Defending Identity

Defending Identity
Defending Identity: Its Indispensable Role in Protecting Democracy  
Defending-Identity.jpeg
Author(s) Natan Sharansky with Shira Wolosky Weiss
Country United States
Language English
Subject(s) http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Defending_Identity&action=edit
Genre(s) Non-fiction
Publisher Public Affairs
Publication date 2008
Published in
English		 June 1, 2008
Media type Print (Hardback & Paperback)
Pages 234

Defending Identity: Its Indispensable Role in Protecting Democracy is a book by Natan Sharansky published in June 2008.

In "Defending Identity," Sharansky presents nationalism and religious commitment as a "force for good," not merely an ideology of evil. "Strong identities are as valuable to a well-functioning society as they are to ... well-functioning individuals." He writes that "without identity, a democracy becomes incapable of defending the values it holds most dear." [1] He says religious identity "is very difficult to neutralize with rational argument, because what, after all, is the totalitarian regime trying to do? It’s trying to discover rational arguments to prove your physical survival [depends on obedience]."[2]

Sharansky makes a provocative argument against Western intellectuals who have increasingly come to see religion and nationalism as antithetical to freedom. Jonathan S. Tobin writes that "Sharansky reminds us democracies can't defend themselves without 'identity,'” [3]

Ira Stoll writes that, “If the next American president reads this latest book by Mr. Sharansky on the interplay between identity, democracy, and freedom, it could be more important than any CIA or State Department briefing in understanding the foreign policy horizon.” [4]

References

  1. ^ quotations form the book cited in Jonathan S. Tobin, “Rediscovering the Will to Win Sharansky reminds us democracies can't defend themselves without 'identity,'” Jewish Exponent, May 29, 2008 [1]
  2. ^ Sharansky Interview regarding Defending Democracy, July 14, 2008
  3. ^ “Rediscovering the Will to Win," Jonathan S. Tobin, "Jewish Exponent," May 29, 2008 [2]
  4. ^ Ira Stoll , “The Foundation of Democracy: Sharansky's 'Defending Identity,'” New York Sun, May 28, 2008, [3]
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defending_Identity"

Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Mamluk identity — The birth of the Mamluk System during the Abbasid PeriodAl Mu tasim was the first Caliph to depend on the Turkish Slaves Soldiers (Ghulams), when as Amir he bought around 3000 Ghulams. They were Turkish prisoners of war, captured in Central Asia …   Wikipedia

  • Cultural identity — can be expressed through external attributes Cultural identity is the identity of a group or culture, or of an individual as far as one is influenced by one s belonging to a group or culture. Cultural identity is similar to and has overlaps with …   Wikipedia

  • Natan Sharansky — Date of birth 20 January 1948 (1948 01 20) (age 63) …   Wikipedia

  • The Case for Democracy — Infobox Book name = The Case for Democracy. The Power to Overcome Tyranny and Terror image caption = author = Natan Sharansky and Ron Dermer cover artist = David Plunkert country = United States language = English subject = genre = Non fiction… …   Wikipedia

  • Winston Smith Project — (in Italian Progetto Winston Smith , or PWS) is the name of an informational and operational project for the defence of human rights on the internet and in the digital era. It was started in 1999 as an anonymous association and it is… …   Wikipedia

  • Щаранский, Натан — Натан Щаранский …   Википедия

  • History of Russian culture — Most Russian historians divide the Russian culture into several periods: Culture of Ancient Rus (989 1480) The years of the Middle Ages in Russia are from the adoption of Christianity in 989 until the early 19th century. The period lasted longer… …   Wikipedia

  • Gesher Theater — is an Israeli theater company founded in 1991 by new immigrants from Russia.HistoryThe company was founded at the initiative of a group of Russian Jewish theater professionals who wished to make aliyah and bring the traditions of Russian theater… …   Wikipedia

  • В защиту демократии — The Case For Democracy: The Power of Freedom to Overcome Tyranny and Terror Обложка книги Жанр: Публицистика …   Википедия

  • United States — a republic in the N Western Hemisphere comprising 48 conterminous states, the District of Columbia, and Alaska in North America, and Hawaii in the N Pacific. 267,954,767; conterminous United States, 3,022,387 sq. mi. (7,827,982 sq. km); with… …   Universalium

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”