The truth about patriotism

A repudiation of the claim that patriotism is essential--or even beneficial--to democracy. Contending that even at its best patriotism subverts the democracy it purports to value, Steven Johnston turns to patriotism’s defenders to show how they must jettison much of democracy to champion patriotism. Closely examined, patriotism itself effectively demonstrates the impossibility of love of country. Patriotism, Johnston contends, tends toward narcissistic self-regard, blind to its violent ways of being in the world and its dependence on death. Thus we would be better off without it. Drawing largely from aspects of American political and popular culture, Johnston presents a wealth of examples to disclose patriotism’s self-defeating character. [from publisher description].

Year

2007

Language

English

Publisher

Duke University Press

Editions

7

Pages

283

ISBN

9780822341109

Data source: Wikidata