"Constructing Social Reality in Concentration Camp": the example of Buchenwald - Inner Stratification-Norm Formation- Solidarity in a Total Institution with Absolute Power

Table of Contents

• I. Introduction
• II. Method
• III. Theoretical Discussion
• IV. Empirical Part
  • 4.1. The Functional Development of the Concentration Camp System and the Quantitative Composition of Buchenwald
  • 4.2. The Concentration Camp as a Total Institution with Absolute Power: The External Stratification of the Prisoners' Society
    • 4.2.1. The System of Categorizing or Labeling
    • 4.2.2. The Underlying Criteria of the External Stratification
    • 4.2.3. The Delegation of Power: The Functional Prisoners
    • 4.2.4. A Model of the External Stratification of the Prisoners' society
  • 4.3. The Internal Stratification: The Fight between the “Greens” and “Reds”
  • 4.4. The Formation of Norms
  • 4.5. Aspects of Solidarity
• V. Conclusion

Objectives and Key Themes

This thesis aims to analyze how victims in Buchenwald concentration camp constructed their social reality within the camp's oppressive system. It examines both the vertical relationships between prisoners and the SS, and the horizontal interactions among prisoners. The study explores the social structures, norms, power dynamics, and forms of solidarity that emerged within the prisoner society.

• Social stratification and hierarchies within the prisoner population
• Norm formation and law-making within the prisoner society
• Power relations and their organization among prisoners
• Solidarity among different prisoner groups
• The construction of social reality within a total institution.

Chapter Summaries

I. Introduction: This chapter sets the historical context by describing the liberation of Buchenwald concentration camp in 1945 and the subsequent memorial events in 2005. It highlights the ongoing importance of remembering the Holocaust and the need for continued research to understand this historical event and prevent its recurrence. The author states their interest in analyzing how victims responded to the Nazi regime’s systematic terror, focusing on how they constructed their social reality within the concentration camp. The chapter underscores the relative neglect of this perspective in existing scholarship, particularly within sociology, and posits the study's goal of providing systematic insights using sociological tools.

II. Method: [This section would describe the methodology employed in the thesis. Since the provided text doesn't detail the methodology, this summary cannot be provided.]

III. Theoretical Discussion: [This section would discuss the theoretical framework used to analyze the data. Since the provided text doesn't detail the theoretical framework, this summary cannot be provided.]

IV. Empirical Part: This section comprises several sub-chapters that analyze the social dynamics within Buchenwald. It examines the functional development of the concentration camp system and its quantitative composition. The subsequent subchapters delve into the external stratification of prisoners based on categorization and labeling, identifying the criteria behind this stratification and exploring the role of functional prisoners in the camp's power dynamics. The section proceeds to study the internal stratification, focusing on the conflicts between different prisoner groups. The formation of norms and aspects of solidarity among prisoners are also key components of the empirical part.

Keywords

Buchenwald concentration camp, social reality, social stratification, norm formation, solidarity, total institution, Nazi regime, Holocaust, victim agency, micro-sociology, social hierarchies, power relations, prisoner society.

Frequently Asked Questions: Analysis of Social Reality in Buchenwald Concentration Camp

What is the main topic of this academic text?

This thesis analyzes how prisoners in Buchenwald concentration camp constructed their social reality within the oppressive system of the camp. It examines both the vertical relationships between prisoners and the SS, and the horizontal interactions among prisoners, focusing on social structures, norms, power dynamics, and solidarity within the prisoner society.

What are the key themes explored in the thesis?

The key themes include social stratification and hierarchies among prisoners, norm formation and law-making within the prisoner society, power relations and their organization among prisoners, solidarity among different prisoner groups, and the construction of social reality within a total institution (like Buchenwald).

What aspects of Buchenwald's social structure does the thesis investigate?

The thesis investigates the external stratification of prisoners (based on categorization and labeling by the SS), the internal stratification (including conflicts between prisoner groups), the formation of norms and rules within the prisoner society, and the various forms of solidarity that emerged among prisoners.

What is the methodology used in this research?

The provided text does not detail the specific methodology employed in the thesis. This information would likely be found in the full text of Chapter II: Method.

What theoretical framework underpins the analysis?

The provided text does not detail the specific theoretical framework used. This information would be found in Chapter III: Theoretical Discussion.

What is covered in the empirical part of the thesis (Chapter IV)?

The empirical part examines the functional development of the concentration camp system, its quantitative composition, the external stratification of prisoners (including the system of categorization, underlying criteria, the role of functional prisoners, and a model of the external stratification), the internal stratification (focusing on conflicts), norm formation, and aspects of solidarity among prisoners.

What is the significance of studying the social reality within Buchenwald?

The study highlights the importance of understanding how victims responded to the Nazi regime's systematic terror. It emphasizes the relative neglect of this micro-sociological perspective in existing scholarship and aims to provide systematic insights into the social dynamics of the camp using sociological tools.

What are the keywords associated with this research?

Keywords include Buchenwald concentration camp, social reality, social stratification, norm formation, solidarity, total institution, Nazi regime, Holocaust, victim agency, micro-sociology, social hierarchies, power relations, and prisoner society.

What is the historical context provided in the introduction?

The introduction sets the historical context by describing the liberation of Buchenwald in 1945 and the memorial events in 2005. It highlights the ongoing importance of remembering the Holocaust and the need for research to understand this event and prevent its recurrence.

What is the overall objective of this thesis?

The thesis aims to analyze how victims in Buchenwald concentration camp constructed their social reality within the camp's oppressive system, offering a detailed sociological analysis of the prisoner society.