Left in Dark Times [Hardcover]

Part intellectual autobiography, part political essay & part ideological polemic, Left In Dark Times is a survey of this prominent French intellectual's political roots, a look at authoritarianisms old & new and a plea for a fresh moral vision. Analyzing the development of Leftist thought, he identifies the foundations of its current manifestation as: (a) Indifference to suffering under the guise of relativism (b) A perverted notion of tolerance that excuses any type of barbarity perpetrated by non-Western cultures (c) Anti-Zionism which is really the New Antisemitism (d) Insane & obsessive Anti-Americanism.

Much of the book concerns French politics as Lévy struggles to justify his attachment to the term "left." I found that somewhat overwrought but on other issues his insight is brilliant. Since the implosion of the Soviet Empire, Western Leftists have been consumed by resentment to such an extent that they have rejected Enlightenment values. Israel & the USA are demonized as a matter of course whilst the most savage, cruel & barbaric regimes are excused merely because they oppose the so-called "great & little Satan." Amongst those he mentions is Harold Pinter who defended the butcher Slobodan Milosevic. Fur further evidence see The Resurgence of Anti-Semitism: Jews, Israel, and Liberal Opinion by Bernard Harrison.

A very shrewd observation of his is that the collapse of Communism has obscured the evidence of its crimes, permitting certain people to start nurturing that deadly utopian dream again. They also include those who now support Chavez, Ahmadinejad, Putin and hardcore Islamism. He diagnoses European anti-Americanism as rooted in resentment/envy and the conspiracy theory of a Zionist cabal controlling the country. This is common to both the Left & Far Right in the West. In Uncouth Nation, Andre Markovits explores the issue in a most arresting matter.

Lévy demonstrates how the left's ideals of sympathy for the oppressed and striving for justice have been replaced by hatred; how its body is being consumed by pathogens that grow as they devour what remains of the good. Its intellectual bankruptcy has made it a victim of nihilism. Leftists hate (Classical) Liberalism - here to be understood as individual freedom - and the Enlightenment which gave birth to it. That is why they embrace collectivists of all stripes, from Fascists to Jihadists. In this regard, Anti-Americanism by another formidable French intellectual, Jean-François Revel, provides most witty & thought-provoking points to ponder.

Lévy proposes a new vision based on a commitment to fight the new barbarism which is spreading globally as all that have eyes can see. These warnings and sentiments have already been raised by an array of writers on that side of the political spectrum, as presented in the book A Matter of Principle, edited by Thomas Cushman. On the international stage, the work The Return of History and the End of Dreams by Robert Kagan paints a very disturbing picture of the future.

Left in Dark Times reveals & confirms much of what others have already exposed - a worldwide moronic convergence between collectivists of the Left & Right. I found the author's style slightly irritating at times but that pales besides what he has to say. A French author that I very highly recommend is Chantal Delsol, in particular her two magnificent works Icarus Fallen and The Unlearned Lessons Of the Twentieth Century. She writes with great empathy and understanding.

A French intellectual in full cry is a faintly fearsome experience for those folk fortunate enough to win the lottery of life by being born English, as a sardonic member of the Cote d'Azur Men's Book Group might have commentated,. Fearsome not in the frightening sense but in the inability to understand the effusive stream of Gallic rhetoric that turns the air a rabid blue. Left in dark times is the quite clever title of a confusing, to unfamiliar ears, book that gives a philosophic commentary on the world as was and now is, by that noted intellectual Bernard Henri-Levy, who is know by his initials, BHL. Its subtitle is "a stand against the new barbarism" and, it must be said, he would certainly pull the crowds at London's Speakers' Corner. Yet our members found themselves not only liking the book but also largely agreeing with his sentiments. One vital point to make: The Left as perceived in Paris bears little relationship to the Left wing of other countries, it is much more a cultural Left than a socialist Left The same applies to other terminology, Right, Liberal, so that the reader faces a high degree of confusion and misunderstanding. How then you may ask were our members able to agree with most his comments?
Is it that French intellectuals can rant so hypnotically that we are swept up into a cloud of admiration, entranced by the beauty of his words however convoluted they may be? Can it be that his form of literary charisma overwhelms the senses? How can it be that all members of the book group agreed with his conclusions even though his history reveals that M Levy has been wrong so many times that an admission that now he is right, is embarrassing?
Why should be put any credence on what he says now? Yet we agreed with him on Putin, Ahmadinejad, the bane lieus,support for the Market economy, Islafascism. Perhaps it would be better to say he agrees with us!
He must be horrified at the election of Martine Aubry, a return to the (failed) past. Once again the French Left has taken comfort in its unrealistic and hopeless policies. Even now young hard left leaders are setting the pace showing that France is still a socialist country at heart with a strong right wing element.

M Levy's agenda in this book is limited to what he calls "the Universals" which seem like humanist liberal principles - not the property of the Left - and he appears to believe that the French who are "right"do not support such principles. Vichy, Algeria and a strong feeling of racist views not lacking support in France . Liberte, Equalite are historic words but not universally accepted in La Belle France.
Some of M Levy's views on antisemitism are hard to follow and there is obvious selectivity in some examples he quotes. Is it true that Moddish dinner party guests in London conduct hate Israel campaigns at table? Here advocates taking Israel out of the equation in the peace bringing sense and strongly feels that the weeping and wailing over the Holocaust should be brought to a restful end.While this sort of suggestion raises hackles in some quarters they at least have the benefit of , if not original thought, then a possibility of progress. The least said about M Levy's anti-Americanism views the better for one's peace of mind

M Levy, with the bewildering fast thought pattern of the psyched up intellectual, exercises his brain over one particular subject at great length and then, with the cavalier like attitude of a man who has had too much to drink, enjoins the reader to "forget all that" and fills our cups with splashes of a new and more exotic substance. This method of writing is disrespectful to a reader who has ploughed through pages and pages of his clever rhetoric expects a conclusion.

Very early in this book he recounts a phone conversation Nicholas Sarkosy when he was on the election trail. First name terms with M Sarkosy waxing lyrically about an article in Le Monde, and, it seems, touting for friend Levy's unforthcoming support. This read as an unworthy interlude that `was printed in order to reveal that the author was well connected.

This book was enjoyed by all the group but the interesting fact is that it could have been much better if greater care had been taken with the translation and if M Levy had used less of a scattergun approach to his secret agenda. Secret because it was impossible to identify through non-French eyes, just what was the real target, the state of the French political system, the state of the world or just a sort of general discussion about numerous problems of the modern world.

Happily, one feels able to treat him rather like a naughty but clever little boy, smile at his wit and admonish very, very,gently. No, ignore all that, what you should do is.........oh dear, the curse of M Levy strikes again!

Beginning with a long story about BHL and Sarkozy, this book is clearly intended for an audience greatly interested in French politics and its filiations with French intellectuals. Not all that many outside France are likely to be entranced by pages about Segolene Royal, Chirac, and Mitterand or remarks about other French politicians. Those at universities whose business is theory may find his remarks on anti-Semitism and Islamic fascism of some use. .