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tadici's review against another edition
5.0
Another excellent examination by Losurdo.
This time he constructs the history of the philosophy of Non-Violence, its roots in the aspirations of its proponents in the 19th century, its purposeful and political usage especially in Gandhi, and its eventual co-option into the global US hegemonic system as a tool of subversion and the justification of repression with the help of the Dalai Lama among others.
The contrast between Gandhi's party and what he calls Lenin's parties is particularly enlightening if just to point out how much the early Gandhi supported the British empire in its colonial endeavors.
Honestly I would probably call every single chapter particularly enlightening if I could. This book is great and essential reading in my humble opinion.
This time he constructs the history of the philosophy of Non-Violence, its roots in the aspirations of its proponents in the 19th century, its purposeful and political usage especially in Gandhi, and its eventual co-option into the global US hegemonic system as a tool of subversion and the justification of repression with the help of the Dalai Lama among others.
The contrast between Gandhi's party and what he calls Lenin's parties is particularly enlightening if just to point out how much the early Gandhi supported the British empire in its colonial endeavors.
Honestly I would probably call every single chapter particularly enlightening if I could. This book is great and essential reading in my humble opinion.
zachcarter's review against another edition
5.0
Another Losurdo masterpiece. Everything you need to know about the history of non-violence and how it's been weaponized. He meticulously dismantles the myth of "non-violence" in both Gandhi and the Dalai Lama (f*ck them fr). I also loved the breakdown of Fanonian violence and the efforts at balkanizing China, in light of the Western lies about Xinjiang, and the other color revolutions of the past few decades. It's a complete overhaul of the accepted discourse on colonial/revolutionary violence and, in my opinion, a guide to navigating movements that doesn't rely on the false binary of violence/non-violence.
From the last chapter: "To be credible, condemnations of violence must in the first instance target the arms race and policy of war and preparations for war that is also expressed in the installation of military bases abroad, where nuclear weapons are often held as well."
From the last chapter: "To be credible, condemnations of violence must in the first instance target the arms race and policy of war and preparations for war that is also expressed in the installation of military bases abroad, where nuclear weapons are often held as well."
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