The War Against the Past: Why The West Must Fight For Its History

A war is being waged against the Past. Whether it's toppling statues, decolonising the curriculum or erasing terms from our vocabulary, a cultural crusade is underway designed to render the past toxic.It is condemned as enemy territory and has become the target of venomous hate.What is at stake in provoking such a strong sense of societal shame towards Western history?In this book, Frank Furedi mounts a fierce defence of the past and calls for a fight back against the delegitimization of its ideals and accomplishments.Casting the past as a story of shame has become a taken-for granted outlook permeating the educational and cultural life of western society from the top down.Its advocates may see it as a cultural imperative, but society that loses touch with its past will face a permanent crisis of identity.Squandering the wisdom provided by our historical inheritance means betraying humanity's positive achievements.Challenging this great betrayal, Furedi argues, is one of the most impor