The Tyranny of Guilt : An Essay on Western Masochism

Why the West must overcome its guilty conscience to foster a better global futureFascism, communism, genocide, slavery, racism, imperialism—the West has no shortage of reasons for guilt. And, indeed, since the Holocaust and the end of World War II, Europeans in particular have been consumed by remorse. But Pascal Bruckner argues that guilt has now gone too far. It has become a pathology, and even an obstacle to fighting today's atrocities. Bruckner, one of France's leading writers and public intellectuals, argues that obsessive guilt has obscured important realities. The West has no monopoly on evil, and has destroyed monsters as well as created them—leading in the abolition of slavery, renouncing colonialism, building peaceful and prosperous communities, and establishing rules and institutions that are models for the world. The West should be proud—and ready to defend itself and its values. In this, Europeans should learn from Americans, who still have sufficient self-esteem to act decisively in a world of chaos and violence. Lamenting the vice of anti-Americanism that grips so many European intellectuals, Bruckner urges a renewed transatlantic alliance, and advises Americans not to let recent foreign-policy misadventures sap their own confidence. This is a searing, provocative, and psychologically penetrating account of the crude thought and bad politics that arise from excessive bad conscience. Fascism, Communism, Genocide, Slavery, Racism, Imperialism - The West Has On Shortage Of Reasons For Guilt. And, Indeed, Since The Holocaust And The End Of World War Ii, Europeans In Particular Have Been Consumed By Remorse. But Pascal Bruckner Argues That Guilt Has Now Gone Too Far. It Has Become A Pathology, And Even An Obstacle To Fighting Today's Atrocities. Bruckner, One Of France's Leading Writers And Public Intellectuals, Argues That Obsessive Guilt Has Obscured Important Realities. The West Has No Monopoly On Evil, And Has Destroyed Monsters As Well As Created Them - Leading In The Abolition Of Slavery, Renouncing Colonialism, Building Peaceful And Prosperous Communities, And Establishing Rules And Institutions That Are Models For The World. The West Should Be Proud - And Ready To Defend Itself And Its Values. In This, Europeans Should Learn From Americans, Who Still Have Sufficient Self-esteem To Act Decisively In A World Of Chaos And Violence. Lamenting The Vice Of Anti-americanism That Grips So Many European Intellectuals, Bruckner Urges A Renewed Transatlantic Alliance, And Advises Americans Not To Let Recent Foreign Policy Misadventures Sap Their Own Confidence.--jacket. Guilt Peddlers -- The Irremediable And Despondency -- The Ideology That Stammers -- The Self-flagellants Of The Western World -- A Thirst For Punishment -- The Pathologies Of Debt -- Placing The Enemy In One's Heart -- The Vanities Of Self-hatred -- One-way Repentance -- The False Quarrel Over Islamophobia -- Innocence Recovered -- How Central Is The Near East? -- Zionism, The Criminal Dna Of Humanity -- Unmasking The Usurper -- A Delicate Arbitrage -- The Doubly Damned -- The Fanaticism Of Modesty -- A Tardy Conversion To Virtue -- The Empire Of Emptiness -- The Pacification Of The Past -- The Guilty Imagination -- Recovering Self-esteem -- The Twofold Lesson -- The Second Golgotha -- Misinterpretations Of Auschwitz -- Hitlerizing History -- The Twofold Colonial Nostalgia -- Listen To My Suffering -- On Victimization As A Career -- Protect Minorities Or Emancipate The Individual? -- What Duty Of Memory? -- Depression In Paradise : France, A Symptom And Caricature Of Europe -- A Universal Victim? -- The Wild Ass's Skin -- Who Are The Reactionaries? -- The Triumph Of Fear -- Metamorphosis Or Decline? -- Doubt And Faith : The Quarrel Between Europe And The United States -- To Be Or To Have -- The Troublemakers In History -- The Archaism Of The Soldier -- The Swaggering Colossus. Pascal Bruckner ; Translated From The French By Steven Rendall. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Why the West must overcome its guilty conscience to foster a better global future Fascism, communism, genocide, slavery, racism, imperialismthe West has no shortage of reasons for guilt. And, indeed, since the Holocaust and the end of World War II, Europeans in particular have been consumed by remorse. But Pascal Bruckner argues that guilt has now gone too far. It has become a pathology, and even an obstacle to fighting today's atrocities. Bruckner, one of France's leading writers and public intellectuals, argues that obsessive guilt has obscured important realities. The West has no monopoly on evil, and has destroyed monsters as well as created themleading in the abolition of slavery, renouncing colonialism, building peaceful and prosperous communities, and establishing rules and institutions that are models for the world. The West should be proudand ready to defend itself and its values. In this, Europeans should learn from Americans, who still have sufficient self-esteem to act decisively in a world of chaos and violence. Lamenting the vice of anti-Americanism that grips so many European intellectuals, Bruckner urges a renewed transatlantic alliance, and advises Americans not to let recent foreign-policy misadventures sap their own confidence. This is a searing, provocative, and psychologically penetrating account of the crude thought and bad politics that arise from excessive bad conscience. "Fascism, communism, genocide, slavery, racism, imperialism - the West has no shortage of reasons for guilt. And, indeed, since the Holocaust and the end of World War II, Europeans in particular have been consumed by remorse. But Pascal Bruckner argues that guilt has now gone too far. It has become a pathology, and even an obstacle to fighting today's atrocities. Bruckner, one of France's leading writers and public intellectuals, argues that obsessive guilt has obscured important realities. The West has no monopoly on evil, and has destroyed monsters as well as created them - leading in the abolition of slavery, renouncing colonialism, building peaceful and prosperous communities, and establishing rules and institutions that are models for the world. The West should be proud - and ready to defend itself and its values. In this, Europeans should learn from Americans, who still have sufficient self-esteem to act decisively in a world of chaos and violence. Lamenting the vice of anti-Americanism that grips so many European intellectuals, Bruckner urges a renewed transatlantic alliance, and advises Americans not to let recent foreign policy misadventures sap their own confidence."--Jacket Guilt peddlers The irremediable and despondency The ideology that stammers The self-flagellants of the Western world A thirst for punishment The pathologies of debt Placing the enemy in one's heart The vanities of self-hatred One-way repentance The false quarrel over Islamophobia The swimming pool of innocence recovered How central is the Near East? "Zionism, the criminal DNA of humanity" Unmasking the usurper A delicate arbitrage The doubly damned The fanaticism of modesty A tardy conversion to virtue The empire of emptiness The pacification of the past The guilty imagination Recovering self-esteem The twofold lesson The second Golgotha Misinterpretations of Auschwitz Hitlerizing history The twofold colonial nostalgia Listen to my suffering On victimization as a career Protect minorities or emancipate the individual What duty of memory? Depression in paradise : France, a symptom and caricature of Europe A universal victim The wild ass's skin Who are the reactionaries? The triumph of fear Metamorphosis or decline Doubt and faith : the quarrel between Europe and the United States To be or to have The troublemakers in history The archaism of the soldier The swaggering Colossus. Guilt peddlers The irremediable and despondency The ideology that stammers The self-flagellants of the Western world A thirst for punishment The pathologies of debt Placing the enemy in one's heart The vanities of self-hatred One-way repentance The false quarrel over Islamophobia Innocence recovered How central is the Near East? "Zionism, the criminal DNA of humanity" Unmasking the usurper A delicate arbitrage America doubly damned The fanaticism of modesty A tardy conversion to virtue The empire of emptiness The pacification of the past The guilty imagination Recovering self-esteem The twofold lesson The second Golgotha Misinterpretations of Auschwitz Hitlerizing history The twofold colonial nostalgia Listen to my suffering On victimization as a career Protect minorities or emancipate the individual? What duty of memory? Depression in paradise : France, a symptom and caricature of Europe A universal victim? The wild ass's skin Who are the reactionaries? The triumph of fear Metamorphosis or decline? Doubt and faith : the quarrel between Europe and the United States To be or to have The troublemakers in history The archaism of the soldier The swaggering Colossus. Fascism, communism, genocide, slavery, racism, imperialism - the West has no shortage of reasons for guilt. And, indeed, since the Holocaust and the end of World War-II, Europeans in particular have been consumed by remorse. This title argues that guilt has gone too far. It states that obsessive guilt has obscured important realities.