It Could Happen Here Weekly 179

In 'Society Against the State', Pierre Clastres challenges conventional views on the state and power by examining societies that actively prevent the rise of despotic authority. He argues that economic expropriation and political coercion are inconsistent with tribal societies, using examples from South American Indian groups to illustrate his thesis. Clastres' work refutes the idea that the state is the inevitable destiny of all societies, instead highlighting mechanisms that maintain autonomy and equality.

This book examines the social structure of France before the French Revolution, focusing on the Ancien Régime. It explores the causes of the Revolution and discusses how, despite the Revolution's ideals, France eventually returned to a centralized government. Tocqueville intended this as the first part of a trilogy on the Revolution but did not complete the subsequent volumes.

Friedrich Nietzsche's "On the Genealogy of Morality" is a critical examination of morality's historical development. Nietzsche challenges traditional views of good and evil, arguing that they are not objective truths but rather power dynamics. He traces the origins of morality to resentment and the will to power, suggesting that morality is a tool used by the weak to control the strong. The work is divided into three essays, each exploring different aspects of morality's evolution. Nietzsche's analysis is complex and provocative, challenging readers to reconsider their own moral values and beliefs. His work continues to spark debate and inspire new interpretations.