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Twilight Falls on Liberalism
Recent political developments across large parts of the globe have made it clear that liberalism is in crisis. Several political regimes and political leaders have little time and respect for liberal values but it is important to understand that in many cases they have been empowered by popular social attitudes that have turned against liberalism. In order to understand this phenomenon, Rudrangshu Mukherjee goes back to the origins of liberalism to understand its substantive ideas and lineage.
He shows how liberalism, a Western doctrine, flourished when Western empires dominated much of the world. Ironically, while values like freedom, democracy and citizenship were nurtured in the West, they were denied to the people of the countries that had been colonized by Western nations. Liberalism in the West thrived by being illiberal elsewhere. The contradictions within made liberalism vulnerable to attack. Totalitarian regimes swept it aside, and other doctrines replaced it with increasing frequency. In the twenty-first century, in both the East as well as the West, liberalism appears to be fast disappearing. This important book tells us why.
He shows how liberalism, a Western doctrine, flourished when Western empires dominated much of the world. Ironically, while values like freedom, democracy and citizenship were nurtured in the West, they were denied to the people of the countries that had been colonized by Western nations. Liberalism in the West thrived by being illiberal elsewhere. The contradictions within made liberalism vulnerable to attack. Totalitarian regimes swept it aside, and other doctrines replaced it with increasing frequency. In the twenty-first century, in both the East as well as the West, liberalism appears to be fast disappearing. This important book tells us why.
- GenresNonfictionHistory
173 pages, Paperback
Published May 20, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 27, 2019
A disappointing read. Poor arrangement of the themes in a simplified linear way. No explanatory insights offered by the author. Predictable. Moreover, Dr Mukherjee seems to be a propagandist of liberalism which harms the space of argumentation. Though as a textbook it might be useful for interested readers.
October 23, 2020
This book is worth reading in the present scenario. The author vilified Lenin, Stalin, Hitler and two other morons.Maybe they deserve it. Politically liberalism is kind of okay though it in the semblance of individualism, promotes political apathy or the stupid idea of being "apolitical". But in economy it's not really cool. Interestingly in the Indian scenario liberalism eventually committed suicide. The liberalism in the economy introduced a change in the class; with the emergence of a new middle class ( techies to be specific) the political scenario changed altogether . The slow and steady rightward shift paved way for reenacting the history, the history of Nazi Germany. Guess what, with the rising Islamophobia, xenophobia and fundamentalism, liberalism plummeted to such a level that it no longer poses a threat or resistance. ( Of course liberalism in politics). Neoliberalism has nothing to worry as long as it remains as the handmaiden of the rich and the powerful.
July 21, 2022
A good overview of the ideals and development of liberalism through the centuries as the decline of it seems imminent today. The chapters treat, in order:- the beginning of liberalism in Western Europe with Hobbes, Locke and carried forward by Berlin; the relationship i.e. the total absence of liberal modes of thought in imperialist regimes beyond the home country (as the 'natives' were derisively considered not 'civilized' enough); critiques of liberalism by the Romantics and Rousseau, Marx, Dostoevsky, Nietzsche, Gandhi, and Tagore- with all except perhaps Nietzsche horrified at the lonely individualism and loss of social modes of living. Gandhi, interesting to note, can almost be thought of as an anarchist- he advocated for autonomous village republics based on social links and no overarching tyrannical state. For Tagore too, it was in village work that lay the roots of true welfare.
The next chapter deals with the eclipse of liberalism in Germany and the Soviet Union, under Hitler, Stalin and Lenin's populism. Gorbachev's attempted reforms backfired. The fifth and last chapter deals with the introduction of the liberal welfare state in Western Europe after the war (unlike classical liberalism an interventionist state was an asset), which slowly lost steam by the mid-1960s and gave rise to a time of despair and alienation. The next development, a counter-reaction to the excesses of the movements of the 1960s was Thatcherism and neoliberal reforms. Thatcher literally said that there was no such thing as society, only individuals and families; and the state slowly drew back. However, after 9/11 made security a paramount concern; and the 2008 crisis forced governments to bail out banks and firms- the state again became powerful. Using the otherization of Muslims and immigrants, the methods of ensuring security through harsh means was legitimized.
This last chapter also has an analysis of our time when liberalism again seems to be on the downswing through analyzing three different countries: India, the US and the UK. Despite a long history of democracy and liberalism in all three, that seems to be declining as populist, authoritarian leaders take charge. The author lays out the startling contention that Brexit was gerrymandered: as the three constituencies most affected by the reforms, namely Europeans in Britain, British in Europe and young people (16,17 y.o) were not included. The referendum was meant to be merely advisory but was pushed through nevertheless and was initially Cameron's way of maintaing the right wing of the Tory party. The rise of Trump and Hindutva nationalism mirrors these developments. They raise the spectre of the others and are thus able to deny them basic human rights.
The next chapter deals with the eclipse of liberalism in Germany and the Soviet Union, under Hitler, Stalin and Lenin's populism. Gorbachev's attempted reforms backfired. The fifth and last chapter deals with the introduction of the liberal welfare state in Western Europe after the war (unlike classical liberalism an interventionist state was an asset), which slowly lost steam by the mid-1960s and gave rise to a time of despair and alienation. The next development, a counter-reaction to the excesses of the movements of the 1960s was Thatcherism and neoliberal reforms. Thatcher literally said that there was no such thing as society, only individuals and families; and the state slowly drew back. However, after 9/11 made security a paramount concern; and the 2008 crisis forced governments to bail out banks and firms- the state again became powerful. Using the otherization of Muslims and immigrants, the methods of ensuring security through harsh means was legitimized.
This last chapter also has an analysis of our time when liberalism again seems to be on the downswing through analyzing three different countries: India, the US and the UK. Despite a long history of democracy and liberalism in all three, that seems to be declining as populist, authoritarian leaders take charge. The author lays out the startling contention that Brexit was gerrymandered: as the three constituencies most affected by the reforms, namely Europeans in Britain, British in Europe and young people (16,17 y.o) were not included. The referendum was meant to be merely advisory but was pushed through nevertheless and was initially Cameron's way of maintaing the right wing of the Tory party. The rise of Trump and Hindutva nationalism mirrors these developments. They raise the spectre of the others and are thus able to deny them basic human rights.
January 21, 2019
I have the privilege of studying at the university where Professor Mukherjee is the Chancellor and Professor of History. I have attended some of his classes and been impressed by his command of the subject and style of delivery, and wanted to know how far his expertise was translated on to his writing. This was a major reason for my picking up this book, as also was my interest in the subject, and I must say that it was a worthy read.
Professor Mukherjee starts the book - closer to a long essay at 133 pages of a pocketbook - with introducing the current socio-political atmosphere around the world and the manner in which the ideology of liberalism is under attack from various fundamentalist and totalitarian forces. Then, true to his historian's method, he goes back to study the conception and growth of the idea of liberalism from its 18th century Enlightenment roots and its changing scope over the ages in keeping with contemporary world economy and polity. He touches upon the fundamental contradictions within the ideology and the paradox of its birth from the same roots that gave rise to totalitarian tendencies. He moves forward to discuss some of the critiques of liberalism and continues the chronological study of 20th-century eclipsing of the ideology through the rise of dictatorships across Europe. He traces the cyclical pattern of rising and diminishing popularity of the ideology through the century before closing with the 21st century socio-political attitude towards liberal ideals as displayed by the three major world events of the last several years - the election of Donald Trump in the US, Brexit, and the rise of right-wing governance in India with the coming of Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister.
The major drawback in the book is the lack of analysis or at least historically moulded informed guesses as to the reasons behind the rising tide of totalitarian tendencies across the world. While Professor Mukherjee has touched briefly upon the economic meltdown of 2008 and the growing threat of Islamist fundamentalism as possible reasons for the decline of liberal beliefs, these interconnections could have been explored at greater length, providing a more nuanced understanding of contemporary world politics for the reader. This would have been particularly helpful for the lay reader since Professor Mukherjee's ability to explain complex philosophical and political ideas in lucid language makes this book intellectually available to a wide range of readers. That apart, this is a most interesting book by way of introduction to the political ideology of liberalism and is sure to get the reader enthused about learning more on the subject.
Professor Mukherjee starts the book - closer to a long essay at 133 pages of a pocketbook - with introducing the current socio-political atmosphere around the world and the manner in which the ideology of liberalism is under attack from various fundamentalist and totalitarian forces. Then, true to his historian's method, he goes back to study the conception and growth of the idea of liberalism from its 18th century Enlightenment roots and its changing scope over the ages in keeping with contemporary world economy and polity. He touches upon the fundamental contradictions within the ideology and the paradox of its birth from the same roots that gave rise to totalitarian tendencies. He moves forward to discuss some of the critiques of liberalism and continues the chronological study of 20th-century eclipsing of the ideology through the rise of dictatorships across Europe. He traces the cyclical pattern of rising and diminishing popularity of the ideology through the century before closing with the 21st century socio-political attitude towards liberal ideals as displayed by the three major world events of the last several years - the election of Donald Trump in the US, Brexit, and the rise of right-wing governance in India with the coming of Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister.
The major drawback in the book is the lack of analysis or at least historically moulded informed guesses as to the reasons behind the rising tide of totalitarian tendencies across the world. While Professor Mukherjee has touched briefly upon the economic meltdown of 2008 and the growing threat of Islamist fundamentalism as possible reasons for the decline of liberal beliefs, these interconnections could have been explored at greater length, providing a more nuanced understanding of contemporary world politics for the reader. This would have been particularly helpful for the lay reader since Professor Mukherjee's ability to explain complex philosophical and political ideas in lucid language makes this book intellectually available to a wide range of readers. That apart, this is a most interesting book by way of introduction to the political ideology of liberalism and is sure to get the reader enthused about learning more on the subject.
October 17, 2019
Liberalism, as it was viewed from the inception of this idea in 19th century to changes/contradictions which were embedded on this idea and have become more and more evident in 21st century. This book tries to understand the poltical changes in the world from the lens of liberalism and in doing so highlights its various shades especially the origin of differences in economic liberalism and social liberalism!
June 19, 2018
The author has done an excellent job in simplifying the concept of liberalism and its struggles in the twenty-first century. This book is a must for anyone who struggles to understand the present-days crisis in the liberal countries.
February 1, 2019
Readable history of liberalism, especially in Indian context. Explains why things have gone so wrong.
June 29, 2022
A very honest and incisive book-well structured ,brief but with considerable depth and breadth of coverage ;
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews