Traditionalism

From a leading expert, a history and analysis of Traditionalism, one of the least-known and most influential philosophies, that is having a profound impact on politics today.

Western politics has changed. The Brexit referendum and the election of Donald Trump in 2016 were not random events, nor was the one-third share of the vote won by Marine Le Pen in the 2017 French presidential election. The classic contest between the centre-left and centre-right no longer shapes Western politics. Some of the leading architects of the swing to populism are affiliated with Traditionalism—Steve Bannon in the United States, Aleksandr Dugin in Russia, Olavo de Carvalho in Brazil—all rising to positions of power in the past decade.

This book explores and explains Traditionalism, one of the most influential and least understood of these ideologies. Traditionalism combines a radical critique of modernity with a vision of a better alternative that is rooted in timeless spiritual precepts. Traditionalists hold that modernity is not, as many people think, the triumph of human progress, but rather the result of inexorable decline. Modern humanity, they contend, has lost touch with the ancient spiritual and philosophical truths that were once the basis of a healthy society composed of people living as they are meant to live.

It is essential to understand this philosophy that is shaping our world, and Mark Sedgwick is the perfect guide.