The Rhetoric of Reaction: Perversity, Futility, Jeopardy

The Rhetoric of Reaction is a brilliant book. Although written in the early nineties, Albert Hirschman's book does an incredible job synthesizing three ... Goodreadshelpsyoukeeptrackofbooksyouwanttoread. Startbymarking“TheRhetoricofReaction:Perversity,Futility,Jeopardy”asWanttoRead: WanttoRead saving… WanttoRead CurrentlyReading Read Othereditions Enlargecover WanttoRead saving… Errorratingbook.Refreshandtryagain. Ratethisbook Clearrating 1of5stars2of5stars3of5stars4of5stars5of5stars OpenPreview SeeaProblem? We’dloveyourhelp. Letusknowwhat’swrongwiththispreviewof TheRhetoricofReactionbyAlbertO.Hirschman. Problem: It’sthewrongbook It’sthewrongedition Other Details(ifother):   Cancel Thanksfortellingusabouttheproblem. ReturntoBookPage Notthebookyou’relookingfor? Preview—TheRhetoricofReaction byAlbertO.Hirschman TheRhetoricofReaction:Perversity,Futility,Jeopardy by AlbertO.Hirschman 3.99  ·  Ratingdetails ·  319 ratings  ·  43 reviews Withengagingwitandsubtleirony,AlbertHirschmanmapsthediffuseandtreacherousworldofreactionaryrhetoricinwhichconservativepublicfigures,thinkers,andpolemicistshavebeenarguingagainstprogressiveagendasandreformsforthepasttwohundredyears.Hirschmandrawshisexamplesfromthreesuccessivewavesofreactivethoughtthataroseinresponsetothe Withengagingwitandsubtleirony,AlbertHirschmanmapsthediffuseandtreacherousworldofreactionaryrhetoricinwhichconservativepublicfigures,thinkers,andpolemicistshavebeenarguingagainstprogressiveagendasandreformsforthepasttwohundredyears.HirschmandrawshisexamplesfromthreesuccessivewavesofreactivethoughtthataroseinresponsetotheliberalideasoftheFrenchRevolutionandtheDeclarationoftheRightsofMan,todemocratizationandthedrivetowarduniversalsuffrageinthenineteenthcentury,andtothewelfarestateinourowncentury.Ineachcaseheidentifiesthreeprincipalargumentsinvariablyused:(1)theperversitythesis,wherebyanyactiontoimprovesomefeatureofthepolitical,social,oreconomicorderisallegedtoresultintheexactoppositeofwhatwasintended;(2)thefutilitythesis,whichpredictsthatattemptsatsocialtransformationwillproducenoeffectswhatever--willsimplybeincapableofmakingadentinthestatusquo;(3)thejeopardythesis,holdingthatthecostoftheproposedreformisunacceptablebecauseitwillendangerprevioushard-wonaccomplishments.HeillustratesthesepropositionsbycitingwritersacrossthecenturiesfromAlexisdeTocquevilletoGeorgeStigler,HerbertSpencertoJayForrester,EdmundBurketoCharlesMurray.Finally,inalightningturnabout,heshowsthatprogressivesarefrequentlyapttoemploycloselyrelatedrhetoricalpostures,whichareasbiasedastheirreactionarycounterparts.Forthosewhoaspiretothegenuinedialoguethatcharacterizesatrulydemocraticsociety,Hirschmanpointsoutthatbothtypesofrhetoricfunction,ineffect,ascontraptionsdesignedtomakedebateimpossible.Intheprocess,hisbookmakesanoriginalcontributiontodemocraticthought.TheRhetoricofReactionisadelightfulhandbookforalldiscussionsofpublicaffairs,thewelfarestate,andthehistoryofsocial,economic,andpoliticalthought,whetherconductedbyordinarycitizensoracademics. ...more GetACopy AmazonOnlineStores ▾AudibleBarnes&NobleWalmarteBooksGooglePlayAbebooksBookDepositoryAlibrisIndigoBetterWorldBooksIndieBoundThriftbooks Paperback,224pages Published March1st1991 byBelknapPress MoreDetails... OriginalTitle TheRhetoricofReaction:Perversity,Futility,Jeopardy EditionLanguage English OtherEditions(13) AllEditions | AddaNewEdition | Combine ...LessDetail EditDetails FriendReviews Toseewhatyourfriendsthoughtofthisbook, pleasesignup. ReaderQ&A Toaskotherreadersquestionsabout TheRhetoricofReaction, pleasesignup. BethefirsttoaskaquestionaboutTheRhetoricofReaction ListswithThisBook ThisbookisnotyetfeaturedonListopia. Addthisbooktoyourfavoritelist» CommunityReviews Showing1-30 Averagerating 3.99  ·  Ratingdetails  ·  319 ratings  ·  43 reviews AllLanguagesEnglish‎(34) Français‎(1) Português‎(3) Türkçe‎(1) Ελληνικά‎(2) 中文‎(0) Morefilters  |  Sortorder StartyourreviewofTheRhetoricofReaction:Perversity,Futility,JeopardyWriteareview Dec13,2013 Andrew ratedit reallylikedit Aslimandextremelyusefulmeditationontheformsthatreactionaryarguments--whichHirschmancleverlydefinesasthoseargumentswhichdenynotsomuchthevalidityofanaspirationtochange,butsimplythepracticality,safety,orgovernabilityofarecommendedalterationinthestatusquo--routinely,almostdeterministicallyfallinto.Hispointhereistoshowthatreactionaryargumentsarenottheproductofcase-specificreasoningagainstagivensocial,political,oreconomicchange,b Aslimandextremelyusefulmeditationontheformsthatreactionaryarguments--whichHirschmancleverlydefinesasthoseargumentswhichdenynotsomuchthevalidityofanaspirationtochange,butsimplythepracticality,safety,orgovernabilityofarecommendedalterationinthestatusquo--routinely,almostdeterministicallyfallinto.Hispointhereistoshowthatreactionaryargumentsarenottheproductofcase-specificreasoningagainstagivensocial,political,oreconomicchange,butratherreverttosimplisticmeta-framingsoften(implicitly)reliantonmythologicaltopoi--Oedipus,Nemesis,orhubris.Forallthat,thestudyisnotpsychoanalyticbutstraightforwardlyrhetorical--itbasesitscounterargumentsonessentiallyprimafaciereadingsofclassicconservativetexts--Burke,deMaistre,Hayek,etal.IreallyenjoythewaythatHirschmanproceedsthroughhisevidence,andIfindthetrioofreactionaryarguments(perversity,futility,orjeopardy)thatHirschmanelaboratesveryhelpfulinparsingthecantthatIencounteronaday-to-daybasisinthemedia,orinlisteningtorelativesorfriends.Iamsurprisedtofindthatmorehistoriansandpoliticalscientists--orjournalistsforthatmatter--donotmakeuseofthisbook.Itsluciditywouldbeagreatmodelformanywritersanditscontentavaluableresourceinpoliticalargumentation. ...more flag 6likes · Like  · seereview Oct31,2013 SeanChick ratedit reallylikedit Ialmostdonotwanttogivethisbookfourstars,forHirschmanisattimestoobrief.Hisstatementsabouttheflawsincertainreactionaryargumentsareshortandthereforelackbite.Yet,hedoesafairjobofexploringthreecommonconservativeargumentsagainstreformandrevolution.HismosteffectivepassageisontheperverseeffectofBurke'sargumentinfavorofslowchangeandminorreforms,theperverseeffectbeingthatitcanspurnradicalchangeinplaceswhereslowreformisbot Ialmostdonotwanttogivethisbookfourstars,forHirschmanisattimestoobrief.Hisstatementsabouttheflawsincertainreactionaryargumentsareshortandthereforelackbite.Yet,hedoesafairjobofexploringthreecommonconservativeargumentsagainstreformandrevolution.HismosteffectivepassageisontheperverseeffectofBurke'sargumentinfavorofslowchangeandminorreforms,theperverseeffectbeingthatitcanspurnradicalchangeinplaceswhereslowreformisbotchedandthereisnohistoryofrightsandreform. ...more flag 4likes · Like  · seereview Dec14,2020 JoshFriedlander ratedit reallylikedit Shelves: anthropology-sociology, academia, history-of-ideas, latin-america Hirschmanwasacosmopolitan,intellectuallyomnivorousscholarwithliterarytastes,andalthoughhemightbestbedescribedasaninterdisciplinarysocialscientist(somewherebetweenpolitics,sociologyandeconomics),heshoneasahistorianofideas,whichishowIwouldclassifyThePassionsandtheInterestsandthisslenderbook.(EarlierthisyearIreviewedJeremyAdelman'sHirschmanbiographyTheWorldlyPhilosopher.)Hisgoalistocategorisetherhetoricaltechniquesof"reactionari Hirschmanwasacosmopolitan,intellectuallyomnivorousscholarwithliterarytastes,andalthoughhemightbestbedescribedasaninterdisciplinarysocialscientist(somewherebetweenpolitics,sociologyandeconomics),heshoneasahistorianofideas,whichishowIwouldclassifyThePassionsandtheInterestsandthisslenderbook.(EarlierthisyearIreviewedJeremyAdelman'sHirschmanbiographyTheWorldlyPhilosopher.)Hisgoalistocategorisetherhetoricaltechniquesof"reactionaries"(awordhewishestouseneutrally,despiteitspejorativebaggage)opposingmovementsforsocialchange-JosephdeMaistreontheFrenchRevolution,orRobertLowe'sattacksonDisraeli'svastexpansionofsuffrageinthe1867ReformBill.Hefitsmanyofthestockresponsesintooneofthreecategories:perversity(thiswillachieveexactlytheoppositeofitsintendedgoals),futility(thisproblemispartofnatureandfundamentallyinsoluble),andjeopardy(thiswillendangerpreviousreforms).Hirschmannotesthatreformerscanalsomakeuseoftheseclichés-thusfutility:"oppositiontothisreformispointless,sinceitispartofthenaturallawsofprogresswehaveseenunfoldinguptillnow".Hisoppositionistolazyandfundamentalistargumentinallforms.Hisownthoughtconvergedrepeatedlyonakindofscepticaloptimism,abeliefinincremental,experimentalchange,orashetitledoneofhisbooks"abiasforhope".Alwaysmeticulousaboutandinterestedinlanguage(andaspeakerofnativeFrenchandGermanandfluentEnglish,ItalianandSpanish),Hirschmantakespaintotracethesourcesofidiomsandideas,andtocoinaccuratenamesforconcepts.(NodoubtExit,VoiceandLoyaltywouldbefarlessknownwithoutitssnappyandAnglo-Saxonname.)Yethiswritingisoccasionallybelaboured,succumbingtotheacademicdiseaseof"inthepreviousparagraphIhave...andinthefollowingparagraphIwill..."Aminorquibble.OnepartthatstuckoutformewashisanalysisoftheItaliananti-democratic"elitetheorists"ParetoandGaetanoMosca.Moscaclaimedthatwhatdefinedasystemofgovernmentwasnothowitsleadershipwasselected(oligarchy,monarchy,democracy,etc.)butthecompositionandcharacterofitsgoverningclass.(SomewhatsimilartotheorganisationalconceptknownasConway'sLawor"shippingyourorgchart".)OfcoursethisargumentisspeciousinthebluntformwithwhichMoscastatedit(andHirschmantracesitsoriginsinthecorruptionofthepost-unificationMezzogiornoandhowitmayhavecontributedtotheriseoffascism),butmightatleastbeahelpfulwaytothinkaboutdifferencesbetweencountrieswiththesamepoliticalsystem.Asever,Hirschman'sthoughthighlightsthefutilityofgrandtheoriestoexplainsocialsystems,whilesimultaneouslybelievinginthepoweroflotsofsmalltheories(petitesidées)todrivehumanprogress. ...more flag 3likes · Like  · seereview Aug25,2017 Marcelo ratedit itwasamazing Interestingframeworktoevaluatepoliticaldebatefallacies.Especiallythelastchapterisamasterclass. flag 3likes · Like  · seereview Dec25,2021 María ratedit itwasamazing I'minlove I'minlove ...more flag 2likes · Like  · seereview View1comment Aug02,2009 Styer ratedit itwasamazing Prettyeasyread.Greatanalysisofpoliticalrhetoricinthemoderntimes.ThesamebasicargumentshavebeenmadesincetheFrenchRevolutionregardingtryingtomakepoliticalprogresstowardsdemocracy,liberalism,betterliving/workingconditions.Thethreetypesofargumentsisthataspecificpolitical-economicchangewillmakethingsworse(perversity),thattryingtomakesuchachangewillnotmakethingsanybetter(futility)orthatitwillputallprogresssofarmadeintojeopardy. Prettyeasyread.Greatanalysisofpoliticalrhetoricinthemoderntimes.ThesamebasicargumentshavebeenmadesincetheFrenchRevolutionregardingtryingtomakepoliticalprogresstowardsdemocracy,liberalism,betterliving/workingconditions.Thethreetypesofargumentsisthataspecificpolitical-economicchangewillmakethingsworse(perversity),thattryingtomakesuchachangewillnotmakethingsanybetter(futility)orthatitwillputallprogresssofarmadeintojeopardy.Sometimesthepeopletryingtomakethesechangesadoptthesamerhetoric.Thisisn'treallyapartisanbook.ItiseasytodetectwhereHirschman'ssympathieslie,andwhathethinksthetruthaboutthehistoricalrecordis,butheismoreconcernedtoshowthatthissortofrhetoric,fromeitherside,doesn'trepresentusefulpoliticaldiscourse.Goodperspective,agreat(again,fairlyeasyandquick)read.Unlikemosthistorians/philosophers,Hirschmanwritesprettysimplyandstraightforwardly. ...more flag 2likes · Like  · seereview Apr17,2012 Marks54 ratedit reallylikedit Thisisaterrificshortbookbytheauthorof"Exit,Voice,Loyalty"-andlikeitcombinessomepenetratingthoughtwithhistoricalexamplesofpoliticalandeconomicrhetoric.Thepointistoshowhowdiscoursethatisstronglyopposedtopolitical/economicchangehassomestandardlinesofattackthatcanbeidentifiedacrossoawiderangeofchanges.Thefirstisperversity--thatchangewillleadtotheoppositeofwhatthoseinitiatingchangewant-anunintendedconsequencesargument.Th Thisisaterrificshortbookbytheauthorof"Exit,Voice,Loyalty"-andlikeitcombinessomepenetratingthoughtwithhistoricalexamplesofpoliticalandeconomicrhetoric.Thepointistoshowhowdiscoursethatisstronglyopposedtopolitical/economicchangehassomestandardlinesofattackthatcanbeidentifiedacrossoawiderangeofchanges.Thefirstisperversity--thatchangewillleadtotheoppositeofwhatthoseinitiatingchangewant-anunintendedconsequencesargument.Thesecondargumentisfutility-thatthechangecannotworkandsoisagreatwasteoftimeandeffort.Thethirdargumentisjeopardy-namelythatthecostsofchangewillbesignificantlyhigherthanthebenefitsandputthestatusquoatrisk.Thekeytakeawayisthattheseargumentsaregenericandseldomdependonthedatasituationathand.Thisisaverythoughtfulbookandafairlyquickread-foreconomictractsatleast. ...more flag 2likes · Like  · seereview Apr19,2021 MathewMadsen ratedit itwasamazing TheRhetoricofReactionisabrilliantbook.Althoughwrittenintheearlynineties,AlbertHirschman'sbookdoesanincrediblejobsynthesizingthreecenturiesofpoliticaldebateintoaconcise,usefulframeworkthatisjustasrelevanttoday,ifnotmoreso.Themainthesisisthatmostoppositiontoproposalsforpoliticalreformand"progress"*canbesortedintothreemainkindsofargumentsemployedbyreactionaries:theperversitythesis,thefutilitythesis,andthejeopardythesis.The TheRhetoricofReactionisabrilliantbook.Althoughwrittenintheearlynineties,AlbertHirschman'sbookdoesanincrediblejobsynthesizingthreecenturiesofpoliticaldebateintoaconcise,usefulframeworkthatisjustasrelevanttoday,ifnotmoreso.Themainthesisisthatmostoppositiontoproposalsforpoliticalreformand"progress"*canbesortedintothreemainkindsofargumentsemployedbyreactionaries:theperversitythesis,thefutilitythesis,andthejeopardythesis.Theperversitythesisarguesthatwecannotadequatelypredicttheimpactofreformsandthataproposedpolicywill,byvirtueof,unintendedconsequences,actuallyworsentheproblemitseekstorectify.Relatedly,thefutilitythesisarguesthatwedon'tunderstandthecomplexinteractionsofforcesbehindtheworldweobserveandtherefore,ourefforttoimproveasituationwillhavelittleimpact.Finally,thejeopardythesisarguesthatbyimplementingsomenewreform,thebenefitsofsomepreviouslyadoptedpolicy/institution/paradigmwillbeputatrisk.Hirschmanpresentsexamplesofthesereactionarythesesfromthreemajorprogressivemovementsoverthelastthreecenturies:beginningwiththestruggleforcivilcitizenshipandfundamentalrightscharacterizedbytheAmericanandFrenchRevolutions;movingontothefightforpoliticalcitizenshipcharacterizedbystepstowarduniversalsuffrage;andcontinuingontodayinsocialcitizenship,bestseeninthebattlesoverthewelfarestateandeconomicinequality.OnequibbleIhavewiththisnarrative:byframingthingsinthisway,theimplicationisthatbecausethepriorinstancesof"progress"wereinfactpositivedevelopmentsforsociety,theproposalsconnectedtothethird,ongoingmovementwilllikewiseyieldsimilar,socially-desirable"progress".Whileheiswritingfrommoreofaprogressiveperspective,Hirschmanpresentshiscaseinawaythatisrefreshinglyhumble.Althoughthebookcouldbedescribedasacritiqueofconservatism,yougetthesensethatheiswritingtounderstandratherthantodestroy.Thetoneisoneofexposition,notderision.Iconsidermyselfaliberallymindedperson(intheclassicalsenseofconcernforlibertyandfreedom),thoughIhaveattimesidentifiedwithelementsof"conservatism"insofarasitadvocatesforintellectualhumilityandthecarefulpreservationofvaluesthathavebeentheengineofsomuchgoodintheworld.Today,Iseetheconservativemovementdominatedbyright-wingreactionarieswhosubscribetodangerouszero-sumworldviewsandcarelessaboutconservingpluralisticvaluesthanabout"owningthelibs".It'sdisheartening.Insomeways,thisbookhelpsmemakesenseofthatshift.Butthefundamentalinsightisthat,inbiblicalterms,theretrulyis"nothingnewunderthesun."Whilecontextchanges,therhetoricaldevicesofreactionary(andprogressive)thoughtremainrelativelyconsistent.Hirschmanalsoarguesthatprogressivesemploytheinverseofthethreereactionarythesespreviouslymentioned.Thisleadstointransigenceinpoliticaldiscourse,acircumstancewearealltofamiliarwith.Hisrecommendation?Intheclosingchapter,hefiresasalvoofadvicetitled"HowNottoArgueinaDemocracy".Theinsightofferedisthatdemocracyisnaturallyunstablebecauseitusuallyformedamidaceasefirebetweengroupswhorecognizetheycannotexerttheirdominanceovertheothers.Theyagreetodisagree.Democracythenistheprocessofdeliberationbetweengroupswhohaveagreedtodisagree.Hirschmansaysthatthisdeliberationisan"opinion-formingprocess"thatsoundsstrikinglyclosetoBayesianrationalism:Theparticipantsshouldnothavefullyordefinitavelyformedopinionsattheoutset;theyareexpctedtoengageinmeaningfuldiscussion,whichmeansthattheyshouldbereadytomodifyinitiallyheldopinionsinthelightofargumentsofotherparticiapantsandalsoasaresultofnewinformationwhichbecomesavailableinthecourseofthedebate.Thefurtherwestrayfromthatdefinitionofdemocracy,themoreunstableitbecomes.Demandingconformity,enforcingcompliance,orworstofall,silencingopposingviewswillonlyexasperateanalreadytoxicparadigm.Franklyit'sscaryhowmilitantwehavebecomeinourdebates.Inthepublicsquare,oftenthedominantstrategyistoconfidentlyassertyourpositionasfactnomatterwhat.Anyattemptatintellectualhumilityorconsiderationofalternativeviewsisseenasweakness.Andyoucan'taffordtobeseenasweak.Heavenforbidifyouweretoactuallyupdateyourpriorviewbasedonnewinformation.Gettingpeopletobelievemyanswerisalwaysmoreimportantthandiscoveringtherightanswer.Youneedto"chooseaside".Afterall,youareatwarwith"theotherside".Incontrasttothetitleofitsclosingchapter,thebookitselfservesasanexampleof"HowtoArgueinaDemocracy".Therearenostrawmen.Noadhominems.NoprimafaciedismissalofargumentsHirschmandisagreeswith.Justathoughtful,well-researchedcritiqueofthereactionaryplaybook.Idon'tagreewitheveryassumption,proposition,orconclusiontheauthormakes,butIlovedthisbook.Itisincrediblyinsightful,andIhavenodoubtitwillhelpmesharpenmyownrhetoricalskills.Moreimportantly,IalsobelievethatreturningtoademocracyofdeliberationcanonlyhappenthroughmoreoftheintellectualopennessfoundinTheRhetoricofReaction.*Notethatmyuseofquotationmarkshere,andthroughout,isnotintendedasa"scarequote",butsimplytopointoutthattheconnotationofthewordprogresspresupposesthevalueofsuchproposals,when,infact,thatisthecentraldebatethatthebookaimstoaddress. ...more flag 1like · Like  · seereview View1comment May16,2016 RobertWechsler ratedit itwasamazing Shelves: nonfiction Anexcellentlookattheargumentsreactionariesmakeinresponsetovariouskindsofpoliticalreform,aswellas,inalaterchapter,argumentsmadebyprogressives.Hirschmancritiquesreactionaryargumentsanddiscusseswhysuchargumentsaremadeandwhytheyareoftenaccepted.Highlyrecommendedforanyoneinterestedinpoliticalrhetoric. flag 2likes · Like  · seereview May28,2021 OliverKim addedit Whatawonderfullittlebook—probablythebestintroductiontoHirschmanfornon-economists,andanexemplarofhisnimbleintellectualstyle.Hirschmanexploreshowreactionarypoliticalargumentsarestructured,goingthroughtheintellectualhistoryofoppositiontothreemajorreforms:theestablishmentofcivilrightsundertheFrenchRevolution;thespreadofmalesuffrageinthe19thcentury;andtheexpansionofthewelfarestateinthe1960s.Hefindsthreemainpatternstoreactionary Whatawonderfullittlebook—probablythebestintroductiontoHirschmanfornon-economists,andanexemplarofhisnimbleintellectualstyle.Hirschmanexploreshowreactionarypoliticalargumentsarestructured,goingthroughtheintellectualhistoryofoppositiontothreemajorreforms:theestablishmentofcivilrightsundertheFrenchRevolution;thespreadofmalesuffrageinthe19thcentury;andtheexpansionofthewelfarestateinthe1960s.Hefindsthreemainpatternstoreactionaryrhetoric,thatrecuragainandagainregardlessoftimeorplace:Argumentfromperversity:reformwillhavetheoppositeoftheintendedeffect.Argumentfromfutility:reformwillhavenoeffect,particularlyforthoseitistryingtohelp—oranychangewilljustbesurface-level.(Thisisusuallybecauseofsomenewlyinvented“ironlaw”ofsociety,likePareto’slaw.)Argumentfromjeopardy:reformwillendangerthehard-wongainsofthepast.LikemanyofHirschman’sclassicideas,onceyou’veinternalizedthisclassification,it’simpossibletoshakeloosefromyourhead.Youseeiteverywhere.Justtoshowyouitsutility,here’saquickapplicationtotherecentminimumwagedebate:Perversity:Increasingtheminimumwagewillhurtthepoorandvulnerablemostofall.(https://www.cato.org/sites/cato.org/f...)Futility:Increasingtheminimumwagecan’thelpthepoor,becauseitdeviatesfromthePareto-optimizing,ironlawsofsupplyanddemand.(https://www.aei.org/carpe-diem/why-ar...)Jeopardy:Increasingtheminimumwagewillthreatenthefragileeconomicrecovery,andhurtsociety’smostvulnerablemostofall.(Backtoperversity.)(https://www.cato.org/commentary/econo...)Ofcourse,identifyingrecurringpatternsinargumentsisnotthesameasshowingthattheargumentsthemselvesareinvalid.Hirschmaniscarefultopointthisout.(Heevenoffers,somewhathalf-heartedly,threeprogressivezombiearguments,asmirrorsoftheconservativeones.)Buttherecurrenceofthepatternssuggeststhatwhatpassesforreasonedobjectionmayactuallydrivenmorebytheposthocargumentativeneedsofdeep-rootedopposition.HirschmanwrotethisbookbecausehewasalarmedbytheriseofReaganandneoconservatism,butheendsonanoteofhope—thatbyidentifyingtheunthinkingstructureofreactionaryrhetoric,hecouldclearspaceforthedialoguethatmakestheworkofdemocracypossible.Unfortunately,thathopeseemsratherquaintnow. ...more flag 1like · Like  · seereview Feb07,2021 LilianFurquim ratedit reallylikedit IreadHirschmanfirstinmyundergraduatecourseineconomics.Atthattime,Iwasinterestedoninequality,growthanddevelopment.Littleattentiontohowtogetthere,thatisaboutpolitics.Inthisshortessay,theauthorbringuswithananalysisaboutthreewavesofpoliticalandeconomicchange:FrenchRevolution,universalsuffrage(democracy)andWelfareState.Hepresentsananalysisofhowthereactionaryusesomerhetoricapparatustodiscreditthem.InvokingBurke,Tocqueville,Ha IreadHirschmanfirstinmyundergraduatecourseineconomics.Atthattime,Iwasinterestedoninequality,growthanddevelopment.Littleattentiontohowtogetthere,thatisaboutpolitics.Inthisshortessay,theauthorbringuswithananalysisaboutthreewavesofpoliticalandeconomicchange:FrenchRevolution,universalsuffrage(democracy)andWelfareState.Hepresentsananalysisofhowthereactionaryusesomerhetoricapparatustodiscreditthem.InvokingBurke,Tocqueville,Hayek,Tullock,Pareto,Moscaassourcetodiscusshowthepublicsphereareframedbyideasanddebates.Nowadays,whenDemocracydealswitheconomiccrises,inequality,conspiracytheories,fakenews,theauthorrememberushowtodealwiththeminthepublicdebate.Thechangecanbeverypainful,youjustneedtochoseforhowlongitwilllastandifworthit. ...more flag 1like · Like  · seereview Feb13,2016 Jonathan ratedit reallylikedit Ashort,useful,andinsightfulbookaboutpoliticalrhetoric.Hirschman's"TheRhetoricofReaction"waspublishedin1991,atimewhenthoseontheleftandcenter-leftweretryingtounderstandtheconservativeturninpoliticsofthepastdecade.Hirschmanfocusesnotontheconservativesthemselves(thepsychoanalyzingofpoliticalideologythatonecanoftensee),butontheirarguments.Todothis,heanalyzestheresponsesfromreactionariestothreedifferentwavesofprogress:(1)the Ashort,useful,andinsightfulbookaboutpoliticalrhetoric.Hirschman's"TheRhetoricofReaction"waspublishedin1991,atimewhenthoseontheleftandcenter-leftweretryingtounderstandtheconservativeturninpoliticsofthepastdecade.Hirschmanfocusesnotontheconservativesthemselves(thepsychoanalyzingofpoliticalideologythatonecanoftensee),butontheirarguments.Todothis,heanalyzestheresponsesfromreactionariestothreedifferentwavesofprogress:(1)thewavethatproducedcivilrights,ortheriseofindividualliberties,startingwiththeFrenchRevolution,(2)thewavethatledtopoliticalrights,namely,democracy/universalsuffrage,and(3)thewavethatledtosocialrights,i.e.,thewelfarestate.Inexaminingtheargumentsusedtoopposeeachwaveofprogress,hecomesupwithanothertriad:perversity,futility,andjeopardy.Andhepresentsexamplesfromeachperiod,notingaswellhowtheargumentscanworktogether(orcoexistdespiteseemingincompatibility).Theperversitythesisisthatthecontemplatedactionwillhavedisastrousconsequences--itwill,infact,moveintheoppositedirectionofwhatitsproponentsclaim.OneofthemostnotableexamplesofthisisBurke'swritingsontheFrenchRevolution.Butthiswasseenaswellinhowreactionariesclaimedthatdemocracywouldleadtobureaucratictyrannyorthatthewelfarestatewouldcorruptitsbeneficiariesorthataminimumwageincreaseleavesworkersworseoff.Theperversitythesispresentsavolatileworldinwhichprovidenceshattersanygoodintentionshumansmayhave.Thefutilitythesisisthatthecontemplatedactionwillrunupagainstpermanentstructuralcharacteristics("laws")ofthesocialorderand,thus,endupineffective.Withthisfocuson"laws,"thefutilitythesisoftenhasasocialscientificbenttoit.ExamplesincludeAlexisdeTocqueville'swritingsontheFrenchRevolution(inwhichheclaimedthatthepositiveadvanceswerealreadyhappeninginthefirstplace),MoscaandPareto'swritingsofdemocracy(whicharguedthatdividesbetweentherulersandtheruledorbetweentheeliteandthenon-elitewouldresurfaceregardlessofpoliticalform),andthewritingsofconservativeeconomistswhoclaimthatmoneyallocatedtohelpthepoorwilljustendupinthehandsofthemiddleclass.Thejeopardythesisarguesthatthecontemplatedaction,evenifdesirableinitself,involvesunacceptablecostsorconsequencesofonesortoranother.WecanseethisinhowopponentsofuniversalsuffrageclaimedthatdemocracywouldbeathreattopoliticallibertyandhowpeoplelikeSamuelHuntingtonandFriedrichHayekclaimedthatthewelfarestatewasathreattodemocracy.AlthoughHirschmanstartsthebookwithafocusonreactionaryarguments,hespendssometimetowardtheendanalyzingsimplisticandcommonargumentsusedinfavorofprogressivechange.Theyfunctionasinversesofthereactionaryarguments.Ratherthanarguingthattakingactionwillhavedisastrousconsequences,progressivessaythatinactionwillhavedisastrousconsequences(“imminentdanger”).Ratherthanarguingthatsociallawsrenderchangesfutile,progressivessaythatsociallawsmakechangeinevitable(“historyisonourside”).Ratherthanarguingthatachangewillriskpastadvances,progressivesargueforarelationshipofmutualsupportbetweennewandoldadvances(“synergyillusion”).Andtheprogressivementalityitselfistheantipodeoftheperversitythesis-inviewingthepossibilityofrebuildingsocietyaccordingtothedictatesofreason.It'sahandyframeworkforanalyzingpoliticalrhetoric(especiallyamidstanelectionseasonlikenow)andanencouragementtostrengthen(andaddnuanceto)one'sownlinesofargumentation.4.5stars ...more flag 1like · Like  · seereview Dec05,2017 ehk2 ratedit reallylikedit  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: e-book, political-sci-1, discourse-1, ideology-1 IamnotsurethatI'mfullyconvincedbyHirschman'sattempttoexpose"thesimplicityofreactionaryrhetoric"-IguessIcouldfindsomereallypowerfulargumentationamongthem,evenifIammuchmoreinclinedtosidewithprogressivesinmostcases.Hirschmanistoobriefonindividualthinkers.ButIlikedthebook(intheideathatthereareidentifiable-similar-recurringstructuresofrhetoricsinpoliticalthought)andthinkitisanimportanttextinintellectualhistory. IamnotsurethatI'mfullyconvincedbyHirschman'sattempttoexpose"thesimplicityofreactionaryrhetoric"-IguessIcouldfindsomereallypowerfulargumentationamongthem,evenifIammuchmoreinclinedtosidewithprogressivesinmostcases.Hirschmanistoobriefonindividualthinkers.ButIlikedthebook(intheideathatthereareidentifiable-similar-recurringstructuresofrhetoricsinpoliticalthought)andthinkitisanimportanttextinintellectualhistory. ...more flag 1like · Like  · seereview Jul01,2012 David ratedit itwasamazing Awesome.Youwillthinkofthisbookwheneveryouspotobstructionistdrivel,whichyouwillgetverygoodat. flag 1like · Like  · seereview Jul25,2019 AaronAoyume ratedit reallylikedit  ·  reviewofanotheredition IrememberreadingAlbertHirschmanalongtimeago,incollege,whenIwasstudyingthedebtcrisisinLatinAmericaduringthe1990s...So,againstmyrecollectionofHirschmanasaLatinAmericaspecialist,thisbookcomesasabigandpositivesurprisebecauseitgoeswaybeyondeconomics,whilestillbenefitingfromit.Thisbookisessentialmanifold:foronce,itrigorouslyputtheargumentsthataretypicallyusedagainstchangeintoacrystal-clearandefficientanalyticalframework,wh IrememberreadingAlbertHirschmanalongtimeago,incollege,whenIwasstudyingthedebtcrisisinLatinAmericaduringthe1990s...So,againstmyrecollectionofHirschmanasaLatinAmericaspecialist,thisbookcomesasabigandpositivesurprisebecauseitgoeswaybeyondeconomics,whilestillbenefitingfromit.Thisbookisessentialmanifold:foronce,itrigorouslyputtheargumentsthataretypicallyusedagainstchangeintoacrystal-clearandefficientanalyticalframework,whichHirschmanendedupacknowledgingtobeusefulforconservativesandprogressistsalike.AlthoughHirschmandoesnothidehispoliticalinclinations,heisextremelyfairwhendealingwithdivergentideasandexplorethesethemeswithgenuineandphilosophicalcuriosity.Assuch,thisbookendsupasastudyaboutintransigence,asHirschmanhimselfadmitsitinthelastchapter.Itgoesbeyondconservativerhetoricandexpandsintoallkindsofargumentsagainst"thedifferent,theother":theotherisperverse,becauseitdoesexactlytheoppositeheorshesaystobedone;theotherisfutile,becauseheorshecan'tchangehowthingsaresupposedtobe:ortheotherisdangerous,becauseheorshethreatenstodestroysomethingwepraiseandvalue.Originallywrittenin1991,thisbookcouldn'tbemorepertinenttotheproblemsofourtime... ...more flag Like  · seereview Mar21,2020 JeremyDLucas ratedit reallylikedit  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: 2020_03 Foratextthatreadslikeapeer-revieweddissertation,anoftenwordyandhigh-mindedstudyofreactionarypoliticalarguments,thereismuchtotakeawayandprocessforanyonewillingtoconcede,oneithersideofpartisanship,thatthemeanstooursuccessfulandpeacefulhumanco-existencedemandsabetter,morerealisticapproachtoconversationanddebate.Hirschmansuggeststhatallpoliticalreactionstonewendeavorsarerootedinoneofthreepointsofview,eitherthatsuchnewacti Foratextthatreadslikeapeer-revieweddissertation,anoftenwordyandhigh-mindedstudyofreactionarypoliticalarguments,thereismuchtotakeawayandprocessforanyonewillingtoconcede,oneithersideofpartisanship,thatthemeanstooursuccessfulandpeacefulhumanco-existencedemandsabetter,morerealisticapproachtoconversationanddebate.Hirschmansuggeststhatallpoliticalreactionstonewendeavorsarerootedinoneofthreepointsofview,eitherthatsuchnewactions,asprogressiveastheyusuallyare,willmakethingsworse,thattheywillaccomplishnothingatall,orthattheywillcreateaseriesofotherunintendedandmoredireconsequences,broughtaboutbythenaivetyoftheactor(s).Butinpresentingthesearguments,Hirschmanalsonotestheirflawsofimpossiblyarrogantforesight,asifeveryargumentagainsteveryideawerecapableofguaranteeing,withoutquestion,thefailedendsofwhateverwell-intentionedmeanswereconsidered.Andintheend,wearelefttoaskconservativereactionarieswhether,inthecoreoftheirobjections,theytrulywishtodiscourageanyandeveryproactiveeffortorideawithinhumankind,whetherthereiseveranideathattheywouldconcedewasworthashot,whetheritcamefromthemindofaprogressiveoranyoneelse. ...more flag Like  · seereview Nov27,2021 JeffreyAnthony ratedit itwasamazing  ·  reviewofanotheredition AsurprisinglylesspopularworkofHirschmanthatisjustasimportanttodayasthedayitwaspublished.Creatingaframeworktoanalyzethecommonrhetoricaltropesconservativeshaveusedforthepast400years,HirschmanexplicatesindetailthePerversitythesis,Futilitythesis,andJeopardythesis.Anyonenotlivinginacaveforthelast15year(or15days!)wouldrecognizeallthreeofthesebeingemployedadnauseumfromtheright.Thesethreerhetoricaltechniqueshavetrulybeensu AsurprisinglylesspopularworkofHirschmanthatisjustasimportanttodayasthedayitwaspublished.Creatingaframeworktoanalyzethecommonrhetoricaltropesconservativeshaveusedforthepast400years,HirschmanexplicatesindetailthePerversitythesis,Futilitythesis,andJeopardythesis.Anyonenotlivinginacaveforthelast15year(or15days!)wouldrecognizeallthreeofthesebeingemployedadnauseumfromtheright.Thesethreerhetoricaltechniqueshavetrulybeensuperchargedandweaponizedwiththeadventof24hoursnewsandthebifurcationofinformationstreamswiththeriseofsocialmedia.Inthelastsectionofthisbook,Hirschmanshowshowprogressivesusetheinverseoftheserhetoricaltechniques,tolessofasuccessfuleffect.AsHirschmansaid“Progressiveshaveremainedmiredinearnestness.Mostofthemhavebeenlongonmoralindignationandshortonirony.”Previouslystatingthatconservativeshaveeffectivelyusedthepotentweaponofironywithaclearadvantageoverprogressivesinthisdecisivedepartment.Iwillhoweveradmithispointswereveryilluminatingandshowedsomeofmyownbiases,whichIappreciated. ...more flag Like  · seereview Jul14,2021 JoelD ratedit likedit Shelves: finished-2021 ActuallysomeprettycoolideasinthisbookbutitisWAYlongerthanitneedstobe-thewholethingcouldbeadocumentof1-2pages.Basically,letmedoyouthefavour:reactionaryargumentsagainstreformtakeoneofthreemainforms.PERVERSITY:thisreformwillbackfireandmakethesituationworse.FUTILITY:thisreformwilldonothing.JEOPARDY:thisreformwillundopreviousgoodwork.It'ssortofusefulhavingthisinmind-forexample,whenrealestatelobbyistsargueagainstrental ActuallysomeprettycoolideasinthisbookbutitisWAYlongerthanitneedstobe-thewholethingcouldbeadocumentof1-2pages.Basically,letmedoyouthefavour:reactionaryargumentsagainstreformtakeoneofthreemainforms.PERVERSITY:thisreformwillbackfireandmakethesituationworse.FUTILITY:thisreformwilldonothing.JEOPARDY:thisreformwillundopreviousgoodwork.It'ssortofusefulhavingthisinmind-forexample,whenrealestatelobbyistsargueagainstrentalreformbysayingitwillmakerentshigher,it'saclassicPERVERSITYargumentandcanbeexposedandcritiquedassuch.Butanyway,that'sthewholething,youdon'tneedabooktosayit. ...more flag Like  · seereview Apr14,2018 BryanJones ratedit itwasamazing Shelves: great-book-on-rhetoric Oneofmyfavorites.Describesthreeargumentsdepolyedtostopprogress:perversity"thiswillbackfire,causingevenmoredamagetothoseyouwishtohelp";futility,"thiswillneverresultinactualchange";andjeopardy,"thisissoradical,itcouldcauseustolosetheprogresswehavegainedsofar."Containsexcellentandusefulexaminationsofeach,includingargumentsagainstSocialSecurity.Theclosingchaptersfocusonprogressiveargumentsthatarealsoproblematic.Thereisal Oneofmyfavorites.Describesthreeargumentsdepolyedtostopprogress:perversity"thiswillbackfire,causingevenmoredamagetothoseyouwishtohelp";futility,"thiswillneverresultinactualchange";andjeopardy,"thisissoradical,itcouldcauseustolosetheprogresswehavegainedsofar."Containsexcellentandusefulexaminationsofeach,includingargumentsagainstSocialSecurity.Theclosingchaptersfocusonprogressiveargumentsthatarealsoproblematic.Thereisalotofresearchonthefirstthreeargumentsinthebook,butnotmuchontheclosingchapters.That'sagapthatneedstobefilled. ...more flag Like  · seereview View1comment Feb23,2018 Mlhoganjr ratedit reallylikedit Hirshmanexaminesoverseveralcenturiesreactionaryconservativeobjectionstoprogressivesocialpoliciesbasedontheideathatforwardchangewilleitherbefutile,willhaveaneffectthatistheoppositeofitsdesiredeffect(perversity),and/orwillputsomeotherpolicyinjeopardy. flag Like  · seereview Feb25,2018 AliKarimzadeh ratedit itwasamazing OneofthegreatestbooksI’veeverread.YoucanputanycontroversialconversationthatcurrentlyishappeninginanysocietyintoHirshman’sframeworkandseethecontinuingresistanceofthereactionaryforces. flag Like  · seereview Jan24,2020 AliBerkok ratedit itwasamazing Essentialreadingforthoseworkinginpoliticsofanykind.Lookathowconservativesargue.Listentothevoicesinsidethatareholdingyouback.Somereadingadvice:unlessyouwantthedeepdive,youcanskipChapter5. flag Like  · seereview Jan01,2022 FernandoRamírezdeLuis ratedit itwasamazing PerhapsoneofthemostrelevantanalysisofconservativediscourseI'vehadtheopportunitytocomeacrossinmylife,andoneeverybodywillingtoquestionitandexerciseself-criticismontheirownstrategyandrhetoricshouldread. PerhapsoneofthemostrelevantanalysisofconservativediscourseI'vehadtheopportunitytocomeacrossinmylife,andoneeverybodywillingtoquestionitandexerciseself-criticismontheirownstrategyandrhetoricshouldread. ...more flag Like  · seereview Nov29,2018 LinusJohansson ratedit reallylikedit ProbablyabookIwillappreciatemoreinretrospectthanduringtheread. flag Like  · seereview Mar31,2019 Django ratedit itwasamazing Requiredreadingforpolicymakers.Hirschmanmasterfullycategorizesreactionaryargumentsagainstprogressivepoliciesintothreerhetoricalbuckets:perversity,futility,andjeopardy. flag Like  · seereview May25,2019 TurnerBitton ratedit itwasamazing OneofthebestbooksI’veeverreadonthescienceofargumentationanddebate.Itstillinformsmetothisday. flag Like  · seereview Mar22,2020 pplofgod ratedit itwasok Shelves: social-theory, history Surprisinglyweak/thin. flag Like  · seereview May17,2021 Scott ratedit itwasamazing  ·  reviewofanotheredition Aninsightful,usefulguidetoreactionaryideas. flag Like  · seereview Feb22,2017 노은경 ratedit reallylikedit Sorelevanttowhatwearesituated.... flag Like  · seereview May20,2013 Stefan ratedit likedit HavingonlyheardofHirschmanrecentlythroughthemediaobituaries,Idecidedtoreadsomeofhiswork.ThiswasaclearappraisalofreactionaryrhetoricfromlateinhiscareerandIfoundittostillapplytoday.Recommended. flag Like  · seereview «previous12next» newtopicDiscussThisBook Therearenodiscussiontopicsonthisbookyet. Bethefirsttostartone» Share RecommendIt  |  Stats  |  RecentStatusUpdates Readersalsoenjoyed Seesimilarbooks… Genres Politics 47users Philosophy 26users Nonfiction 19users History 14users Economics 10users Politics> PoliticalScience 6users Sociology 5users Social 4users Academic 3users Literature> 20thCentury 2users Seetopshelves… AboutAlbertO.Hirschman AlbertO.Hirschman 91 followers AlbertOttoHirschmanwasaneconomistandtheauthorofseveralbooksonpoliticaleconomyandpoliticalideology.Hisfirstmajorcontributionwasintheareaofdevelopmenteconomics.Hereheemphasizedtheneedforunbalancedgrowth.Hearguedthatdisequilibriashouldbeencouragedtostimulategrowthandhelpmobilizeresources,becausedevelopingcountriesareshortofdecisionmakingskill AlbertOttoHirschmanwasaneconomistandtheauthorofseveralbooksonpoliticaleconomyandpoliticalideology.Hisfirstmajorcontributionwasintheareaofdevelopmenteconomics.Hereheemphasizedtheneedforunbalancedgrowth.Hearguedthatdisequilibriashouldbeencouragedtostimulategrowthandhelpmobilizeresources,becausedevelopingcountriesareshortofdecisionmakingskills.Keytothiswasencouragingindustrieswithmanylinkagestootherfirms.Hislaterworkwasinpoliticaleconomyandthereheadvancedtwoschemata.Thefirstdescribesthethreebasicpossibleresponsestodeclineinfirmsorpolities(quitting,speakingup,stayingquiet)inExit,Voice,andLoyalty(1970).Theseconddescribesthebasicargumentsmadebyconservatives(perversity,futilityandjeopardy)inTheRhetoricofReaction(1991). ...more BooksbyAlbertO.Hirschman More… RelatedArticlesAnnouncingtheWinnersofthe2021GoodreadsChoiceAwards!   Withmorethan4.75millionvotescastandcounted,the13thAnnualGoodreadsChoiceAwardsarenowofficial.Launchedin2009,...Readmore...220likes·86comments TriviaAboutTheRhetoricofR... Notriviaorquizzesyet.Addsomenow» Welcomeback.JustamomentwhilewesignyouintoyourGoodreadsaccount.