It usually only happens when people want to erase an ideology. Hitler for example (I know, an eye rolling example but the best one that comes to mind) absolutely despised people who weren't nationalists. He was always seen arguing with people in bars and on the streets about how great Germany and the German people were/are. Most of these people, according to him, were apparently jewish. So when he took over, he assumed burning all the anti-nationalistic books/art would make it go away. It's also why he felt the need to get rid of the jews, he thought they were naturally anti-nationalistic due to his own experiences (My theory is that he just frequented liberal art towns which are probably anti-nationalist by default. He loved the arts).
The same thing happened in the soviet union or where ever you find a dictator. I just used hitler because there is nonstop documentaries about him everywhere so I know too much about that autist.
