Continuity and Discontinuity in History

The chapter explores contrasting views on the continuity and discontinuity of historical epochs, from the concept of a single meta narrative to recognizing the uniqueness of each era. It touches on topics such as the liberal project, the New Deal, the post-1960s left, and the transition from bourgeois liberal society to a more democratic one. The chapter also discusses the influence of mass production on culture and society, the homogenization of cultures under the capitalist order, and the subversion of the liberal order by postmodernism.