Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
IntroductionChapter 1. What's the issue? Modernity, reaction, and selfChapter 2. What are they? Populism and fundamentalismChapter 3. Who am I? The selfChapter 4. Who are we? Social identityChapter 5. Who are they? The otherChapter 6. What's the story? Fighting talkChapter 7. Who's in charge? Leaders and ledChapter 8. What's the secret? The role of technologyChapter 9. What to do? Common sense solutionsChapter 10. Prescriptions or pressure points?Chapter 11. When reality dawnsChapter 12. When 'Us' cracks upChapter 13. When 'They' answer back
Synopsis
What can populism and fundamentalism possibly have in common? Peter Herriot argues that contrary to their apparent differences, these human phenomena are similar in two basic respects. First, they are both reactions against the complexities of the modern world in general, and its current crisis in particular. They propose instead a return to a mythical golden age, supposedly marked by purity and simplicity. Second, they both work in the same way psychologically. Using social identity theory, Herriot shows how both populism and fundamentalism create constant conflict by contrasting a virtuous 'Us' with a stereotypically evil 'Them'. Contemporary case studies illustrate this process at work, and Herriot raises various issues as a basis for discussion, and concludes with hope.