Couple of months ago a book by Frank Furedi titled First World War: Still No End In Sight landed in my lap. An acquaintance of mine recommended it without giving me much detail. He just said that I would have appreciation for its insights and original angle and that was enough for me to put a copy into my basket. The author of the book contends that WW1 was not merely a military conflict but a profoundly unique cultural and ideological rupture. Professor Furedi suggests that the conflict catalysed a transformation in societal values, which led to a persistent state of cultural conflict that manifests today as the “culture wars”. He claims that the ideological battles that began in 1914 have evolved and remain largely unresolved, continuing to polarize and influencing debates over identity, morality, and societal norms. It’s a fascinating piece of research and writing which helped me to better understand some of the cultural trends that have permeated the west over the last few decades and this is the reason why I wanted to interview professor Frank Furedi and ask him few questions that have crystalised in my mind after I finished reading First World War: Still No End In Sight.

Frank Furedi is an Emeritus Professor of Sociology at the University of Kent. He completed his PhD in Research and MA in African Politics at the School of Oriental and African Studies. He completed his BA in Political Science at McGill University. He’s a sociologist, social commentator, and author of over 20 books which include:

Democracy Under Siege

The War Against the Past: Why The West Must Fight For Its History

How Fear Works: Culture of Fear in the Twenty-First Century

Paranoid Parenting

Links and interview references:

First World War: Still No End In Sight https://www.bloomsbury.com/au/first-world-war-9781441117922/

They Shall Not Grow Old

A documentary about World War I with never-before-seen footage to commemorate the centennial of the end of the war.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7905466/