Defending Identity

In this book, Natan Sharansky argues that identity and democracy mutually reinforce one another and that Western democracies risk ruin if they fail to treasure their unique identities.

Drawing on his personal experience as a Soviet dissident and prisoner of conscience, Sharansky contends that strong identities—rooted in religious, cultural, or ethnic affiliation—provide the sense of purpose necessary to overcome adversity and live a life rich in meaning.

He challenges both those who see identity as a threat to freedom and advocates of valueless cosmopolitanism, arguing instead that democracy without identity invites conflict, while identity without democracy guarantees it.