Defending Identity: Its Indispensable Role in Protecting Democracy

From the author of the New York Times bestseller The Case for Democracy, a piercing examination of the dominant force that shapes political interactions

Publishers Weekly

Sharansky compellingly argues that distinct group identities within a culture are an essential part of a successful democracy and that attempts to bleach out or deny identity can have catastrophic results. Much of his argument is shaped and funneled through his experience as a political prisoner in the Soviet gulags and later as a citizen and activist in Israel. Though one is inclined to ask if Sharansky means anything more with his usage of "identity" than religion, he still makes clear points about contemporary Jewish and Muslim identity. His most intriguing discussions center on the postidentity crisis that many of the developed nations find themselves facing. Stefan Rudnicki's deep voice enables a stronger foreboding tone for Sharansky's words. His light use of accents for quotes provides context without exaggeration. Most important, Rudnicki patiently works through the text with shifting emphasis and pauses to allow for listener understanding during the more cerebral elements of Sharansky's writings. A Perseus hardcover. (Oct.)

Natan Sharansky, former Soviet dissident, political prisoner, and human rights icon, has spent his life championing democracy and freedom. In 1977, he was arrested by the KGB for his activism and his support for Soviet Jew' demands to emigrate to Israel and imprisoned for nine years. He is the author of Fear No Evil and The Case for Democracy. Sharansky has served as a senior minister in the Israeli government, and now heads The Adelson Institute for Strategic Studies.