What do you think?
Rate this book
Against Democracy and Equality: The European New Right
The first account of the European New Right to appear in English, now on it's third edition. Re-edited, with new forewords and including the 'Manifesto for a European Renaissance'.
Against Democracy and Equality was the first book ever published in the English language on the European New Right, and it remains an indispensable introduction to a school of thought which remains a vibrant force in the understanding of European politics.
Dr. Sunic examines the principal themes which have concerned the thinkers of the New Right since its inception by Alain de Benoist in 1968, such as the problematic nature of the label 'New Right' for a school which sees itself as being beyond traditional concepts of both the left and the right; its revolutionary political philosophy; its conception of history in terms of cycles; its attitude toward democracy, capitalism and socialism; and its endorsement of 'pagan' spirituality.
He also discusses the significance of some of the older authors who have been particularly influential on the development of the movement, such as Oswald Spengler, Carl Schmitt and Vilfredo Pareto. This new edition of Against Democracy and Equality has been completely re-edited, and offers new prefaces by both Dr. Sunic and the principal theorist of the European New Right, Alain de Benoist. Also included for the first time is the Manifesto for a European Renaissance, which highlights the positions of the New Right as it enters a new millennium.
Dr. Tomislav Sunic was born in Zagreb, Croatia in 1953. He holds a doctorate in Political Science from the University of California at Santa Barbara. Dr. Sunic gives lectures around the world, and has his own weekly Internet radio show, The Sunic Journal, on the Voice of Reason network. He has also authored several other books, including Homo Americanus: Child of the Postmodern Age (2007) and Postmortem Report: Cultural Examinations of Postmodernity (2010), He continues to live in Zagreb.
Against Democracy and Equality was the first book ever published in the English language on the European New Right, and it remains an indispensable introduction to a school of thought which remains a vibrant force in the understanding of European politics.
Dr. Sunic examines the principal themes which have concerned the thinkers of the New Right since its inception by Alain de Benoist in 1968, such as the problematic nature of the label 'New Right' for a school which sees itself as being beyond traditional concepts of both the left and the right; its revolutionary political philosophy; its conception of history in terms of cycles; its attitude toward democracy, capitalism and socialism; and its endorsement of 'pagan' spirituality.
He also discusses the significance of some of the older authors who have been particularly influential on the development of the movement, such as Oswald Spengler, Carl Schmitt and Vilfredo Pareto. This new edition of Against Democracy and Equality has been completely re-edited, and offers new prefaces by both Dr. Sunic and the principal theorist of the European New Right, Alain de Benoist. Also included for the first time is the Manifesto for a European Renaissance, which highlights the positions of the New Right as it enters a new millennium.
Dr. Tomislav Sunic was born in Zagreb, Croatia in 1953. He holds a doctorate in Political Science from the University of California at Santa Barbara. Dr. Sunic gives lectures around the world, and has his own weekly Internet radio show, The Sunic Journal, on the Voice of Reason network. He has also authored several other books, including Homo Americanus: Child of the Postmodern Age (2007) and Postmortem Report: Cultural Examinations of Postmodernity (2010), He continues to live in Zagreb.
196 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1990
30 people are currently reading
739 people want to read
About the author
Tomislav Sunić
23 books54 followersCroatian-American writer, translator and a former professor.
He is best known for his books and writings critical of egalitarianism, biblical monotheism and liberal political discourse. His views are often cited as part of the Nouvelle Droite movement in Europe.
He is best known for his books and writings critical of egalitarianism, biblical monotheism and liberal political discourse. His views are often cited as part of the Nouvelle Droite movement in Europe.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
December 12, 2008
Although I agree with many of the ideas expressed by the so called European "new right" (not to be confused with neo-conservatism or traditional right wing paleo-conservatism) especially the faction that wants to be rid of Christianity and bring back Paganism in Europe, reading this book was about as exciting or interesting as watching paint dry.
Another fault this book has is it paints the "new right" as being a real political movement when in reality it is nothing but a vague ideology that is derived from the writings of a few intellectuals. As I said I like many of the ideas of the "new right" but this book just didn't do anything for me. Read this only if you have a big interest in the subject or some of the writers that helped shape this ideology.
Another fault this book has is it paints the "new right" as being a real political movement when in reality it is nothing but a vague ideology that is derived from the writings of a few intellectuals. As I said I like many of the ideas of the "new right" but this book just didn't do anything for me. Read this only if you have a big interest in the subject or some of the writers that helped shape this ideology.
October 28, 2011
Despite being extremely eager to read "Against Democracy and Equality", the book proved to be a work of rigid prose and recycled/mixed thought.
"The New Right" (adopting its name from a slur created by the French Media), is essentially a mix of Leftist and Rightist ideas. While taking influence from great Occidental minds like Spengler, Pareto, and Schmitt, the New Right also takes influence from Leftists like Italian Marxist theorist Antonio Gramsci. The New Right believes (rightfully) designations like "left" and "right" have lost their meanings due to decades/centuries of linguistic bastardizations, especially in the United States.
In "Against Demoracy and Equality", Tomislav Suni (unsurprisingly, he originally wrote the book as a doctoral dissertation) gives a general breakdown of the New Right -- a mere intellectual think-tank -- in a most pedantic manner. I must admit that Sunic's book brought me to the realization as to how intellectually bankrupt the European "right" is nowadays. Where are our new Nietzsches, Spenglers, and Schmitts with fresh and realistic revolutionary ideas? What the West really needs is revolutionary thinkers yet the New Right seems only able to reproduce the thoughts of those from a very different pre-1945 past.
To be honest, I thought the most interesting part of the book is the "Manifesto for a European Renaissance" by Alain de Benoist and Charles Champetier featured in the appendix yet this work is also not much more than a reproduction of past theories.
Unfortunately, "Against Democracy and Equality" is one of the few books on the New Right that has been translated into English, thus it is still an imperative work for those individuals interested in modern pro-Occidental thought.
"The New Right" (adopting its name from a slur created by the French Media), is essentially a mix of Leftist and Rightist ideas. While taking influence from great Occidental minds like Spengler, Pareto, and Schmitt, the New Right also takes influence from Leftists like Italian Marxist theorist Antonio Gramsci. The New Right believes (rightfully) designations like "left" and "right" have lost their meanings due to decades/centuries of linguistic bastardizations, especially in the United States.
In "Against Demoracy and Equality", Tomislav Suni (unsurprisingly, he originally wrote the book as a doctoral dissertation) gives a general breakdown of the New Right -- a mere intellectual think-tank -- in a most pedantic manner. I must admit that Sunic's book brought me to the realization as to how intellectually bankrupt the European "right" is nowadays. Where are our new Nietzsches, Spenglers, and Schmitts with fresh and realistic revolutionary ideas? What the West really needs is revolutionary thinkers yet the New Right seems only able to reproduce the thoughts of those from a very different pre-1945 past.
To be honest, I thought the most interesting part of the book is the "Manifesto for a European Renaissance" by Alain de Benoist and Charles Champetier featured in the appendix yet this work is also not much more than a reproduction of past theories.
Unfortunately, "Against Democracy and Equality" is one of the few books on the New Right that has been translated into English, thus it is still an imperative work for those individuals interested in modern pro-Occidental thought.
August 10, 2013
A decent introduction to the European New Right, or should I say, the ideas of the New Right, as there is not so much about the actual persons and movements related to the New Right and their history, and more a discussion of the principles on which this school of intellectuals stand.
Good explanatory footnotes, and also nice to have the complete ENR manifesto by de Benoist as an appendix.
I would however still rank New Culture, New Right: Anti-Liberalism in Postmodern Europe a better overall introduction.
Good explanatory footnotes, and also nice to have the complete ENR manifesto by de Benoist as an appendix.
I would however still rank New Culture, New Right: Anti-Liberalism in Postmodern Europe a better overall introduction.
September 8, 2020
a well written neoreactionary manifesto. fairly convincing and innovative. but like many manifestos/treatises it suffers from repetition and verbosity, taking several hundred pages to say roughly five things. either way, a welcome piece of political philosophy to counteract the liberal group masturbation that dominates academia today.
June 10, 2016
Many people will not go near this book with a bargepole because the 'European New Right' (who contribute to this book) is confused with either Fascists or traditional conservatives. While the ENR is not another crazy bunch of right-wing extremists, the book itself is a little disappointing. You could forgive the long series of prefaces and introductions that begin the book if the main part was engaging. To a degree the reader will be engaged. The ideas are interesting although many of the criticisms of Christianity and Plato smack of Nietzsche. However, a lot of the same ideas are rehashed again and again and the style is elegant but a little boring. As said before these arent bloodthirsty Fascists but a few theories are certainly morally questionable. All in all, a book that reads like a perpetual introduction and its obvious that it needed a lot of editing and rewriting.
Read
August 14, 2016I found this a wonderful read compared to most summaries of far right political theory. The ideas of the New Right don't interest me as much in themselves as they do as reactions to economics and ownership gaining ground in all aspects of public and personal life. There are some interesting reactions in here, and Sunic seems to do a fine job covering them. Most interestingly; theories about what happens when a ever expanding liberal democracy hits the rocks of economic crisis is always interesting.
On the other hand, after a bit of reading up on Sunic, it turns out he's pretty deeply entrenched in white nationalist politics. That's not disclosed in the book, and a hidden bias in a scholarly text draws some of the text into question.
On the other hand, after a bit of reading up on Sunic, it turns out he's pretty deeply entrenched in white nationalist politics. That's not disclosed in the book, and a hidden bias in a scholarly text draws some of the text into question.
September 15, 2021
This was a good introduction to important influences on the "new right" in Europe. A bit short on content compared to length, but the book wasn't terribly long. And the footnotes and authors mentioned in the text provide a great overview to further explore these ideas.
November 27, 2017
It is hard to review this since the content and authorship is fascist bullshit, but it lays out what the European New Right believes very clearly. So in that way it is incredibly useful.
June 3, 2022
Rocked my world again and again.
Read
January 22, 2012Great overview of the European New Right, clearly written and easy to follow. The additional prefaces and notes at the beginning and the Manifesto for a European Renaissance by de Benoist and Champetier make this the essential version of the text.
Required reading for anyone not familiar with the New Right's Gramscian approach to meta-politics, which is a the current left/ right battleground (see many a discussion on Death in June, Sol Invictus and the contemporary cultural currency of thinkers like Julius Evola)
Required reading for anyone not familiar with the New Right's Gramscian approach to meta-politics, which is a the current left/ right battleground (see many a discussion on Death in June, Sol Invictus and the contemporary cultural currency of thinkers like Julius Evola)
December 9, 2015
The concept of mankind is a zoological expression, an empty word. But conjure away the phantom, break the magic circle, and at once there emerges an astonishing wealth of actual forms — the Living with all its immense fullness, depth and movement...an array of mighty cultures, each with its own form, own passion, and its own life and death. Thus, cultures, peoples, languages, truths, gods and landscapes bloom and age as the oaks, twigs and leaves — but there is no aging “Mankind”. All cultures grow in their own sublime futility and human will can never reverse this process.
Read
April 21, 2018A must-read for anyone interested in the European 'New Right' movement.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews