Neadjekvatnaja kultura (Dysfunctional culture): Sovremennija ideologija i tsjelovek

Sigurd Skirbekk  

Moskva: Moskvaforlaget MIK 2003   

ISBN/ISSN: 5-87902-038-X

"Neadjekvtnaja kultura" is a translation of a manuscript based upon arguments from "Ideologi, myte og tro ved slutten av et århundre", arranged for Russian condtions. The Norwgian institution NORLA provided means for the translation.

Reseach leader Yuri Yegorow, at HIS - Institute for Advanced Studies, Vienna gave this description of the book:

Norwegian sociologist Sigurd Skirbekk in his book "Inadequate culture" raises the question of validity of neoliberalism as ideology summoned to solve actual problems of humanity in the 21st century. Despite the failure of alternative ideologies (such as national-socialism and Marxism) in the 20th century, despite the seeming victory of neoliberalism on global scale after the fall of the Berlin wall and despite the Fukuyama's statement about the end of history in the sense of absolute victory of liberal values, the author draws our attention to the weaknesses of this ideology. In particular, from the position of the functionalist approach, this ideology is unable to adequately meet the challenge of the 21st century. The challenge being the necessity of civilization's adaptation in the framework of ecological system. In particular it concerns the fact that liberal principles don't agree with the ecological systems and ethical rules. The fact that the majority of so called (especially in the academic sphere) civilized citizens support the liberal principles doesn't mean their absolute correctness. The example is single-step destruction of the Marxist ideology in the postsoviet space, as well as the challenge to the liberal world in the light of the events of 11th September. The book is written in a quite academic language and contains references to the authors, not always known to the common reader. However, it is important to underline the book's potential utility to the general public for it shows critical attitude towards the paradigms, currently dominating in the mass media. The parallel line could be drawn between this book and the works of L.Gumilev, whose books despite their academic style attracted diverse sections of the reading and reflecting public. The only difference being that Gumilev allowed us to understand the past, while Skirbekk's work shows us the global problems of ideology nowadays. In addition to that the book gives us food for thought in the future. The book is an attempt to go beyond the frames of ideologies and carry out the analysis of causes of ideological failures of the 20th century. This method is also used in analyzing neoliberalism as the dominating contemporary ideology.

Av Sigurd Skirbekk
Publisert 23. sep. 2010 10:12 - Sist endret 21. sep. 2020 14:48