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3.61 AVERAGE
3.61 AVERAGE
Warning, this didn't start as a rant... but it turned into one.
I had a lot of issues with this book. It is a fascinating topic and I feel like there are lots of great points made, so perhaps just 2 stars is a little harsh. However, this book has so much wrong with it. There is so much focus on the 'failures' of the political left for the growth in identity politics, however it completely fails to realise / discuss how the political right have lived on identity politics for decades and centuries. In the legal exclusion of women, ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+ people - the right have been the ones who, up until very recently in the grand scheme of things, have made laws excluding these groups from equality in one way or another. To assume that the removal of these legal exclusions (in some western countries) now means that everyone will suddenly be equal is naive - and therefore to blame the left for identity politics now just seems a bit ridiculous.
What this book could have covered to be much more interesting was how the terms around 'identity politics' have been co-opted and utilised by the political right as a way to turn these groups against each other and therefore to keep the 'economic agenda' off what people are talking about (just look at the farce around critical race theory that is currently happening in the US).
I had a lot of issues with this book. It is a fascinating topic and I feel like there are lots of great points made, so perhaps just 2 stars is a little harsh. However, this book has so much wrong with it. There is so much focus on the 'failures' of the political left for the growth in identity politics, however it completely fails to realise / discuss how the political right have lived on identity politics for decades and centuries. In the legal exclusion of women, ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+ people - the right have been the ones who, up until very recently in the grand scheme of things, have made laws excluding these groups from equality in one way or another. To assume that the removal of these legal exclusions (in some western countries) now means that everyone will suddenly be equal is naive - and therefore to blame the left for identity politics now just seems a bit ridiculous.
What this book could have covered to be much more interesting was how the terms around 'identity politics' have been co-opted and utilised by the political right as a way to turn these groups against each other and therefore to keep the 'economic agenda' off what people are talking about (just look at the farce around critical race theory that is currently happening in the US).
A nice fusion of philosophy, psychology, and political science. And you learn some new words like traduce and thymos. I had found his much publicized book on the end of history rather obtuse but this is much sharper although it does have some moments of dryness. It has a timeliness as well as an urgency too.
Identity as an individual has given way to shared identity by groups of like individuals. Nationalism and religion exploit these unions and social media has given them a disproportionate loud speaker. Identity is shaping every debate. You could compromise on an issue but you can’t compromise on identity. Fukuyama takes us through American and European political systems. There’s a lot of meat here in this short book that could be a college course. He offers solutions but I’m not as optimistic for the future.
Identity as an individual has given way to shared identity by groups of like individuals. Nationalism and religion exploit these unions and social media has given them a disproportionate loud speaker. Identity is shaping every debate. You could compromise on an issue but you can’t compromise on identity. Fukuyama takes us through American and European political systems. There’s a lot of meat here in this short book that could be a college course. He offers solutions but I’m not as optimistic for the future.
informative
medium-paced
Had to read it for class, I have notes on it so I probably did but don't remember it (could have asked someone for notes but cannot for the life of me remember)
I think Fukuyama shines in the bits of political sociology and political history that make up the first half (a la Origins of Political Order/Political Order and Political Decay), which is what makes the book worth reading. Also, the concepts of iso- and megalothymia are sufficiently original that I think they are worth learning about, even if they aren't always applied to best use.
However, I think some of the solutions are a little misguided, resting on somewhat lazy assumptions (France is cited as open and diverse while maintaining a strong national identity, but does Fukuyama consider that France is absolutely assimilative?).
Also, I think the worst part is the few chapters at the end - I absolutely do not agree with his characterisation of identity politics as something that has led the left to lose its appeal entirely. I think any self-respecting modern political thinker would understand that there are certainly more factors than that at play.
However, I think some of the solutions are a little misguided, resting on somewhat lazy assumptions (France is cited as open and diverse while maintaining a strong national identity, but does Fukuyama consider that France is absolutely assimilative?).
Also, I think the worst part is the few chapters at the end - I absolutely do not agree with his characterisation of identity politics as something that has led the left to lose its appeal entirely. I think any self-respecting modern political thinker would understand that there are certainly more factors than that at play.
challenging
informative
medium-paced
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
slow-paced