What Leads Idealists into Morally Disastrous Territory? – Adam Kirsch on the Ideology of Settler Colonialism and Preferable Traditions of the Oppressed

In this new conversation at the Review of Democracy, Adam Kirsch – author of the new book On Settler Colonialism. Ideology, Violence, and Justice discusses the ideology of settler colonialism and how it leads idealists into morally disastrous territory; reflects on whether the application of this ideology to the State of Israel should be viewed as continuing the long, highly problematic tradition of antisemitism; considers whether there are valuable elements in this ideology that would be worth salvaging; and suggests preferable ways to think about the traditions of the oppressed.

Adam Kirsch is a poet and literary critic.  He is an editor of The Wall Street Journal’s weekend Review section and the author of a host of significant books that include The Blessing and the Curse. The Jewish People and Their Books in the Twentieth Century as well as The Revolt Against Humanity. Imagining a Future Without Us.

On Settler Colonialism. Ideology, Violence, and Justice has been published by W.W. Norton.

The conversation was conducted by Ferenc Laczo. Adam Hushegyi edited the audio file.

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