Adam Kirsch, a literary critic and poet with roots in a family of writers, dives into the complex theme of settler colonialism. They discuss its historical footprints in places like North America and Algeria, unveiling the moral intricacies involved. Kirsch emphasizes the resurgence of poetry in contemporary discourse, connecting it to modern political themes. The dialogue also touches on broader issues like migration and cultural identity, questioning the ideologies surrounding genocide and the impact of climate change on societal shifts.
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Settler Colonialism as Critical Theory
Settler colonialism, often applied to places like the U.S., Canada, and Australia, is less a historical theory and more a critical theory.
It analyzes present-day issues by tracing them back to European colonialism's roots.
insights INSIGHT
Invasion as a Structure
Settler colonialism argues that the initial invasion isn't just an event, but an ongoing structure impacting these countries today.
This challenges the legitimacy of nations like the U.S., built upon dispossessing indigenous populations.
insights INSIGHT
Irredeemable Wrong
Unlike critiques of slavery, which allow for progress and redemption, settler colonialism views the very foundation of these countries as flawed.
This perspective posits that the arrival of Europeans was inherently wrong, making America an "irredeemable wrong."
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This book is the first to critically examine settler colonialism for a general readership. Adam Kirsch critiques the key writers, texts, and ideas in the field, showing how the concept emerged in North American and Australian history and how it is applied to Israel. He explores the spiritual and political appeal of settler colonialism, its role in delegitimizing nations, and the potential for it to turn past injustices into new ones. The book provides a compact and accessible introduction rich with historical detail, addressing the Middle East, American history, and current cultural-political debates.
Cross Purposes
Christianity's Broken Bargain with Democracy
Jonathan Rauch
In 'Cross Purposes: Christianity's Broken Bargain with Democracy,' Jonathan Rauch delves into the intricate and often contentious relationship between Christianity and democratic governance. The book explores how the principles of Christianity can sometimes conflict with the democratic ideals of a society, leading to a 'broken bargain' that affects both the religious and the political spheres. Rauch analyzes the historical, philosophical, and practical aspects of this relationship, offering insights into how these two powerful forces interact and influence each other.
Utopia
Sir Thomas More
Written in 1516, 'Utopia' by Sir Thomas More is a seminal work of fiction that presents an ideal society on a fictional island. The book is divided into two parts: the first critiques the social and economic issues of early 16th-century England, while the second introduces the Utopian society as a potential solution. Utopia is characterized by communal property, no class distinctions or poverty, little crime, religious freedom, and a strict egalitarian system. More uses this imaginary society to highlight the flaws of European politics and society of his time, advocating for a more just and equal world. The work is notable for its influence on later socialist and communist thought and continues to be a subject of discussion in political theory and philosophy[1][3][4].
Adam is a literary critic and poet. He’s been a senior editor at The New Republic and a contributing editor for Tablet and Harvard Magazine, and he’s currently an editor in the Wall Street Journal’s Review section. The author of many books, his latest is On Settler Colonialism: Violence, Ideology and Justice. I’ve been fascinated by the concept — another product of critical theory, as it is now routinely applied to Israel. We hash it all out.
For two clips of our convo — on the reasons why Europe explored the world, and the bastardization of “genocide” — pop over to our YouTube page.
Other topics: Adam’s roots in LA; coming from a long line of writers; the power of poetry; its current boom with Instagram and hip-hop; Larkin; the omnipresence of settler colonialism in human history; the Neanderthals; the Ulster colonists; the French in Algeria; replacement colonialism in Australia and North America; the viral catastrophe there; the 1619 Project; “decolonizing” a bookshelf; Marxism; Coates and fatalism toward the US; MLK’s “promissory note”; Obama’s “more perfect union”; migration under climate change; China the biggest polluter; More’s Utopia; the Holocaust; the Killing Fields; Rwanda; mass migration of Muslims to Europe; “white genocide”; Pat Buchanan; the settler colonialism in Israel; ancient claims to Palestine; the Balfour Declaration; British limits on migrant Jews in WWII; the US turning away Holocaust refugees; the UN partition plan; the 1948 war; the Nakba; Ben-Gurion; Jabotinsky’s “Iron Wall”; Clinton’s despair after 2000; ethnic cleansing in the West Bank; the nihilism of October 7; civilian carnage and human shields in Gaza; Arab countries denying Palestinians; a two-state solution; the moral preening of Coates; and the economic and liberal triumphs of Israel.
Browse the Dishcast archive for an episode you might enjoy (the first 102 are free in their entirety — subscribe to get everything else). Coming up: Andrew Neil on UK and US politics, John Gray on the state of liberal democracy, Jon Rauch on his new book on “Christianity’s Broken Bargain with Democracy,” Sebastian Junger on near-death experiences, Evan Wolfson on the history of marriage equality, Yoni Appelbaum on the American Dream, Nick Denton on the evolution of new media, and Ross Douthat on how everyone should be religious. Please send any guest recs, dissents, and other comments to dish@andrewsullivan.com.
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