Identity and Violence：The Illusion of Destiny

Theworldmaybemoredrivenbymurderousviolencethaneverbefore,yetNobelLaureateAmartyaSenarguesinthissweepingphilosophicalworkthatitsbrutalitiesaredrivenasmuchbyconfusionasbyinescapablehatred.Senarguesinhisnewbookthatconflictandviolencearesustainedtoday,nolessthanthepast,butbytheillusionofauniqueidentity.Indeed,theworldisincreasinglytakentobedividedbetweenreligions(or'cultures'or'civilizations'),ignoringtherelevanceofotherwaysinwhichpeopleseethemselvesthroughclass,gender,profession,language,literature,science,music,moralsorpolitics,anddenyingtherealpossibilitiesofreasonedchoices.In"IdentityandViolence",heoverturnssuchstereotypesasthe'themonolithicMiddleEast'or'theWesternMind'.Throughhispenetratinginvestigationofsuchsubjectsasmulticulturalism,fundamentalism,terrorismandglobalization,hebringsouttheneedforaclear-headedunderstandingofhumanfreedomandaconstructivepublicvoiceinGlobalcivilsociety.Theworld,Senshows,canbemadetomovetowardspeaceasfirmlyasithasrecentlyspiralledtowardswar.