Taboo: How Making Race Sacred Produced a Cultural Revolution

'Stimulating and provocative' The Times The once-dominant philosophy of the West, defined by free expression, equal treatment of individuals, national solidarity and scientific rationality, is under threat. ‘Cultural socialism’ – which advocates harsh restrictions on free speech, due process and national symbols in order to reduce psychological harm and bolster the esteem of formerly marginalized groups – is on the rise. Rather than focusing on Marxist revolutionaries or equality law, Eric Kaufmann concentrates on well-meaning left-liberals. He argues that the genesis of ‘woke’ cultural socialism emerged from liberal taboos around race that arose in the 1960s and came to be weaponised and extended to other areas, such as gender. Using extensive survey data, he shows that this process is driven mainly by values, not fear, and is only going to accelerate as culturally leftist generations enter the workforce and electorate. Its rise suppresses the open debate that makes effective policy-making possible, harming the minorities cultural socialists purport to help. Only if we shift from encouraging minority fragility to building minority resilience, using state power to check institutional illiberalism, can we resist cultural socialism and restore cultural flourishing. This is the authoritative study of the radical shift in values that has turbo-charged the culture wars of our time. No-one concerned with the cultural and political conflicts of our times can afford to miss it.

About the Author :
Dr Eric Kaufmann is Professor of Politics at the University of Buckingham. A native of Vancouver, British Columbia, he was born in Hong Kong and spent eight early years in Tokyo. His previous books include Whiteshift and Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?

Review :
'Taboo is a courageous and intellectually convincing book. It is an original analysis of the debilitating pandemic that has been sweeping Western culture and politics, commonly called "wokeism" but which Kaufman calls ‘cultural socialism’. He roots it convincingly in a century of radical liberalism. At the same time Taboo is a call to action and a programme for change. All those worried by the devastation being caused by this baleful phenomenon should read this book. So should those who dismiss ‘culture wars’ as unimportant and ‘wokeism’ as innocuous' - Robert Tombs 'Kaufmann offers an important contribution to our understanding of the Culture Wars that envelopes the Western World. He provides a unique and profound analysis of the woke phenomenon. Unlike many authors who merely indict and complain about Cancel Culture, Kaufmann outlines an approach for fighting back and defeating it. Read this book and join the fight back' - Frank Furedi 'Stimulating and provocative' - Kathleen Stock, The Times