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The Historical and Political Thought of Hans Kohn in America City University of New York (CUNY) CUNY Academic Works All Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects 2-2014 Reviving Enlightenment in the Age of Nationalism: The Historical and Political Thought of Hans Kohn in America Brian Matthew Smollett Graduate Center, City University of New York How does access to this work benefit ou?y Let us know! More information about this work at: https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/113 Discover additional works at: https://academicworks.cuny.edu This work is made publicly available by the City University of New York (CUNY). Contact: [email protected] Reviving Enlightenment in the Age of Nationalism: The Historical and Political Thought of Hans Kohn in America BY BRIAN MATTHEW SMOLLETT A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty in History in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy The City University of New York 2014 ii © 2014 BRIAN MATTHEW SMOLLETT All Rights Reserved iii This manuscript has been read and accepted for the Graduate Faculty in History in satisfaction of the dissertation requirement for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Prof. Robert M. Seltzer ________________ _________________________ Date Chair of Examining Committee Prof. Helena Rosenblatt ________________ _________________________ Date Executive Officer Prof. Allan Arkush_____________________ Prof. Elisheva Carlebach________________ Prof. Jane S. Gerber Prof. David Sorkin Supervisory Committee The City University of New York iv Abstract Reviving Enlightenment in the Age of Nationalism: The Historical and Political Thought of Hans Kohn in America By Brian Matthew Smollett Advisor: Robert M. Seltzer This dissertation critically engages the thought of Hans Kohn (1891-1971). One of the most prominent theorists of nationalism in the twentieth century, Kohn has primarily been studied as an anti-statist Zionist thinker and as the originator of a Western-Civic/Eastern-Ethnic “dichotomy” of national development. This work takes a different approach by analyzing the matrix of tension between particularism and universalism in his mature, American thought. I argue that Kohn, especially in response to the crisis of fascism, used history to search for a balance within this perennial tension. His historical analyses, very much tied to his time and context, led him to believe that an ideal balance could be found in the spirit and values of the eighteenth- century Enlightenment. Kohn thus used his idea of Enlightenment as an “Archimedean point,” upon which he tried to build a humanistic vision for a peaceful future in the context of a global “age of nationalism.” v Acknowledgements The personal and professional debts that I have accrued over a decade and a half of undergraduate and graduate study are many. I can only begin to address them in these acknowledgements. I first must thank Robert M. Seltzer, my doctoral advisor, without whom I would never have finished my dissertation and my degree. Since my first meeting with Professor Seltzer I have appreciated his contagious passion for the great ideas of history and his deep knowledge of the Jewish experience. He has inspired me with his love of learning, his commitment to teaching, and his unwavering faith in me – even through some very dry periods. Most of all, he has been a profound role model for me – as a man of dignity, honor and generosity. He is a scholar who never forgets the human dimension of his work. For the past seven years, Professor Jane Gerber gave selflessly of her knowledge, time and advice. She read every draft at every stage of the process. She has been my tireless advocate and a constant source of wisdom and support in the best and worst of times. I am honored to call her my friend, and now my colleague. Allan Arkush has been a source of insight, support, conversation, and humor since my freshman year at Binghamton University. It was he who first suggested that I write on Hans Kohn. His loyal friendship and careful guidance have helped me in countless ways. Jonathan Karp was my M.A. advisor at Binghamton and supervised my first thesis on this topic. I am grateful for his friendship and will always look back fondly on our many conversations in the Judaic Studies office. Elisheva Carlebach encouraged me in difficult times, provided useful feedback, and generously agreed to serve on my committee. Many colleagues and friends read drafts, offered their advice, and gave support at key moments. I must especially thank: Irit Bloch, Anna Manchin, Adi Gordon, Alan Mittleman, Donna-Lee Frieze, Christian Wiese, Stanley Moses, and Markus Krah. My close friends and colleagues, Zach Mann and Stanley Mirvis deserve special thanks. My conversations with Zach about life, as well as Jewish history and thought, began in the dorms of Binghamton University and still continue – often from where they left off years earlier. I am a smarter, wiser, and better person for knowing him. Stan Mirvis is among the most loyal people I know. He read several drafts of this dissertation, made valuable comments and corrections, and never let me give up – even in the most difficult times. My late friend, Matthew Phillips, took a great deal of interest in my work on Kohn. He has left an indelible imprint on my thinking, and I often thought of our discussions as I wrote. I think he would have (critically) enjoyed the finished product. vi The Morris and Alma Schapiro Fellowship at the Center for Jewish History allowed me the time and resources to do much of the research and writing necessary for this dissertation. I must thank Judy Siegel who took a special interest in my work and offered valuable professional advice. The David and Goldie Blanksteen fellowship from the Center for Jewish Studies at the Graduate Center took away many financial worries and allowed me to focus on my coursework and research. Finally, I am blessed to come from a supportive family. My aunt, Eileen Donelan, and my grandmother, Mary Murphy, did not live to see me complete my degree, but I know they would have taken great pride in this accomplishment as they did with so many other milestones in my life. My sister Katelyn, my new brother (in-law) Dan, my sister Tara, my cousin Mark, and my Aunt Laurie and Uncle Nick all gave important encouragement. I wish to single out my parents, David and Eileen Smollett for special thanks. They have given of themselves emotionally and financially for many years. They never questioned my decision to pursue a Ph.D. and did everything in their power to help me along the way. It is to them that I dedicate this dissertation. vii Table of Contents Introduction…………………………………………...............................................................1 The Life of Hans Kohn: A Brief Sketch.....................................................................................2 Previous Scholarship………………………………………………………...............................4 Methodology and Structure………………………………………………………………….…8 Chapter One: A Youthful Phase: Jewish Nationalism in Prague and Palestine…………………………………………….....14 Generational Upheaval in Central Europe and Prague Zionism………………………...….…15 Encountering Buber……………………………………………………………………....…....20 The Great War……………………………………………………………………...…….…....26 Thought and Activism in Palestine………………………………………………...….……....33 Brit Shalom…………………………………………………………………...……………….41 Chapter Two: America and the Crisis Abroad: 1933–1945…..……………………….......56 Against Isolation…………………………………………………………………………….....58 Defining the Threat: The Fascism and its Worldview…………………………….…………..61 Confronting Escalating Crises………………………………………………………………....63 The Question of Communism in the Context of the Fascist Threat……………………….…..85 An Enlightened Ethos……………………………………………………………………….....87 Personal Dimensions………………………………………………………………………..…88 Chapter Three: The Idea of Nationalism: Between the Universal and Particular..................................................................................92 Athens and Jerusalem…………………………..…………………………………………….96 A Universal Era……………………………………………………………………………...100 The English State as a Turning Point in World History…………………………………….106 Continental Shifts…………………………………………………………………………....109 The Enlightenment: Tensions in Balance………………………………………………...…111 Conceptualizing the National Community……………………………………………….....126 Chapter Four: Towards a North-Atlantic Enlightenment: The Post-War Balance…………………………………………………………………….138 The Post-War Context…….…………………………………………………………….......139 Kohn as a Cold-War Intellectual……………………………………………………………140 Modern Nationalism and its Spectrum of Prophets…………………………………………149 Chapter Five: The Waning of a Jewish Intellectual: Jewish Questions in America……………………………………………………………...172 The Menorah Journal…………………..................................................................................174 Entering American Jewish Life…………………………………………………………......180 Kohn on Zionism: Two American Essays……………………………………………..……187 A Failure to Defend?…………………………………………………………………….…..203 Conclusion………………………………………………………...……….……………….207 Bibliography………………………………………………………...…………………...…214 1 Introduction One of the “twin founding fathers of the historical study of nationalism,” Hans Kohn (1891–1971) believed that the twentieth century was a global age in which human civilization was defined by nationalism.1 As a scholar and teacher in a number of different contexts, he sought to uncover and explicate the historical formation of nationalism in the past, to critique and challenge the often dangerous manifestations
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