Press releases
Nation in grip of 'lifestyle' authoritarianism argues leading academic
publication date: 31 October 2005
We are in the grip of a new authoritarianism, according to the sociologist Frank Furedi.
Speaking at the Battle of Ideas festival and drawing on his most recent publication, Politics of Fear: Beyond Left and Right, Furedi argues that the collapse in traditional authority has not resulted in a less deferential, or more questioning society. Instead we are a nation in thrall to the new priesthood of lifestyle gurus, parenting-coaches, super nannies, and celebrity chefs.
Furedi sees this unquestioning and fatalistic deference to relationship and other experts as coming from the very top in society:
Even the Blairs defer to their lifestyle guru. When the Prime Minister and his family employ someone to tell them how to dress, exercise, relax and eat, what we witness is the emergence of a new form of authority.
This ‘new form of authority’ is evident in a younger generation’s attitude to the political class. Instead of challenging the political elite, they reject politics out of hand. At the same time twenty and thirty somethings seem happy to bow down in reverence to the new authority of life coaches and therapists.
For Furedi a ‘profoundly pessimistic outlook toward the future’ marks this new authoritarianism, coupled with a growing tendency to institutionalise and sanctify experts of all sorts. Furedi concludes,
Contemporary culture continually incites us to defer to a bewildering variety of relationship experts. Deference to traditional authorities is being replaced by reverence for new ones. The end of deference? You’ve got to be kidding.
Notes for editors
1. Professor Furedi will speaking at the Battle of Ideas festival this weekend (29 – 30 October 2005, Royal College of Art, http://www.battleofideas.co.uk/)
2. Professor Furedi’s latest book Politics of Fear: Beyond Left and Right is published by Continuum Press
3. For further details or to arrange an interview please contact Shirley Dent on 020 7 269 9229/ 07841 583 058 or email shirleydent@instituteofideas.com