Kaufmann 2024, crisis or resilience society
New book: Taboo: How Making Race Sacred Produced a Cultural Revolution
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I was impressed by the level of argumentation in a podcast I listened to today.
Alternatively, also here: https://zencastr.com/z/vDLq5d4M
This is data-driven social science combined with useful new twists in the conceptualisation and analysis of the scourge of ‘wokeism’ in the West. The interviewee is Eric Kaufmann, Professor of Politics at University of Buckingham and first Director of the university’s new Centre for Heterodox Social Science, which already hosts a free online teaching lecture series on the Origins and Implications of Woke. In this well-conducted fast-moving podcast interview Kaufmann discusses the contemporary absurdities but also, perhaps more interestingly, the historical roots of wokeism. His travails as an academic in the 1990s and first decade of this century recalled to me my experiences teaching in London and Sydney universities alongside left-wing academics, the difference being he did not resist, fight back, or escape, and therefore survived intact in the profession. He says, depressingly but honourably, “I withheld my opinions and political views for 24 years until quite recently I came out of the closet” (and has since gathered data on the huge % of academics who keep their real opinions hidden). The second half of the podcast is especially interesting because Kaufmann suggests a number of moderate, practical and realistic methods for employing existing state-constitutional levers of power to counter the internal threat to Anglosphere societies. I endorse his focus on helping “society become resilient”.
Therefore I look forward to Kaufmann’s new book to be released next month.
The title is Taboo: How Making Race Sacred Produced a Cultural Revolution
Two pre-publication reviews by the historian Robert Tombs (University of Cambridge and Social Science Files subscriber since 2022) and popular sociologist Frank Furedi.
“Taboo is a courageous and intellectually convincing book. It is an original analysis of the debilitating pandemic that has been sweeping Western culture and politics, commonly called "wokeism" but which Kaufman calls ‘cultural socialism’. He roots it convincingly in a century of radical liberalism. At the same time Taboo is a call to action and a programme for change. All those worried by the devastation being caused by this baleful phenomenon should read this book. So should those who dismiss ‘culture wars’ as unimportant and ‘wokeism’ as innocuous” — Robert Tombs
“Kaufmann offers an important contribution to our understanding of the Culture Wars that envelopes the Western World. He provides a unique and profound analysis of the woke phenomenon. Unlike many authors who merely indict and complain about Cancel Culture, Kaufmann outlines an approach for fighting back and defeating it. Read this book and join the fight back” — Frank Furedi
Kaufmann’s previous book Whiteshift and Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth? was published by Penguin and was enthusiastically received across the spectrum:
A magisterial survey of the most important political trend of the 21st century so far. It will be controversial - but mostly with those who dislike evidence, are horrified by open mindedness, and who find it convenient to ignore truth. It should be required reading for today's rulers; they may not like it, but they need to understand Kaufmann's defence of democracy before it's too late -- Trevor Phillips
A powerful and rigorously researched exploration of how demographic change is transforming western societies and politics. Rejecting extreme nationalism and extreme liberal individualism alike, Kaufmann uses a wealth of empirical data to carve out a space for a multivocal and flexible political system that recognises ethnic identities without sacrificing liberal values of freedom and tolerance. Whether or not you end up agreeing with it, this is a book that speaks to the most urgent and difficult issues of our time -- John Gray, author of Seven Types of Atheism
Whiteshift is a big, brilliant, ambitious book - perhaps the first truly definitive book of the Trump era. Meticulous, challenging, and provocative, this is the rare book that takes it upon itself to try to shift our entire way of thinking on the most difficult question of our time - inevitable demographic and ethnic change in the United States and Europe -- Shadi Hamid, Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution and author of Islamic Exceptionalism
Extraordinary. . . a tour de force that could expand the so-called "Overton window" - the range of what is acceptable to say - on these central issues -- David Goodhart ― Sunday Times
A detailed analysis of attitudes to race breaks the taboo on this vital subject . . . Anyone interested in preparing for the future would do well to read this book. . . Part of the usefulness of the book is in the amount of new data that Kaufmann brings to the debate. As well as his statistical analysis Kaufmann also displays an extraordinarily deep and wide historical knowledge -- Douglas Murray ― Evening Standard
A giant of a book, channelling together cascades of polls, data sets and excursions in history to produce a conclusion of qualified optimism. . . does the large service of telling liberals and leftists who prefer to remain shocked rather than to work at understanding that their fellow citizens are not, in the main, deplorable bigots, and that white fear is real, but need not be dangerous -- John Lloyd ― Financial Times
An essential read for liberals. In among its many graphs and reports of surveys are a series of salutary reminders of how easily the idea of a threat from strangers can become a dominant political issue. You may not agree with Kaufmann, but you have to deal with him -- David Aaronovitch ― The Times
An explosive book -- Robbie Millen ― The Times Books of the Year
A monumental study of ethno-demographic change and the rise of populism across the rich world. . . ranges far beyond Brexit and Britain and puts a parochial debate in a much bigger context ― Economist
A very substantial book with important things to say about identity, migration, populism and other questions of the moment. . . One of the best aspects of Kaufmann's book is its optimism -- Michael Burleigh ― Literary Review
An insightful study of demographic change in the US, UK, Canada, Europe and Australia -- Munira Mirza ― Daily Telegraph
About the Author:
Eric Kaufmannis Professor of Politics at Birkbeck College, University of London. A native of Vancouver, British Columbia, he was born in Hong Kong and spent eight early years in Tokyo. His previous books include Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth? and The Rise and Fall of Anglo-America.
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