Description
Book SynopsisA stunningly novel account of why populism and fascism are on the rise in the early 21st century.Today we find in the most technologically advanced societies, wild conspiracy theories and a broad distrust of science and expertise have created deep political divisions that are splitting nations in two. Defensive Nationalism explains this paradox, using history as a guide. B. S. Rabinowitz finds that the turn-of-the 19th century was also a period of exceptional technological innovation that ended with toxic political upheavals. To investigate why, the author combines Karl Polanyi''s concept of the double movement with Joseph Schumpeter''s theory of innovation. Weaving together a fascinating narrative that spans two centuries, the book traces how the rapid transformation of transportation and communications during the Industrial Revolution and the Digital Revolution created economic interdependence and capital flows that induced radical economic, social, and political disruptions. In resp
Trade ReviewIn a surprising twist, Rabinowitz explains the rise of populism and fascism as paradoxically linked to the greatest scientific advances of our age. Using Karl Polanyi's concept of the 'double movement' and Joseph Schumpeter's theory of innovation, the book compares anti-globalization movements of today with those that arose in the late 19th century. The comparison reveals how economic, social and political precarities created by modern technological revolutions draw people to anti-liberal, 'defensive nationalist' movements on both the left and the right. At a time when democracy is endangered by such inward-looking nationalism, Rabinowitz' unique synthesis of theory and history offers a much-needed analysis of the nature of the threats facing us today. * Ronald Grigor Suny, William H. Sewell, Jr. Distinguished University Professor of History and Professor of Political Science, The University of Michigan, and Emeritus Professor, The University of Chicago *
B. S. Rabinowitz tackles one of the most pressing questions of our time in a refreshingly audacious manner. What has brought such potent threats to democracy in some of the world's most technologically advanced nations? To unravel this puzzle, she goes back more than 150 years and extracts fresh insights from two very different theorists, Karl Polanyi and Joseph Schumpeter. She finds that in the late 20th Century, as in the late 19th Century, technological revolutions fueled globalization that ultimately produced a dangerous 'defensive' nationalism. * Steven K. Vogel, Professor of Political Science and Political Economy, University of California, Berkeley *
This compelling and highly original book synthesizes the views of two of the twentieth century's leading economic sociologists, Karl Polanyi and Joseph Schumpeter, to explain the global resurgence of populism over the last decade. Understanding the historical shift towards economic liberalism as a function of technological progress, Rabinowitz highlights some of the central dynamics driving contemporary populist status anxiety, namely, the relative dislocation and disarticulation of established national, class, and ethnic hierarchies attendant to globalization. Defensive Nationalism is sure to be studied and to inspire fresh insights for years to come. * Zak Cope, co-editor of The Oxford Handbook of Economic Imperialism *
Table of ContentsIntroduction: The Paradox of Modernity Part I: Theory Chapter One: The Concepts: Populism, Nationalism, Fascism and Nativism Chapter Two: The Synthesis: A New Typology of Nationalism Chapter Three: Karl Polanyi: Theory & Ambiguity Chapter Four: Joseph Schumpeter: Technology and the "Double Movement" Part II: The Rise of the Modern Liberal Order Chapter Five: The Belle Epoque: Railroads & Telegraphy Chapter Six: The Digital Age: Turbo jets & Computers Part III: The Dark Side of Globalization Chapter Seven: Economic Reorganization & Economic Crises Chapter Eight: Mass Media & Fake News Chapter Nine: Mass Immigration & Global Terrorism Part IV: Anti-Globalization Chapter Ten: From Globalization to the Nation Chapter Eleven: The Turn Inward: Nativism & Fascism Part V: Post-War Peace Chapter Twelve: The Concert of Europe Chapter Thirteen: The Bretton Woods Era Conclusion: Using History as a Guide Notes Index
