Identity : the demand for dignity and the politics of resentment

The New York Times bestselling author of The Origins of Political Order offers a provocative examination of modern identity politics: its origins, its effects, and what it means for domestic and international affairs of stateIn 2014, Francis Fukuyama wrote that American institutions were in decay, as the state was progressively captured by powerful interest groups. Two years later, his predictions were borne out by the rise to power of a series of political outsiders whose economic nationalism and authoritarian tendencies threatened to destabilize the entire international order. These populist nationalists seek direct charismatic connection to “the people,” who are usually defined in narrow identity terms that offer an irresistible call to an in-group and exclude large parts of the population as a whole. Demand for recognition of one’s identity is a master concept that unifies much of what is going on in world politics today. The universal recognition on which liberal democracy is based has been increasingly challenged by narrower forms of recognition based on nation, religion, sect, race, ethnicity, or gender, which have resulted in anti-immigrant populism, the upsurge of politicized Islam, the fractious “identity liberalism” of college campuses, and the emergence of white nationalism. Populist nationalism, said to be rooted in economic motivation, actually springs from the demand for recognition and therefore cannot simply be satisfied by economic means. The demand for identity cannot be transcended; we must begin to shape identity in a way that supports rather than undermines democracy.Identity is an urgent and necessary book—a sharp warning that unless we forge a universal understanding of human dignity, we will doom ourselves to continuing conflict.\*\*ReviewPraise for Origins of Political Order: 'Fukuyama remains as prominent as ever' \* Financial Times \* Praise for The Origins of Political Order: It should be read by every democrat - and every dictator. -- Dominic Lawson Fukuyama writes clear prose and is a pleasure to read. \* The Times \* About the AuthorFrancis Fukuyama is a Professor at Stanford University's Institute for International Studies. He has previously taught at Johns Hopkins University and at George Mason University. Fukuyama was a researcher at the RAND Corporation and served as the Deputy Director for the State Department's Policy planning staff. He is the author of Political Order and Political Decay, The Origins of Political Order, The Great Disruption, Our Posthuman Future and State Building. He lives with his wife in California.

The New York Times bestselling author of The Origins of Political Order offers a provocative examination of modern identity politics: its origins, its effects, and what it means for domestic and international affairs of state

In 2014, Francis Fukuyama wrote that American institutions were in decay, as the state was progressively captured by powerful interest groups. Two years later, his predictions were borne out by the rise to power of a series of political outsiders whose economic nationalism and authoritarian tendencies threatened to destabilize the entire international order. These populist nationalists seek direct charismatic connection to “the people,” who are usually defined in narrow identity terms that offer an irresistible call to an in-group and exclude large parts of the population as a whole.

Demand for recognition of one’s identity is a master concept that unifies much of what is going on in world politics today. The universal recognition on which liberal democracy is based has been increasingly challenged by narrower forms of recognition based on nation, religion, sect, race, ethnicity, or gender, which have resulted in anti-immigrant populism, the upsurge of politicized Islam, the fractious “identity liberalism” of college campuses, and the emergence of white nationalism. Populist nationalism, said to be rooted in economic motivation, actually springs from the demand for recognition and therefore cannot simply be satisfied by economic means. The demand for identity cannot be transcended; we must begin to shape identity in a way that supports rather than undermines democracy.

Identity is an urgent and necessary book—a sharp warning that unless we forge a universal understanding of human dignity, we will doom ourselves to continuing conflict.

"The New York Times bestselling author of The Origins of Political Order offers a provocative examination of modern identity politics: its origins, its effects, and what it means for domestic and international affairs of state. In 2014, Francis Fukuyama wrote that American institutions were in decay, as the state was progressively captured by powerful interest groups. Two years later, his predictions were borne out by the rise to power of a series of political outsiders whose economic nationalism and authoritarian tendencies threatened to destabilize the entire international order. These populist nationalists seek direct charismatic connection to 'the people,' who are usually defined in narrow identity terms that offer an irresistible call to an in-group and exclude large parts of the population as a whole. Demand for recognition of one's identity is a master concept that unifies much of what is going on in world politics today. The universal recognition on which liberal democracy is based has been increasingly challenged by narrower forms of recognition based on nation, religion, sect, race, ethnicity, or gender, which have resulted in anti-immigrant populism, the upsurge of politicized Islam, the fractious 'identity liberalism' of college campuses, and the emergence of white nationalism. Populist nationalism, said to be rooted in economic motivation, actually springs from the demand for recognition and therefore cannot simply be satisfied by economic means. The demand for identity cannot be transcended; we must begin to shape identity in a way that supports rather than undermines democracy. Identity is an urgent and necessary book--a sharp warning that unless we forge a universal understanding of human dignity, we will doom ourselves to continuing conflict."--Publisher's description Resum: El 2014, Francis Fukuyama va escriure que les institucions americanes estaven en decadència, ja que l'estat va ser capturat progressivament per grups d'interès poderosos. Dos anys més tard, les seves prediccions es van confirmar per la pujada al poder d'una sèrie de forasters polítics el nacionalisme econòmic i les tendències autoritàries que amenaçaven de desestabilitzar tot l'ordre internacional. Aquests nacionalistes populistes busquen una connexió carismàtica directa amb "el poble", que normalment es defineixen en termes estrets d'identitat que ofereixen una crida irresistible a un grup i exclouen grans parts de la població en general. La demanda de reconeixement de la seva identitat és un concepte principal que unifica molt del que està passant en la política mundial actual. El reconeixement universal sobre el qual es basa la democràcia liberal ha estat desafiat cada vegada més per formes més reduïdes de reconeixement basades en la nació, la religió, la secta, la raça, l'ètnia o el gènere, que han donat lloc a un populisme anti-immigrant, al repunt de l'Islam polititzat, a la fractura "Liberalisme d'identitat" dels campus universitaris i l'aparició del nacionalisme blanc. El nacionalisme populista, que es basa en la motivació econòmica, sorgeix realment de la demanda de reconeixement i, per tant, no es pot satisfer simplement per mitjans econòmics. La demanda d'identitat no es pot transcendir; hem de començar a configurar la identitat d'una manera que doni suport a la democràcia i no soscava. La identitat és un llibre urgent i necessari, un avís agut que, tret que creiem un coneixement universal de la dignitat humana, ens sentim condemnats a un conflicte continuat Demand for recognition of one's identity is a master concept that unifies much of what is going on in world politics today. Fukuyama offers a provocative examination of modern identity politics: its origins, its effects, and what it means for domestic and international affairs of state. He shows that we must begin to shape identity in a way that supports rather than undermines democracy. Unless we forge a universal understanding of human dignity, we will doom ourselves to continuing conflict-- Adapted from jacket The politics of dignity -- The third part of the soul -- Inside and outside -- From dignity to democracy -- Revolutions of dignity -- Expressive individualism -- Nationalism and religion -- The wrong address -- Invisible man -- The democratization of dignity -- From identity to identities -- We the people -- Stories of peoplehood -- What is to be done? "A provocative examination of modern identity politics: its origins, its effects, and what it means for our democracy and international affairs of state"--Jacket