Ill Fares the LandSomething is profoundly wrong with the way we think about how we should live today. In Ill Fares The Land, Tony Judt, one of our leading historians and thinkers, reveals how we have arrived at our present dangerously confused moment. Judt masterfully crystallizes what we've all been feeling into a way to think our way into, and thus out of, our great collective dis-ease about the current state of things. As the economic collapse of 2008 made clear, the social contract that defined postwar life in Europe and America - the guarantee of a basal level of security, stability and fairness -- is no longer guaranteed; in fact, it's no longer part of the common discourse. Judt offers the language we need to address our common needs, rejecting the nihilistic individualism of the far right and the debunked socialism of the past. To find a way forward, we must look to our not so distant past and to social democracy in action: to re-enshrining fairness over mere efficiency. Distinctly absent from our national dialogue, social democrats believe that the state can play an enhanced role in our lives without threatening our liberties. Instead of placing blind faith in the market-as we have to our detriment for the past thirty years-social democrats entrust their fellow citizens and the state itself. Ill Fares the Land challenges us to confront our societal ills and to shoulder responsibility for the world we live in. For hope remains. In reintroducing alternatives to the status quo, Judt reinvigorates our political conversation, providing the tools necessary to imagine a new form of governance, a new way of life. |
Contents
CHAPTER ONE The Way We Live | |
CHAPTER TWO The World We Have Lost | |
CHAPTER THREE The Unbearable Lightness of Politics | |
CHAPTER FOUR Goodbye to All That? | |
CHAPTER FIVE What Is to Be Done? | |
CHAPTER SIX The Shape of Things to Come | |
Conclusion | |
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20th century American Anthony Crosland Austrian authoritarian beneficiaries benefits Bernard Williams better British capitalism challenge citizens collective Communist competition consensus consequences conservative contemporary countries cultural debate decades democracy Depression dissent economic economists efficient enthusiasm Europe European fear France free market freedom French Friedrich Hayek future gated communities George Orwell Germany globalization Hayek idea income individual inefficient inequality insecurity institutions intellectual interest JOHN MAYNARD KEYNES Judt Left legislation less liberal live London Margaret Thatcher Michael Oakeshott middle class modern moral ourselves past pension planning political politicians poor population postwar private sector profit progressive taxation public provision public sector public services question radical railway Ralf Dahrendorf reform regulation responsibility revolution sense shortcomings social democratic social services socialist society Spirit Level sure taxation Thatcher things Tony Tony Judt trust unemployment United University wealth welfare western William Beveridge young