Description
A 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 response, separate national-populist movements, stemming from particular national histories and struggles, arose concurrently to produce an era of "defensive nationalism." Distinguishing between creative, consolidating, and defensive nationalism, Rabinowitz offers a persuasively fresh way to study socio-political patterns across time and space.
Table of Contents
Introduction: The Paradox of ModernityPart I: TheoryChapter One: The Concepts: Populism, Nationalism, Fascism and NativismChapter Two: The Synthesis: A New Typology of NationalismChapter Three: Karl Polanyi: Theory & AmbiguityChapter Four: Joseph Schumpeter: Technology and the "Double Movement"Part II: The Rise of the Modern Liberal OrderChapter Five: The Belle Epoque: Railroads & TelegraphyChapter Six: The Digital Age: Turbo jets & ComputersPart III: The Dark Side of GlobalizationChapter Seven: Economic Reorganization & Economic CrisesChapter Eight: Mass Media & Fake NewsChapter Nine: Mass Immigration & Global TerrorismPart IV: Anti-Globalization Chapter Ten: From Globalization to the NationChapter Eleven: The Turn Inward: Nativism & FascismPart V: Post-War Peace Chapter Twelve: The Concert of EuropeChapter Thirteen: The Bretton Woods EraConclusion: Using History as a GuideNotesIndex
