Book Review: Identity: Contemporary Identity Politics and the Struggle for Recognition by Francis Fukuyama

 

Tracing the development of the idea of identity from the time of Plato, the author Francis Fukuyama gives a simple message of shaping a universal understanding of human dignity. Unless humans do that conflict seems unavoidable. The author says that the inner self is the basis of human dignity. He adds that economic grievances become more severe when indignity and disrespect are attached with it.

The concept of identity is rooted in Thymos, according to the author. This emerged only in modern times when it was combined with a notion of an inner and an outer self, and the radical view that the inner self was more valuable than the outer one. This was the product of both a shift in ideas about the self and the realities of societies that started to evolve rapidly under the pressures of economic and technological change.

Modern concept of identity unites three different phenomena. The first is thymos which craves for recognition. The second is the distinction between the inner and the outer self and the raising of the moral valuation of the inner self over outer society. The third is an evolving concept of dignity, in which recognition is due not just to a narrow class of people, but to everyone.

In chapter five titled Revolutions of Dignity, the author states that ‘desire for the state to recognize one’s basic dignity has been at the core of democratic movements since the French Revolution’. The author extensively refers to the western thinkers including Rousseau, Kant, Hegel, Marx and many others. Fukuyama says that nationalism and Islamism can be seen as a species of identity politics. Both provide an ideology that explains why people feel lonely and confused. And both of them demand recognition in restrictive ways (only for the members of a particular national or religious group).

In chapter nine the author describes thymos, isothymia and megalothymia. Thymos is part of the soul that desires for recognition, isothymia which is recognition as equal in dignity to others and megalothymia which is recognition as superior. In the same chapter there is criticism of the left. The argument is that the left is not building solidarity around large collectivities such as the working class, instead it chooses to focus on smaller groups being marginalized in specific ways.

Understandings of dignity forked in two directions during the nineteenth century. One, toward a liberal individualism and second toward collective identities for e.g. nation or religion. Fukuyama says that in liberal democracies identity politics began to reconverge with the collective and illiberal forms of identity such as nation and religion.

Fukuyama suggests that ‘a shift in the agendas of both left and right toward the protection of ever narrower group identities threatens the possibility of communication and collective action’.  In addition to that he suggests that the remedy is to define larger and more integrative national identities that take account of the de facto diversity of existing democracies.

Inclusive national identities are encouraged by the author. Policy of assimilation is to be promoted as liberal democracies benefit greatly from immigration, both economically and culturally, writes the author. Identify politics is making things harder and complicated. Fukuyama says that: “Social media and the internet have facilitated the emergence of self-contained communities, walled off not by physical barriers but by belief in shared identity”. The last chapter stresses that the human race will not escape thinking about themselves in terms of identity. In fact, identity should be used to integrate and if this happen populist politics would be remedied.

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Book Review: The Girlfriend By R. L. Stine

I personally think this book presents a short story with so many lessons for the reader. It is about a boy named Scotty and his friend Lora. Scotty has been accepted at Princeton and is happy in life until he faces a difficult situation. Lora goes to Paris with her family for holidays. During this time Scotty meets Shannon, a girl at his school. Things change very quickly as Shannon gets addicted to Scotty. Scotty regrets his action and tries to stay away from Shannon. He is tense, scared and troubled by his mistake. Due to his single mistake he starts lying. He tries to cover up anything that he thinks would uncover his secret.

For this he personally faces a lot of damage. Shannon kills his pet snake, breaks his fingers and threats him. Scotty does not want Lora to know about the mistake which made the other night. Things grow more complex when Shannon threats Scotty. She now wants to inform Lora about Scotty’s secret. Scotty is very tense. He goes to Shannon’s house to settle things in a pleasant manner. Instead, things become uncontrollable. A surprise birthday party turns into a terrible shock.

Scotty tells Lora about the whole chain of events. She is very displeased and shocked. Shannon takes up the birthday present- a ski and tries to kill Scotty with it until Lieutenant Jarmusch arrives and arrests Shannon who was already under vigilance for her abnormal acts. Lora and Scotty feel relived as Scotty accepts his mistake. Things get normal and Scotty gets dropped back home.

The lessons which could be taken by the reader is that trust is a very important relationship, it should never be violated in any case. A single lie takes you a long way into a sea of lies. Honesty should be encouraged and deceit should be denounced at all costs.

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Book Review: The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway

This novel was written by Ernest Hemingway in the United States in 1899. The author of this book worked as a journalist, took part in both world wars of the twentieth century and covered two civil wars too. In 1954 he was awarded the Nobel Prize in literature. Seven years after this, he sadly committed suicide.

The story of this novel revolves around a person named Santiago. In his younger days he was called by his full name, but now “salao” has replaced his real name, as he is unable to catch any fish lately. His only apprentice is a young boy, who is advised by his parents to stay away from the old man as he could bring him the worst kind of bad luck.

One day he goes out into the deep sea to try his luck. He catches a real big fish. It becomes a really challenge traveling with the fish back home. The length of the fish is later measured and it is eighteen feet. Sadly, on his way back many sharks attach Santiago boat and eat up the large fish. When Santiago nears home he sees the large fish in a skeletal form. This disappoints him a lot.

One of the lessons which I think is very clear in this novel is that any individual should not give up. Despite his old age Santiago takes up the challenge and ignores unwanted criticism. He proves that he caught a big fish and also proved that any concerted effort can help you achieve your goals and bad luck is just an excuse for not making an effort. Integrity is not in boasting but it’s in acting on what you believe. A good short read!

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Book Review: Ibn Khaldun: His Life and Work by Muḥammad Abdullah Enan

 

The author of this book presents a study on Ibn Khaldun, one of the distinguished personalities in the history of Muslim thought. Although western scholars benefited from Ibn Khaldun, but the author believes that in the East he is still not fully appreciated. The early chapters of the book cover the early life period of Ibn Khaldun and his adventures, whereas the latter part focuses on his intellectual and social legacy.

Born in 1332 in Tunis, Ibn Khaldun belonged to a prominent influential family of Andalusia (Muslim Spain). He was the descendant of an old and learned family. At an early age he learned Quran by heart, studied Hadith and jurisprudence.  Khaldun became a seal barrier, shifted sides when under danger. He travelled, studied and became an outstanding personality in the history of the states of North Africa. He was appointed at the court of Fez. Other than that he also got involved in political intrigues. Sultan Abu Enan kept Khaldun in prison for two years.

The author considers Khaldun as an opportunist for whom ‘end justified means’. Under Sultan Abu Salem Khaldun was secretary and chamberlain. After that he was appointed as Chief Justice. The author continues that Khaldun occupied the same status of a thinker and writer in the states of North Africa, as Ibn al-Khatib had in Andalusia.

Under Sultan of Bougie, Khaldun served as a Hajib (manager of all the affairs of the state). When Khaldun returns to North Africa he resumes his relations with Abu Hamu. He starts to write his historical work. Later, Khaldun arrives in Egypt. Firstly, he is appointed as a professor in the Kamhiah School and later as a Maliki judge. The Egyptian writers oppose and criticize him. Khaldun’s family dies during a journey when a storm hits their ship. This book mentions the circumstances under which Khaldun is relieved from his position as a judge. Furthermore, his study, research, and his efforts for the improvement of relations between Egyptian court and the courts of North Africa are also mentioned. His journey to the holy land is also briefly covered.

Ibn Khaldun descends from the walls of Damascus and reaches the camp of Timur, who is ready to invade. He interviews the invader Timur. For twenty-three years Khaldun lives in Egypt. He keeps away from politics and works on his literary works. Egyptian writers greatly oppose him and attack him in their writings, but a few also support him. Some of them include Al-Makrizi who was influenced by his thoughts and theories.

The second part on the book revolves around the legacy of Ibn Khaldun. This includes both social and intellectual legacy. Under this section Khaldun’s compression of subjects such as history, sociology and political economy are praised. The author discusses Khaldun’s views on state, sovereignty and social phenomena. Ibn Khaldun considered history as a science worthy of study- not as a narrative merely recorded. While discussing the Arabs Khaldun opines that they are a ‘savage nation whose conquests are made for pillage and devastation’.

Western research considers Khaldun a philosopher, historian, a scholar of sociology and political economy. Dutch, French, Italian and Russian scholars have praised Khaldun’s work. Comparing Khaldun and Machiavelli the author believes that the Muslim thinker was richer in material than the Italian thinker. The author states that: “The opinions and theories of Machiavelli are inspired by the events of ancient history, particularly by the events of his time which he witnessed and studied, and from which he concludes certain general laws, in the same manner as Ibn Khaldun who makes similar conclusions by studying society.”

The author leaves the reader with the possibility that Machaivelli might have heard of Ibn Khaldun and his Prolegomena towards the end of his life, ten years after writing the Prince. In the concluding paragraphs Inan says that ‘Prince was a great conquest in the thought of the Renaissance as the Prolegomena was a great conquest in Muslim thought’. This book stands out as a great effort by the author in highlighting Ibn Khaldun’s achievements and his work. Every person interested in history, politics and sociology should give this a read.

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Book Review: Water by Bapsi Sidhwa

 

In this book Bapsi Sidhwa adapts Deepa Mehta’s controversial film ‘Water’. The setting is based on the backdrop of Gandhi’s rise to power in India of 1938.  The story revolves around the life of an eight-year-old girl named Chuyia. Chuyia is a child-bride who is abandoned away from her village at an Ashram, when her fifty-year-old husband dies. Like all the other widows there at the Ashram, she is expected to spend the rest of her life in penitence. Despite her young age Chuyia becomes a source of change in the lives of other widows.

Madhumati, the eldest widow in the Ashram supplies widows to rich clients through a eunuch named Gulabi. Chuyia’s friend, the young and beautiful Kalyani, is also used for prostitution by Madhumati- the patronizing widow. Kalyani falls in love with Narayan, a young Gandhian of the upper class.

Narayan informs his mother about his choice for marriage. His mother is displeased and shocked. The traditional balance of culture, morals and religion are under threat, according to his mother. For Kalyani, this would mean challenging the balance of power in the Ashram. With that, it would also mean defying openly the religious dictates. Bapsi Sidhwa has beautifully shown details of the characters, societal intricacies, moral fabric, class system and hypocrisy of the upper classes.

The story ends with Kalyani’s death when she is left in a state of despondency. Chuyia’s fate changes when she climbs the train with Shakuntala. Shakuntala is upset as Madhumati has forced the young Chuyia into prostitution. She does not want that to continue.  Narayn promises Shakuntala to take Chuyia’s responsibility, as he had already promised Kalayani.  Narayan is on Gandhi’s train march and leaves his native town with Chuyia. This novel offers a great insight to the lives of widows in colonial India. A very rich and detailed narration by Bapsi Sidhwa keeps her reader attentive throughout the novel. Worth reading!

 

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Book Review: Judgment of History by Mubarak Ali

Judgment of History is one of the more than eighty books published by Dr. Mubarak Ali. This book is a collection of articles on various themes in history and historiography. Ali presents a pro-people approach in his writings. 

He does not agree with the dominant narratives of history where local perspectives of the people are missing. In his simple style Ali discusses dynasties, imperial powers, Europe, Mughals, Arabs, Romans, traders, civilizations, conflict, social attitudes, wars, history of sub-continent and much more. His articles in this book are easy to read and understand.

Dr. Ali was born in Rajasthan in early 1940s and later in 1950s he migrated to Pakistan. He completed his doctorate degree from Ruhr University Germany. Before that he had studied history from Sindh University and had also served as a lecturer. In 1989, Ali was forced to resign from Sindh University.

By reading this book one gets a very clear message that history needs more research and dominant perspectives should not be accepted in any case, as they have been manufactured by the ruling elite. Distortion of history is another element which he points out in his writings. Students, teachers, researchers and anybody interested in history should get a copy of this book.

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Book Review: Principles of Social Reconstruction by Bertrand Russell

 

Principles of Social Reconstruction is a compilation of lectures written by Bertrand Russell in 1915 and delivered the very next year.  Based on eight chapters this book covers themes of growth, state, war, property, education, marriage, religion and the potential of the human race.

Russell says that ‘without understanding and sympathy it is impossible to find a cure for the evil from which the world is suffering’.  He further adds that all human activity springs from the two sources: impulse and desire. Russel thinks that men not only need material goods, but more ‘freedom, more self-direction, more outlet for creativeness, more opportunity for the joy of life, more voluntary co-operation, and less involuntary subservience to purposes not their own. The author says that public opinion is largely created by the state with the help of oratory and the influence of the press. Moreover, he adds that ‘public opinion is as great an enemy to liberty as tyrannous laws’.  Both for internal; and external affairs the worst enemy of freedom is considered war by Russell.

In the third chapter war as an institution is discussed. Power or wealth are the two objects identified by Russell, which are desired by groups which make war. Russell believes that a ‘large proportion of mankind have impulse to conflict rather than harmony. This is same in the case of private lives and relation of states. In this chapter a suggestion is provided which says: “If the world is to be saved, men must learn to be noble without being cruel, to be filled with faith and yet open to truth, to be inspired by great purposes without hating those who try thwart them’.

In the chapter on property the author says that political institutions can play an important part by helping ‘individual creativeness, vigor, vitality, and the joy of life’. Russell opines that the evils in the current system result from the difference in the interest of consumer, producer and the capitalist. Chapter five of this book is on education. The author says: “Education is, as a rule, the strongest force on the side of what exists and against fundamental change: threatened institutions, why they are still powerful, possess themselves of the educational machine, and instill a respect for their own excellence into the malleable minds of the young”. He espouses that education should provide children with the knowledge and mental habits required for forming independent opinions. Russell says that ‘almost all education has a political motive.’ Preserving independence and impulse is more needed than instilling obedience and discipline by a teacher, says Russell. More money should be spent to secure teachers with more leisure and natural love of teaching. In addition to that the author says that men fear thought more than anything else on earth.

In chapter six the author addresses the question of marriage as a political institution. More and more women find motherhood unsatisfying, more and more there comes to be a conflict between their personal development and the future of the community, says the author. Russell states that: “It is the combination of love, children, and a common life that makes the best relation between a man and a woman. In chapter on religion and the churches, he is not in favor of professional priesthood. He is of the view that curiosity is the primary impulse out of which the whole edifice of scientific knowledge has grown. A reconciliation of instinct, mind and spirit is essential for men to remain whole. It is instinct that gives force, mind that gives the means of directing force to desired ends, and spirit that suggest impersonal uses for force of a kind that thought cannot discredit by criticism. He concludes chapter seven by saying that for those people who once enter the world of thought, it is only through spirit that happiness and peace can return.

In the last chapter titled ‘what can we do’ Russell explores the insecurities and possibilities of man on this planet. He says that ‘it is preoccupation with possessions, more than anything else, that prevents men from living freely and nobly’. In the same chapter he further states that: “Education, marriage, and religion are essentially creative, yet all three have been vitiated by the intrusion of possessive motives”.  Russell is of the view that economic systems play an important role in promoting or destroying lives. According to him, after slavery, the present industrial system is the most destructive of life that has ever existed.

In this compilation of essays Bertrand Russell argues that impulse has more effect than conscious purpose in crafting men’s lives. Life built on creative impulses, according to him is the best life. Liberation of creatives should be the principle of reform both in politics and in economics. This conviction led Russell to the writing of these lectures.

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Book Review: Mikhail Gorbachev: The Soviet Innovator by Steve Otfinoski

 

This biography of Mikhail Gorbachev by Steven Otfinoski is of the series produced by Great Lives. It starts with the early life of Gorbachev to his rise to power, and the challenges which he faces as a leader of the Soviet Union. The soviet leader was son of a peasant born in 1931, in the Stavropol territory. His father wanted his son to acquire good education. Gorbachev got into law school at Moscow State University. He married a lady named Raisa in early 1954 in senior year. After completing his education Gorbachev and his wife returned to Stavropol. He remained for twenty-three years at this place. Gorbachev worked for the party and gradually made his way up the party ranks.

On Andropov’s insistence during Brezhnev’s time, Gorbachev got a chance to become the twentieth most powerful man in the country at the age of forty-seven. After Brezhnev’s death Andropov took over and provided more working opportunity for Gorbachev as he had trust in him. They retired old politicians and replaced them with young blood. They dispensed more power to regional and local leaders. Moreover, they introduced western technology into soviet industry. Gorbachev got the opportunity to travel to other countries which include France, Italy, Czechoslovakia, Belgium and Great Britain. This provided him opportunity to learn more from other countries.

In Feb 1984 Andropov died of kidney failure. In March 1985 Chernenko passed way without changing much as he was one of the last old guards who tried to hold together the Soviet Union of Joseph Stalin. Gorbachev was chosen as the General Secretary by the Central Committee. Gorbachev removed corrupt and lazy party leaders. He launched an anti-drinking campaign. Later he introduced Perestroika (restructuring in Russian) and glasnost (openness in Russian). Ligachev and Yeltsin now emerged as heading two different groups within the political system. Ligachev was head of the conservatives and Yeltsin of the opposite camp who grew frustrated at the slowness of reform. Here Gorbachev very skillfully comforted the conservatives and encouraged his fellow reformers.

As far as foreign policy is concerned in November 1985 Gorbachev met Ronald Regan in Geneva. In September 1986 they met again, but this time in Iceland. In December 1987 Gorbachevs arrived in Washington for four days. Regans visited Moscow in June 1988. In December 1988 Gorbachev spoke before the General Assembly in New York. George Bush was the vice-president at that time. A 6.9 earthquake had struck Armenia in Soviet Union. Gorbachevs had to cancel his trips to Cuba and the Great Britain. Thy flew back home.

A chapter titled ‘The Road Ahead’ presents the key to future challenges. The author of the book suggests that ‘energy, political wisdom, and statesmanship' would be required to manage problems in the future. At times the author presents Gorbachev as the only intelligent soviet leader since Soviet Union's inception. The reader of this book would surely manage to dissect this short reading.

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Truth, Love & a Little Malice by Khushwant Singh

One of the most interesting works of Khushwant Singh is his autobiography Truth, love and a little malice. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Living in pre-partition Punjab which has now become Pakistan Singh recalls his childhood memories. He talks about his village life, his grandmother, family and his surroundings.

Starting from his primary education Singh narrates how he moved to Dehli for his college. Later in Lahore he attended Government College. The interesting story of how he was inducted into the college is presented in detail. The student groupings, biases, antagonisms at Government Collage are also mentioned by the author.

After completing his education in Lahore Singh moved to London to start his Law degree at Kings College. His experiences at London are really worth reading. Starting his journey from India and traveling to England on ship with other Indian students was a new experience for him. The complexities, observing new things, encounter with other students and the time spent in England are well narrated. Singh befriended many people in England. He writes in detail about Hindus, Sikhs, Muslims and the British who lived in London back in those days.In a chapter Singh writes about the loot and plunder that took place in 1947 when the partition took place. He adds that the environment was very tense and hostile. Sikhs, Hindus and Muslims were all involved in the massacre.

Khushwant Singh served an appointment at the Indian High commission London. He writes extensively about the politics within the Indian staff present there. Moreover, in the book the author also covers his travel and work experiences. His affiliation with the UN is also reflected. Singh also moved to Canada where he had other experiences. The author of this now started developing an interest in Sikh religion and history. He got a grant and sponsor went to London to do some serious work in this regard. From writing to publishing he writes about all the difficulty, opponents and criticism he faced. Singh was contacted by many leading universities of the world. He lectured at universities and joined the academia.

After his return to India Khushwant Singh joined journalism. During this phase he also got into the Raja Sabha. The Sikh population was massacred during this time period as Mrs Gandhi used strong measures against them. In this affair thousands of people including women and children were killed. Singh’s close affiliation with Indira Gandhi’s family and later his distance from them are explained in detail. Khushwant Singh writes a separate chapter on Pakistan which is also very interesting. Singh’s thinking towards major religions and his own agnosticism are also explained in great detail. After that the author writes about the art of writing and his interaction with different writers. His own inspiration in the field of writing are also included by him.

Overall this is a very interesting autobiography which not only tells us about the life of Khushwant Singh but explores the intricacies of recent history which Singh saw through his own eyes. Every person living in the Indian sub-continent should read this book.

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Book Review: The Richest Man in Babylon by George Samuel Clason

Buying this book, one important thing that came to my mind was that this book would serve to explore the in-detail study of the life of the Babylon people. Unfortunately, it did not. Instead, after reading a few pages I realized that in fact this book provides the success secrets on wealth of the ancient people of Babylon. This book provides an insight to the secrets of personal wealth.

The author of this book George S. Clason, was born Louisiana in November 1874. He served in the United States army during the Spanish Civil War. Moreover, he became a successful businessman. In 1926 he published a famous series of pamphlets on thrift and financial success. For this he used parables from the ancient Babylon to make his points. The most famous of these was the Richest Man in Babylon, from which the present volume takes its title.

Clason frequently quotes from the parables of the ancient times. If one applies his writings to the present time one can extract some teachings from them. His aim is to promote savings by methods of thrift, advise struggling entrepreneurs in establishing their business and encourage young people to benefit form the wisdom of the old. The author views ancient Babylon as wealthiest of the ancient cites because he thinks that its people knew the value of money, they practiced “sound financial principles in acquiring money, keeping money and making their money earn more money”. Even today, after thousands of years, money is governed by the same laws.

Some of the chapters of the book are about gold, lean purse, goddess of good luck, five laws of gold, gold lending walls of Babylon, camel trader and the last chapter is about the historical sketch of Babylon. Babylon had fertile land and river water. The Babylonians built canals by brilliant engineering techniques which helped greatly in crop production. Wisdom, enterprise and justice made Babylon famous through history. They were an educated and enlightened people who were the first engineers, first astronomers, first mathematicians and first financiers. In addition to that, they were also the first people to have a written language.

Babylon was never said to have been entered by hostile armies until about 540 years before the birth of Christ by Cyrus who entered the open gates of the city and took possession without resistance.

 

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