Politics of Fear

by Frank Furedi

Furedi argues that the traditional terms "left" and "right" have been both distorted and proved inadequate by a number of developments, notably the Cold War, the Culture Wars and (as he's shown in previous books) the prevalance of risk-adverse managerialism. The result is a politics (both big P and little p) that fails to take humans seriously as humans and which, necessarily, evades discussion of right and wrong. Furedi shows that the single most important political need is for an adequate conception of humanity (and, in the process, the public) and that it is this that will produce a new and more imaginative alignment in politics.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction, Philosophy

208 pages, Hardcover

First published November 15, 2005

About the author

Frank Furedi is a professor of sociology at the University of Kent, UK.

Reviews

[Mayim de Vries · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frank Furedi is one of the most inspiring intellectuals I have come across. His intellectual integrity takes no prisoners. Whether you are left- or right-leaning, you will see your dogmas toppled, your dirty underbelly revealed in a passionate and irrefutable argument that is too holistic to be properly shelved. Even though ideologically I am as far as I could possibly be from Frank Furedi, I fully subscribe to 80% of what he puts forward in this book. This alone attests to the excellent quality of thought. Add an accessible delivery (no long-winded jargon!) and engaging style, and you have a real gem.

It is not a new book, but especially in the current paranoia-driven post-Covid millieu, it acquires a new quality. Even if you don't read these kinds of things, I really recommend this short book. It will help you to see a lot if things in an entirely new light.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting read that postulates modern day politics has moved away from the traditional conservative values looking back on history and socialist values looking towards the future to a 'There is no alternative' (TINA) position which rejects enlightenment ideas, turning politicians into managers of fear and more broadly having the cultural impact of treating adults like children and creating a victimhood of humanity rather than furthering it.

Worth a read.

[Nick Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an incredible book that was written almost 10 years ago and yet, feels so contemporary in what it is saying. I'm a great believer that the politics of fear is playing a real serious and detrimental effect on all our lives. This book, succinctly, sums up the state of modern politics and, albeit, written in 2005, it really gets into what is happening in modern politics. For me, it is a must read for anyone who is really interested in where our world is going. The most fascinating part of it is how vulnerability has become a real factor in how we run this world, and how fear now dictates much of what we are and what we do. If we are to make this world a safer and better place for future generations and, indeed for ourselves, then I think this book holds many of the pointers and answers that we need. I liked it so much that I'm going to buy my own personal copy and also start reading some of his other work.