Question

What did Zygmunt Bauman mean by "putative duress" in the context of Reserve Police Battalion 101?

A) He referred to the sleep-deprived state of the policemen.
B) He discussed the pressure to conform to orders.
C) He described the notion of a "sleeper."
D) He mentioned the Last massacres during the Harvest Festival.

Answer 1

Zygmunt Bauman's concept of "putative duress" refers to the pressure felt by members of Reserve Police Battalion 101 to conform to orders under perceived coercion or threat, contributing to their involvement in the Holocaust.

Step-by-step explanation:

Zygmunt Bauman's concept of "putative duress" in the context of Reserve Police Battalion 101 refers to the psychological pressure that individuals felt to conform to orders despite personal moral objections. This term encapsulates the complex social dynamics that can lead individuals to participate in actions they might otherwise consider reprehensible due to social coercion or the perceived threat of consequences for disobedience. Bauman's analysis helps us understand the behavioral patterns among members of the battalion during their participation in the Holocaust.