The Architects of Evil: How Leading Scholars, Philosophers, Historians, and Scientists Contributed to the Rise of Hitler and TPLF

By Amsal Woreta

To explore the similarities between the role of intellectuals and scholars in Adolf Hitler’s rise to power and the rise of ethnic politics in Ethiopia, notably the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) manifesto and its narrative about the Amhara people, it is essential to contextualize both historical periods within their specific ideological frameworks. While Hitler’s ascent and the Holocaust targeted the Jewish population, Meles Zenawi’s TPLF Manifesto and the subsequent ethnic federalism in Ethiopia have been associated with ethnic tensions and violence, particularly against the Amhara population. A comparison between the two can be examined through the lens of how intellectuals, scholars, philosophers, historians, and scientists contributed to the shaping of divisive ideologies in both contexts.

Intellectuals and Hitler’s Rise to Power

In pre-World War II Germany, intellectuals played a crucial role in shaping the ideological narrative that enabled Adolf Hitler’s rise to power. Philosophers, historians, and scientists helped legitimize the Nazi agenda through the following:

1. Racial Science: Certain scientists contributed to the pseudo-scientific theories of racial superiority, advocating the notion of Aryan supremacy and justifying the exclusion, persecution, and eventual extermination of Jews and other groups deemed inferior. Figures like Alfred Rosenberg, one of Hitler’s primary ideological architects, contributed to the racial discourse by emphasizing Aryan purity and the necessity of cleansing the German race.
2. Historical Revisionism: Historians like Heinrich von Treitschke and others fostered a nationalistic view that sought to reclaim Germany’s “rightful place” in the world. They supported narratives of historical grievances, portraying the Jewish people as enemies of the German nation.
3. Intellectual Endorsement of Nationalism: Philosophers like Martin Heidegger, who initially supported Hitler, believed in the rejuvenation of the German people through strong leadership and the revival of German nationalism. This philosophical backing gave intellectual legitimacy to the Nazi regime’s violent agenda.
4. Anti-Semitic Propaganda: Intellectuals participated in crafting anti-Semitic propaganda, which depicted Jews as scapegoats for Germany’s problems following World War I. This propaganda was disseminated through various academic, media, and cultural outlets, ensuring widespread acceptance of these toxic ideologies.

In summary, the involvement of leading scholars and intellectuals in Germany played a significant role in framing the Nazis’ genocidal policies, lending a veneer of legitimacy to the persecution of Jews. Their intellectual contributions helped cement deeply ingrained racist ideologies in society, leading to the horrors of the Holocaust.

The TPLF Manifesto and the Role of Intellectuals

In the Ethiopian context, the TPLF’s rise to power was similarly supported by a variety of intellectuals and scholars, although the context was rooted in ethnic politics rather than racial science. The TPLF’s manifesto, which declared the Amhara people as a historical enemy, played a central role in shaping the group’s ideology and has had long-lasting consequences for Ethiopia’s ethnic relations.

1. Ethnic Federalism and Intellectual Justification: Meles Zenawi, the intellectual architect behind Ethiopia’s current ethnic federalist system, framed the political structure as a means to address historical grievances among various ethnic groups. His writings and speeches articulated the belief that Ethiopia’s past was defined by Amhara dominance, which he argued was detrimental to the rights of other ethnic groups, particularly the Tigrayans. Intellectuals aligned with the TPLF bolstered this narrative by rewriting Ethiopian history to focus on ethnic victimhood and marginalization.
2. Ethnic Polarization: Just as Nazi Germany’s intellectuals contributed to the demonization of Jews, scholars supporting the TPLF’s agenda played a role in fostering ethnic polarization. The narrative that the Amhara people were the historical oppressors became a cornerstone of the TPLF’s political ideology. This contributed to the systematic marginalization of the Amhara people within Ethiopia’s political system.
3. Persecution and Displacement of the Amhara: Over the years, ethnic tensions fostered by TPLF’s narrative and ethnic federalism have led to significant violence, displacement, and massacres targeting the Amhara population. This mirrors, to some extent, the way in which Nazi propaganda fueled anti-Semitic violence against Jews in Germany. Although the scale and nature of the violence in Ethiopia are different, the underlying use of intellectual justification for targeted ethnic persecution remains a striking similarity.
4. War and Targeted Violence Under Abiy Ahmed: Under the leadership of Abiy Ahmed, Ethiopia has seen continued ethnic conflict, particularly with the displacement and massacre of Amhara populations. While Abiy initially sought to unify the country through reforms, his government has struggled to contain the ethnic divisions that were institutionalized during the TPLF’s time in power. Intellectuals and scholars continue to be involved in the political discourse, with some defending the ethnic federalist structure, while others criticize it for perpetuating division and violence.

Comparison of the Two Historical Periods

1. Role of Intellectuals: In both Nazi Germany and Ethiopia, intellectuals played pivotal roles in shaping and legitimizing ideologies that fostered division and violence. In Germany, the intellectual foundation for Nazi ideology was built on notions of racial superiority and anti-Semitism. In Ethiopia, ethnic federalism and the TPLF’s narrative of historical enmity have exacerbated ethnic tensions, particularly against the Amhara.
2. Use of Historical Narratives: Both Hitler’s regime and the TPLF relied on historical grievances to justify their actions. In Germany, historians and philosophers helped craft a narrative of Jewish betrayal and racial inferiority, while in Ethiopia, scholars sympathetic to the TPLF rewrote history to emphasize the supposed historical dominance of the Amhara and the victimhood of other ethnic groups.
3. Massacres and Displacement: The most chilling parallel between these two contexts is the use of intellectual legitimacy to justify violence. In Germany, the Holocaust represents the horrific culmination of Nazi ideology, with the systematic extermination of Jews. In Ethiopia, while not on the same scale, the displacement, massacre, and persecution of the Amhara reflect the dangerous consequences of ethnic-based political ideologies.

Conclusion

While the historical, cultural, and political contexts of Nazi Germany and modern Ethiopia are vastly different, the role of intellectuals in shaping divisive ideologies and justifying violence in both cases is a powerful reminder of the dangers of unchecked intellectual influence. In both instances, scholars and philosophers contributed to a narrative that legitimized persecution, whether based on race or ethnicity. The similarities between Hitler’s rise to power and the TPLF’s ethnic federalism serve as a stark warning about the potential consequences of weaponizing history and identity for political gain.

Editor’s note : Views in the article do not necessarily reflect the views of borkena.com

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