I really enjoyed this book – Tony Judt was a fine author and the book was a quick and enjoyable read. The book runs through the history and contributions of "social democracy", European-style leftwing progressivism, or "socialism" as many wrongly label similar in the United States. Tony Judt reviews why there is such a thing and what good (and bad) has come of the political philosophy. There's a discussion on the fall of Communism, discrediting of Marxism and how it has and should affect the Western Left. He ends with reasons why Social Democracy as a philosophy is still relevant and useful today – especially in contrast with the more selfish political philosophies that have become transcendent – and how Social Democrats can frame current debates. This book is a great read for younger progressives and liberals, anyone interested in politics, economics, social justice, and inequality. The world will continue to miss Tony Judt but this book is useful contribution to the cause. "Unequal access to resources of every sort—from rights to water—is the starting point of any truly progressive critique of the world.""Social democracy has not only come to power in many countries, it has succeeded beyond the wildest dreams of its founders. What was idealistic in the mid-19th century and a radical challenge fifty years later has become everyday politics in many liberal states.""Why are we so sure that some planning, or progressive taxation, or the collective ownership of public goods, are intolerable restrictions on liberty; whereas closed-circuit television cameras, state bailouts for investment banks ‘too big to fail’, tapped telephones and expensive foreign wars are acceptable burdens for a free people to bear?" Confirmation of the fact that everything denoting 'socialism' or 'social democracy' is still a major step away from slipping in the daily conversation across the Atlantic (I live in Europe). It therefore seems more a read for Americans, apparently extremely unfamiliar with the way in which state intervention can in some circumstances be favourable. Although he mentions the book to be a good read for Europeans too, some of the arguments indeed looked familiar and already accustomed in Western European democracies. Apart from that, I like the idea of imbedding political debates into domains herefore less explicit than mere effiency: justice (what's the right thing to do?), ethical, cultural, environmental, intergenerational. If this is only to be associated with future social democrats, then I like future social democrats. But I cannot see how there's only one political grouping potentially able to embrace such philosophical underpinnings, eventough I am indeed convinced this should be social democratic parties' way to go. Maybe I read the book too quickly (it reads nicely, that's for sure), so I could've missed some important points that blur my vision and review. Definitely re-readable in the future, where I may appreciate some points more than I - apparently - do now.
What do You think about Ill Fares The Land (2010)?
Outstanding! One of the definitive political books of the last ten years.
—ashlee
Important message/testimony from the author about the lost social contract
—Mohammed
Lectura indispensable, ojalá más políticos lo pudieran leer y aplicar.
—jjjsb1794
