The Monarchy of Fear

“America’s most prominent philosopher of public life” explores the role of emotions—primal fear, anger, disgust, envy—in our current political crisis (The Boston Globe).

For decades acclaimed scholar and moral philosopher Martha C. Nussbaum—a recipient of the Kyoto, Berggruen, and Holberg Prizes—has compelled readers with her books and essays. In The Monarchy of Fear she turns her attention to the crisis that has polarized America since the 2016 election.

Although today’s atmosphere is marked by intense partisanship, divisive rhetoric, and the inability of two halves of the country to communicate with one another, Nussbaum focuses on what so many pollsters and pundits have overlooked. She sees a simple truth at the heart of the problem: The political is always emotional. Globalization has produced feelings of powerlessness in millions of people in the West. That sense of powerlessness bubbles into resentment and blame. Blame of immigrants. Blame of Muslims. Blame of other races. Blame of cultural elites. While this politics of blame is exemplified by the election of Donald Trump and the vote for Brexit, Nussbaum argues it can be found on all sides of the political spectrum, left or right.

Drawing on a mix of historical and contemporary examples, from classical Athens to the musical Hamilton, The Monarchy of Fear untangles this web of feelings and provides a roadmap of where to go next.

“Erudite but very readable . . . fresh, worthwhile insights into the animosities that roil contemporary public life.” —Publishers Weekly

“An elegant and lyrical writer . . . she movingly describes the pain of recognizing one’s vulnerability.” —The New Yorker

“Even readers skeptical about Nussbaum’s political orientation will welcome this call for an emotionally healthier public life.” —Booklist

“Nussbaum . . . writes about gut feelings like envy and disgust with an air of serene lucidity [and] pushes you to slow down, think harder and revisit your knee-jerk assumptions.” —The New York Times Book Review