Wrong Turnings: How the Left Got LostUniversity of Chicago Press, 2018 M01 3 - 288 pages The Left is in crisis. Despite global economic turbulence, left-wing political parties in many countries have failed to make progress in part because they have grown too ideologically fragmented. Today, the term Left is associated with state intervention and public ownership, but this has little in common with the original meaning of the term. What caused what we mean by the Left to change, and how has that hindered progress? With Wrong-Turnings, Geoffrey M. Hodgson tracks changes in the meaning of the Left and offers suggestions for how the Left might reclaim some of its core values. The term Left originated during the French Revolution, when revolutionaries sought to abolish the monarchy and privilege and to introduce a new society based on liberty, equality, fraternity, and universal rights. Over time, however, the meaning radically changed, especially through the influence of socialism and collectivism. Hodgson argues that the Left must rediscover its roots in the Enlightenment and readopt Enlightenment values it has abandoned, such as those concerning democracy and universal human rights. Only then will it be prepared to address contemporary problems of inequality and the survival of democracy. Possible measures could include enhanced educational provisions, a guaranteed basic income, and a viable mechanism for fair distribution of wealth. Wrong-Turnings is a truly pathbreaking work from one of our most prolific and respected institutional theorists. It will change our understanding of how the left got lost. |
Contents
| 1 | |
| 14 | |
2 The French Revolution and the Original Left | 30 |
3 Thomas Paine and the Rights of Man | 46 |
4 Socialisms Wrong Responses to the Right Problems | 62 |
Class War and Wholesale Collectivization | 78 |
6 Down the Slippery Slope to Totalitarianism | 101 |
In Defence of Democracy and Individual Rights | 117 |
The Left Condones Reactionary Religion | 153 |
10 Two Open Letters to Friends | 181 |
Toward a New Old Left | 201 |
Postscript | 219 |
Notes | 223 |
| 245 | |
| 271 | |
The Left Descends into Cultural Relativism | 139 |
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abolition American argued argument attempts authority basic became become believed British capitalism capitalist cent century chapter claim Communist communities complex concerning contrast cooperation countries criticism cultural death defend democracy democratic economic effective ends Enlightenment equality example experience expression failed followers forces freedom French future global groups Hayek Hence human rights ideas important individual inequality institutions interests involved Islam labour leading Left Levellers liberal liberty limited major markets Marx Marx and Engels Marxists means million moral Muslims nature noted organizations original Owen ownership Paine Party planning pointed political position possible practical principles private property problem production proletariat promoted proposed protection question reason regimes religion religious remain requires revolutionary role rule Saint-Simon social socialist society South Korea struggle tion trade United universal values wealth Western women workers