Narrative Non-fiction · Hardback

Ruled by banality

Norwegian title: Banalitetens tyranni

Christian Borch

With Banalitetens tyranni, Christian Borch has completed a series of three books, pointing out various developing trends in Norway and Europe. His first book, Salig velstand, considered the ideals which characterise our time. The second, Sannhetens kår, was an investigation into how neo-capitalism and its philosophy have made inroads into media and politics.

Now Borch zooms his perspective out and sets to work with his sharp pen on the major lines of development. He follows through from Margaret Thatcher, Ronald Reagan, Kåre Willoch and the liberation of market forces in the 1980’s, right to today’s Euro-crisis.

This has created economic growth, boosted employment and stimulated development. It has accelerated social and economic changes in poor countries. However, it has also led to the balance between financial power and democratic society becoming grossly biased in finance’s favour. It has also created a generation of individualists and egoists. The price of this generation’s recklessness will have to be paid by their children.

Banalitetens tyranni is an engaged and very well formulated contribution to the debate about our shared future, from one of the elder statesmen of Norwegian journalism. It is a warning about a distorted social order, but it also carries hope of a new generation with different ideals, immunised against what Borch calls ‘the egocentric materialism which characterised their predecessors’.