On Human Unity; E. E. Hirschmann; Gollancz 25s.
‘Half a century ago, there existed in the Socialist International a living movement growing freely in the political centres of the world, oriented towards the ideal of a classless united humanity. Today there is no such movement. Whatever may remain of this ideal in post-Stalin Communism or in what is left of Social Democracy, neither is likely ever to have such a claim again as the Socialist International once had to stand for the unification of mankind in justice and brotherhood. The one has too much violated the values it was intended to serve, the other has allowed the aim to recede too far behind its short-term preoccupations . . . This failure might seem to demonstrate the rejection by the human spirit of this ideal. But it may instead be the case that so great an aim requires a greater spiritual preparation . . .’
Mr. Hirschmann’s work is intended as a contribution towards such ‘greater spiritual preparation’, and even those with a constitutional or dogmatic objection against Mr. Hirschmann’s style will find this not overly-well written and loosely constructed book to possess considerable interest.