Per Lindqvist's Major Works on Imperialism and Violence
Per Lindqvist was a provocative writer whose work delved into the darkest corners of human history, focusing on the intersection of colonialism, systemic violence, and the psychological scars left by empire. Through a blend of travel writing and historical analysis, Lindqvist challenged readers to confront the legacies of imperialism and the mechanisms of mass destruction.
Key Facts
- Terra Nullius examines the impact of white settlers on Australia and the long-term effects of nuclear testing.
- Exterminate all the Brutes links the ideology of colonial genocide to the rise of Nazi atrocities.
- A History of Bombing utilizes a non-linear, hypertext-like structure to mirror the chaos of strategic bombing.
- Lindqvist argued that European colonial violence prefigured the internal conflicts of the Second World War.
Terra Nullius: The Myth of Empty Land
Published in 2007, Terra Nullius—a Latin term meaning "Empty Land"—explores the devastating effects of white settlement on the Australian landscape and its Aboriginal population. Lindqvist combines historical research with "often glorious" travel writing to illustrate the physical and cultural shocks inflicted upon the region.
A central focus of the work is the series of above-ground nuclear weapon tests conducted between 1953 and 1963. These tests left approximately 20 kilograms of plutonium dust scattered across hundreds of miles near Maralinga. Lindqvist highlights the staggering environmental cost, noting that the land will remain radioactive for at least 280,000 years. He warns that the capacity of such weapons could, on a single order, render the entire planet a Terra Nullius.
Exterminate all the Brutes: Colonialism and the Holocaust
First published in Swedish in 1992 as Utrota varenda jävel and later in English as Exterminate all the Brutes (1996), this work was a personal favorite of the author. The title is derived from a phrase used by Mr Kurtz, a racist imperialist character in Joseph Conrad's 1899 novella Heart of Darkness.
Lindqvist's thesis was shaped by a childhood memory of photographs showing emaciated corpses at the Buchenwald concentration camp. He argues that Adolf Hitler grew up in a Western world "soaked in the conviction" that imperialism was a biological necessity, which inevitably led to the destruction of those deemed "lower races." Lindqvist controversially posits that this imperialist mindset fueled genocides long before Hitler applied these principles to white populations. His work has since contributed to academic discussions regarding the influence of colonial atrocities on Nazi crimes.
A History of Bombing: The Architecture of Chaos
Critically acclaimed in the English-speaking world, A History of Bombing (2001; originally published in Swedish in 1999 as Nu dog du, meaning "[Bang bang] you're dead") examines the evolution of strategic bombing—the practice of bombing an enemy's industrial and civilian infrastructure to destroy its morale and capacity to wage war.
The book is famous for its "fractured structure," consisting of 399 short chapters. Lindqvist designed the book as a "labyrinth with twenty-two entrances and no exit," using a hypertext-like network of numbered sections and arrows to reflect the disorientation and chaos caused by aerial warfare. Through this structure, he argues that the violence Europeans perpetrated in their colonies served as a predecessor to the strategic bombing tactics used against each other during the Second World War.
| Book Title | Original Swedish Title | Primary Theme | Key Focus/Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Terra Nullius | N/A | Colonialism in Australia | Nuclear tests at Maralinga |
| Exterminate all the Brutes | Utrota varenda jävel | Imperialism & Genocide | Link between colonialism and Nazism |
| A History of Bombing | Nu dog du | Strategic Bombing | Non-linear structure mirroring war chaos |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the term "Terra Nullius" mean in the context of Lindqvist's work?
Terra Nullius is Latin for "Empty Land." Lindqvist uses it to describe the impact of white settlers in Australia and the terrifying possibility that nuclear weapons could turn the entire world into a wasteland.
How does Exterminate all the Brutes connect to Joseph Conrad?
The book takes its title from a phrase spoken by Mr Kurtz, a character in Conrad's Heart of Darkness, to illustrate the murderous racism inherent in imperialist ideologies.
What is unique about the structure of A History of Bombing?
The book uses a non-linear, "fractured" structure with 399 short chapters and a network of arrows, creating a labyrinthine experience intended to mirror the chaos of strategic bombing.
What was Lindqvist's argument regarding the origins of Nazi crimes?
Lindqvist argued that the Western world's belief in imperialism as a biological necessity—which had already caused millions of deaths in colonial genocides—prefigured and influenced the atrocities committed by the Nazis.
What environmental impact does Lindqvist highlight in Australia?
He notes that above-ground nuclear tests conducted between 1953 and 1963 left 20 kilograms of plutonium dust near Maralinga, rendering the land radioactive for at least 280,000 years.