rebel against your globalized neoliberal order.”
Huntington 1996, The Clash of Civilizations. “No, no Fukuyama: Not every ethno-pan-national bloc is compatible with western values.” There’s a vast critical literature for students to select from to create in class presentations/debates.

Political motivators

(probably too much to assign all of these, so just have students pick one and discuss in class. Bonus points if they can use their language requirement pre-reqs to read in the original)

Buchanan 2001 The Death of the West — American perspective
Sarrazin 2010, Deutschland schafft sich ab: Wie wir unser Land aufs Spiel setzen — basically a german flavored version
Zemmour 2014 Le Suicide français — a french version

Demographic shifts and population decline

UN Report (2000) Replacement Migration: Is it A Solution to Declining and Ageing Populations? — fertility declines, migration trends. Research Activity: Retroactive look back at the accuracy of the various prediction scenarios.

Fictional treatments and themes (popular reception)

Raspail 1973, Le Camp des Saints (The Camp of the Saints) — the classic dystopian migrant crisis/failure of the western ideals narrative
Houellebecq 2015, Soumission (Submission) — like all Houllebecq novels, deliciously depressing misanthropy. Notice how the protagonist’s escape route from Paris travels echoes the Camp of Saints, involves a stop at the shrine of Charles Martel, etc.
- This (or Sarrazin’s book, vide supra) could also be used as a launching point into critical discussions of Eurabia conspiracy theories, and tracing out how these ideas spread through social media.