Berenike Stehmann Knihy

This book examines how the Communist League of Western Germany (KBW), a Marxist-Leninist party active from 1973 to 1984, portrayed the Khmer Rouge as honorable role models. Utilizing a sociology of knowledge approach to discourse, the analysis reveals how the KBW constructed its narrative around the events in Cambodia under the Khmer Rouge from 1975 to 1979. The party dismissed reports of severe human rights violations emerging from Cambodia as fabrications by political adversaries, instead venerating the Khmer Rouge. To understand this perspective, the study analyzes 233 articles from the KBW's party newspapers, placing them within their historical and political contexts. The series aims to redefine sensibilities in area studies by emphasizing the importance of contextualized knowledge production. It responds to shifts in the field, driven by the deconstruction of geopolitical world regions, which has influenced knowledge generation about societies and cultures. By focusing on Southeast Asia, this series seeks to foster a nuanced understanding of regionality through a multidisciplinary lens. It serves as a platform for young scholars to publish their theses and for established academics to republish out-of-print works. Additionally, it encourages collaborative projects and edited volumes on topics often overlooked by larger publishers due to their transdisciplinary nature.