Home > Media > Books > Kevin B. MacDonald - The Culture of Critique: An Evolutionary Analysis of Jewish Involvement in Twentieth-Century Intellectual and Political Movements
Kevin B. MacDonald - The Culture of Critique: An Evolutionary Analysis of Jewish Involvement in Twentieth-Century Intellectual and Political Movements
amcm's Full Review: Kevin B. MacDonald - The Culture of Critique: An E...
This is the third in a trilogy on the Jewish 'evolutionary strategy',defined loosely as a way of getting on in the world.It covers Boasian anthropology,Psychoanalysis,the Frankfurt School,New York Intellectuals,and Jewish shaping of US immigration policy.The author is a Professor of Psychology at California State University.It is an absorbing read.
Professor MacDonald sets two measures of Jewish self-interest when analysing their intellectual critique:did they identify themselves as Jews and did they see their activities as furthering the interests of Jews?By this test figures such as Boas,Freud,Horkheimer,and Adorno participated in the Jewish group evolutionary strategy, notwithstanding their professed atheism.
A wealth of evidence is presented in support of this thesis.I found the chapter on Jewish efforts to change US immigration policy compelling.For many decades Jews were the only group working for more immigration,especially from outside the traditional Northern European source countries. Activists self-identified as Jews,though they often cloaked their aims in universalist terms,and saw immigration change as furthering Jewish interests by allowing entry to Jews in anti-Semitic times and because a more racially diverse country would undermine gentile group identity.
The style is erudite,and accessible.You can get a sense of this from the author's homepage at http://www.csulb.edu/~kmacd/.The earlier books of the trilogy are referenced constantly in Culture of Critique,but it still stands on its own.Very much so.It's the best-known of the three,judging by mentions on internet forums I've visited.The bibliography is a great resource.I've already bought several books referenced there.If you're looking for an alternative view on Twentieth Century left-wing intellectual movements,then you must read this. In fact,I must read it again myself - from browsing through it now I am reminded of just how good it is.
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