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]
Referencesedit
^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]
^Sharansky Interview regarding Defending Democracy, July 14, 2008
^"Rediscovering the Will to Win," Jonathan S. Tobin, "Jewish Exponent," May 29, 2008 [2]
^Ira Stoll, "The Foundation of Democracy: Sharansky's 'Defending Identity,'" New York Sun, May 28, 2008, [3]
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defending, identity, indispensable, role, protecting, democracy, third, book, natan, sharansky, published, june, 2008, public, affairs, indispensable, role, protecting, democracyauthornatan, sharansky, with, shira, wolosky, weisscountryunited, stateslanguageen. Defending Identity Its Indispensable Role in Protecting Democracy is the third book by Natan Sharansky published on June 1 2008 by Public Affairs Defending Identity Its Indispensable Role in Protecting DemocracyAuthorNatan Sharansky with Shira Wolosky WeissCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglishGenreNon fictionPublisherPublic AffairsPublication date2008Published in EnglishJune 1 2008Media typePrint Hardback amp Paperback Pages234 pp Preceded byThe Case for Democracy Overview editIn 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 edit 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 Sharansky Interview regarding Defending Democracy July 14 2008 Rediscovering the Will to Win Jonathan S Tobin Jewish Exponent May 29 2008 2 Ira Stoll The Foundation of Democracy Sharansky s Defending Identity New York Sun May 28 2008 3 nbsp This article about a political book is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Defending Identity amp oldid 1221799087, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
