Defending Identity: Its Indispensable Role in Defending Democracy

Natan Sharansky; Shira Weiss Wolosky

ISBN 10: 1433212072 ISBN 13: 9781433212079

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc., 2008

Synopsis

If the history of the twentieth century can be seen as a successful struggle to expand personal freedoms, then the history of the twenty-first century will be seen as a contest to assert cultural, ethnic, or religious identities. From the crisis in Europe where identity is seen as inimical to democratic freedoms, to the threats to identity posed by postmodern relativism and Marxism, to the corrosive dullness of identity-less cosmopolitanism, Sharansky conducts a philosophical tour of nations, regions and cities whose futures rest precariously on the struggle for identity. His purpose throughout is to recover this most valuable and essential political emotion, one that can reaffirm and underpin democratic societies. Together, identity and democracy assert a powerful and benign sense of purpose; divided, at odds with each other, they invite fundamentalism and rootlessness.

About this title

About the Authors

Emily Janice Card (a.k.a. Emily Rankin) is an actor, writer, and singer. In addition to being a narrator, she has directed numerous audiobooks, including the 2007 Audie and Earphones Award winner Hubris, Legacy of Ashes by Pulitzer Prize winner Tim Weiner, and Them by Nathan McCall. Her own audiobook narration has won her four Earphones Awards.

NATAN SHARANSKY, former Soviet dissident, political prisoner, and human-rights icon, has spent his life championing democracy and freedom. In 1977, he was arrested by the KGB for his activism and his support for Soviet Jews' demands to emigrate to Israel and was imprisoned for nine years. He has served as a senior minister in the Israeli government and now heads a foundation.

Reviews

Sharansky compellingly argues that distinct group identities within a culture are an essential part of a successful democracy and that attempts to bleach out or deny identity can have catastrophic results. Much of his argument is shaped and funneled through his experience as a political prisoner in the Soviet gulags and later as a citizen and activist in Israel. Though one is inclined to ask if Sharansky means anything more with his usage of identity than religion, he still makes clear points about contemporary Jewish and Muslim identity. His most intriguing discussions center on the postidentity crisis that many of the developed nations find themselves facing. Stefan Rudnicki's deep voice enables a stronger foreboding tone for Sharansky's words. His light use of accents for quotes provides context without exaggeration. Most important, Rudnicki patiently works through the text with shifting emphasis and pauses to allow for listener understanding during the more cerebral elements of Sharansky's writings. A Perseus hardcover. (Oct.)
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Edition details

• Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.
• Publication date: 2008
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1433212072
• ISBN 13: 9781433212079
• Binding: Audio CD
• Number of pages: 1