ASIA
09 August 2024
Book Review – Repeat: A Warning from History
A perfect wakeup call from history for our troubled times.
The analysis of Dennis Glover’s new book, “Repeat: A Warning from History”, will seem unbelievable to many readers. Many of us in Western societies live in a state of comfort and complacency. It seems that the horrors of the past could surely never repeat themselves.
And yet, Glover argues quite convincingly that we live in an age that seems eerily familiar. A time of dictators, populists, organised lying, European wars, grabs for territory, ideological extremism and even antisemitism. This is a time when things are falling apart and the centre is struggling to hold.
As if we need reminding, Glover notes that this has all happened before, in the 1920s and '30s. He recounts interwar history, and parallels that with a record of the West’s troubling political developments of the past two decades. His point is that history is sending us a warning, and unless we heed it, history could have its revenge as we repeat the disaster of the 1940s.
Glover concludes his book with five practical lessons.
“First, leniency must be reserved for those who deserve it. Populists and dictators must be removed, impeached, prosecuted and jailed when the evidence is there to do so…”
“Second, the conditions in which extremists flourish must be addressed. Prolonged periods of inequality and economic discontent are often followed by sudden and devastating economic shocks. As in the Great Depression, this is the moment of democracy’s maximum danger. Those whose livelihoods have been destroyed by the remorseless amoral direction of the economy cannot continue to be ignored…”
“Third, we must read the signs early, because they are everywhere. Listen to what populist leaders are saying and take note, because sometimes, they really do mean it…”
“Fourth, arm democracy against populism. Populists only respect strength, so use it against them before you no longer have a choice…”
“And fifth, rid yourself of the idea that it can’t all happen again. The Overton window is a managerial myth – anything is possible, anytime…”. Already we have witnessed troubling trends – a marked deterioration in US democracy, fascism in Russia, the return of anti-Jewish pogroms, and another major ground war in Europe.
“Repeat: A Warning from History” is only a very short book. It also covers much familiar territory. But by juxtaposing the tragic events of the 1920s and 30s, with those of the world today, in a very lively and readable style, Glover offers readers a very unsettling experience, and delivers a sense of urgency to stop the return of populists and dictators.
And yet, Glover argues quite convincingly that we live in an age that seems eerily familiar. A time of dictators, populists, organised lying, European wars, grabs for territory, ideological extremism and even antisemitism. This is a time when things are falling apart and the centre is struggling to hold.
As if we need reminding, Glover notes that this has all happened before, in the 1920s and '30s. He recounts interwar history, and parallels that with a record of the West’s troubling political developments of the past two decades. His point is that history is sending us a warning, and unless we heed it, history could have its revenge as we repeat the disaster of the 1940s.
Glover concludes his book with five practical lessons.
“First, leniency must be reserved for those who deserve it. Populists and dictators must be removed, impeached, prosecuted and jailed when the evidence is there to do so…”
“Second, the conditions in which extremists flourish must be addressed. Prolonged periods of inequality and economic discontent are often followed by sudden and devastating economic shocks. As in the Great Depression, this is the moment of democracy’s maximum danger. Those whose livelihoods have been destroyed by the remorseless amoral direction of the economy cannot continue to be ignored…”
“Third, we must read the signs early, because they are everywhere. Listen to what populist leaders are saying and take note, because sometimes, they really do mean it…”
“Fourth, arm democracy against populism. Populists only respect strength, so use it against them before you no longer have a choice…”
“And fifth, rid yourself of the idea that it can’t all happen again. The Overton window is a managerial myth – anything is possible, anytime…”. Already we have witnessed troubling trends – a marked deterioration in US democracy, fascism in Russia, the return of anti-Jewish pogroms, and another major ground war in Europe.
“Repeat: A Warning from History” is only a very short book. It also covers much familiar territory. But by juxtaposing the tragic events of the 1920s and 30s, with those of the world today, in a very lively and readable style, Glover offers readers a very unsettling experience, and delivers a sense of urgency to stop the return of populists and dictators.