Death of the Liberal Class: Difference between revisions
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'''''Death of the Liberal Class''''' is a 2010 book by the American journalist [[Chris Hedges]]. Hedges writes on [[American Left|left-wing politics in the United States]], and asserts the existence of a distinct [[socioeconomic class]] which he calls "the liberal class", which has declined in influence since the 1960s.<ref name=libclass>{{cite book |last1=Chris |first1=Hedges |title=Death of the Liberal Class |date=2010 |publisher=Nation Books |location=New York |isbn=978-1568586793 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/deathofliberalcl0000hedg }}</ref><ref name=pubweekly>{{Cite web|url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-56858-644-1|title=The Death of the Liberal Class|work=[[Publishers Weekly]]|date=13 December 2010}}</ref> |
'''''Death of the Liberal Class''''' is a 2010 book by the American journalist [[Chris Hedges]]. Hedges writes on [[American Left|left-wing politics in the United States]], and asserts the existence of a distinct [[socioeconomic class]] which he calls "the liberal class", which has declined in influence since the 1960s.<ref name=libclass>{{cite book |last1=Chris |first1=Hedges |title=Death of the Liberal Class |date=2010 |publisher=Nation Books |location=New York |isbn=978-1568586793 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/deathofliberalcl0000hedg }}</ref><ref name=pubweekly>{{Cite web|url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-56858-644-1|title=The Death of the Liberal Class|work=[[Publishers Weekly]]|date=13 December 2010}}</ref> |
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== Summary == |
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''Death of the Liberal Class'' begins with a sympathetic profile of an impoverished [[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian Party]] activist, Ernest Logan Bell. Bell articulates a plethora of injustices related to widespread corporate dominance of American life, and mixes left- and right-wing positions in his criticism of liberal politicians. Hedges then discusses how Bell and the interests of many working Americans like him have been abandoned by a liberal class that championed [[deindustrialization]], financial deregulation, and unmitigated [[North American Free Trade Agreement|outsourcing]]. The liberal class is described as a body of people employed in privileged, largely managerial positions in liberal institutions; including churches, media, the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]], labor unions, and academia. Hedges argues that political theater and moral posturing has replaced meaningful agitation for reform, and charges that the liberal class has turned into a class of apologists for the corporate interests that killed them. |
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The second chapter, titled "Permanent War," posits that one of the core weaknesses in the power of the liberal class is its history of supporting war efforts in the United States. Nationalist narratives in wartime tend to dominate public discourse and mute interest in social reform. This pervasive war footing creates a near-totalitarian influence in media to service national myth. This complacency concedes power to an aggressive right wing. Hedges praises the authorship, political activism, and media criticism of [[Noam Chomsky]]. Hedges then contrasts the acceptance of pro-war liberal figures following the [[2003 invasion of Iraq|2003 United States invasion of Iraq]] with the widespread denunciations of Michael Moore for criticizing the war while accepting an [[Academy Awards|Oscar]] in 2003. The use of mercenary forces such as [[Blackwater (company)|Blackwater]] is discussed, along with other forms of war profiteering in the United States [[Military–industrial complex|defense industry]]. Hedges then outlines the ignored grievances of members in the Armed forces that foretold [[2021 Taliban offensive|American defeat]] in the [[War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)|Afghanistan war]]. Hedges alleges that the American efforts in Afghanistan were primed for failure due to the neglect of resolving Afghan poverty, food shortages, and social issues that combined to form popular sympathy for the [[Taliban]]. Hedges concludes the chapter covering social abandonment of wounded veterans and other people destroyed by violent conflict. |
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== Reception== |
== Reception== |
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The book received positive reviews in [[NPR]], ''[[Publishers Weekly]]'', and ''[[Socialist Worker]]'',<ref name=pubweekly/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=131166027|title=Hedges Laments The 'Death Of The Liberal Class'|work=[[NPR]]|accessdate=16 December 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Farber |first1=Samuel |title=Death of the Liberal Class |url=https://socialistworker.org/blog/critical-reading/2011/02/23/death-liberal-class |website=Socialist Worker |accessdate=16 December 2018}}</ref> and a mixed review in ''[[The New Yorker]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2010/12/20/death-of-the-liberal-class|date=20 December 2010|work=[[The New Yorker]]|title=Death of the Liberal Class }}</ref> |
The book received positive reviews in [[NPR]], ''[[Publishers Weekly]]'', and ''[[Socialist Worker]]'',<ref name=pubweekly/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=131166027|title=Hedges Laments The 'Death Of The Liberal Class'|work=[[NPR]]|accessdate=16 December 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Farber |first1=Samuel |title=Death of the Liberal Class |url=https://socialistworker.org/blog/critical-reading/2011/02/23/death-liberal-class |website=Socialist Worker |accessdate=16 December 2018}}</ref> and a mixed review in ''[[The New Yorker]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2010/12/20/death-of-the-liberal-class|date=20 December 2010|work=[[The New Yorker]]|title=Death of the Liberal Class }}</ref> |
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== See also == |
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* ''[[Notes from Underground]]'' |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 19:09, 6 April 2022
 First edition | |
| Author | Chris Hedges |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Nation Books |
Publication date | 2010 |
| Media type | |
| ISBN | 978-1-56858-644-1 |
Death of the Liberal Class is a 2010 book by the American journalist Chris Hedges. Hedges writes on left-wing politics in the United States, and asserts the existence of a distinct socioeconomic class which he calls "the liberal class", which has declined in influence since the 1960s.[1][2]
Summary
Death of the Liberal Class begins with a sympathetic profile of an impoverished Libertarian Party activist, Ernest Logan Bell. Bell articulates a plethora of injustices related to widespread corporate dominance of American life, and mixes left- and right-wing positions in his criticism of liberal politicians. Hedges then discusses how Bell and the interests of many working Americans like him have been abandoned by a liberal class that championed deindustrialization, financial deregulation, and unmitigated outsourcing. The liberal class is described as a body of people employed in privileged, largely managerial positions in liberal institutions; including churches, media, the Democratic Party, labor unions, and academia. Hedges argues that political theater and moral posturing has replaced meaningful agitation for reform, and charges that the liberal class has turned into a class of apologists for the corporate interests that killed them.
The second chapter, titled "Permanent War," posits that one of the core weaknesses in the power of the liberal class is its history of supporting war efforts in the United States. Nationalist narratives in wartime tend to dominate public discourse and mute interest in social reform. This pervasive war footing creates a near-totalitarian influence in media to service national myth. This complacency concedes power to an aggressive right wing. Hedges praises the authorship, political activism, and media criticism of Noam Chomsky. Hedges then contrasts the acceptance of pro-war liberal figures following the 2003 United States invasion of Iraq with the widespread denunciations of Michael Moore for criticizing the war while accepting an Oscar in 2003. The use of mercenary forces such as Blackwater is discussed, along with other forms of war profiteering in the United States defense industry. Hedges then outlines the ignored grievances of members in the Armed forces that foretold American defeat in the Afghanistan war. Hedges alleges that the American efforts in Afghanistan were primed for failure due to the neglect of resolving Afghan poverty, food shortages, and social issues that combined to form popular sympathy for the Taliban. Hedges concludes the chapter covering social abandonment of wounded veterans and other people destroyed by violent conflict.
Reception
The book received positive reviews in NPR, Publishers Weekly, and Socialist Worker,[2][3][4] and a mixed review in The New Yorker.[5]
See also
References
- ^ Chris, Hedges (2010). Death of the Liberal Class. New York: Nation Books. ISBN 978-1568586793.
- ^ a b "The Death of the Liberal Class". Publishers Weekly. 13 December 2010.
- ^ "Hedges Laments The 'Death Of The Liberal Class'". NPR. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
- ^ Farber, Samuel. "Death of the Liberal Class". Socialist Worker. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
- ^ "Death of the Liberal Class". The New Yorker. 20 December 2010.
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