 | The Tyranny of Guilt: An Essay on Western Masochism Subjects: Civilization Western -- 20th century; Civilization Western -- 21st century; International relations -- Moral and ethical aspects; Western countries -- Foreign relations; Western countries -- Intellectual life; Guilt; Self-hate (Psychology); World politi; In a critique of the West's postcolonial self-flagellating tendencies that is both fascinating and repellent, prize-winning French novelist and essayist Bruckner (Tears of the White Man) offers a broad defense of neoliberal democracy as a force for progress, enlightenment, and emancipation. In polemical tones, the author identifies how the aftermath of WWII and postcolonial liberation movements spawned a pathology of remorse and guilt corrupting the European self-image that was maintained by its own intelligentsia and by a variety of immigrants, Islamists, and Arabs. Though the book offers insightful analyses of how discourses of guilt and self-hatred can serve to mask self-glorification and assertions of cultural superiority, it is marred by a monolithic, often Franco-centric view of Europe, a tendency toward overgeneralization, and an almost total disregard for how global economic concerns and practices are linked to international dissatisfactions with the behavior of Western democracies. Nonetheless, as a work that takes seriously the challenges posed by multiculturalism and the changing face of Europe, it is a worthy attempt to resuscitate the ideals of progressive enlightenment, political action, and civic pride. (Mar.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved Pascal Bruckner is the award-winning author of many books of fiction and nonfiction, including the novel Bitter Moon , which was made into a film by Roman Polanski. Bruckner's nonfiction books include Perpetual Euphoria and The Paradox of Love (both Princeton). |
