Reviews and Comments

It's... I'm not sure how to put it. Very mixed bag - some interesting perspectives on what identity politics supposedly looks like to others. In other sections, what is described feels completely alien to what I understand as identity politics in every day activism. For some reason, identity politics addressing capitalism is antisemitic, there is even an argument that identify politics in some forms is authoritarian and inherently antisemitic (which, I guess if one includes right wing perspectives would be accurate, but that's not what is implied). In the end, the author seems to argue identity is politically central and therefore rejects classical Marxist arguments that identity politics is just a distraction - and ends with a plea that identity political needs Utopias beyond neoliberal acceptance and must become anti-capitalist again (which I'm not sure where this person is looking, but both seem inherent to radical left - maybe it's intended as a critique of the moderate left, but it's my understanding that identity politics is almost exclusively a radical left phenomenon with close ties to anarchism, maybe my assessment is off there).

The translation into German is quite sloppy (some of the notes were just forgotten and there were lots of editing mistakes) - what I think bugged me most about it is the inconsistent use of N* as a replacement for the N word (significant sections use several variations of the N word). In terms of content, though, it's a great introduction to find an answer to what it means to be an anti racist (which honestly would probably have been a more accurate title). I found the last sections that use cancer analogies a bit off, though I can't put my finger on why specifically. Overall I think it's worth reading, what I enjoyed most was the discussion of what radical change means (as opposed to radical rhetoric) and how radical and anti racist groups should apply self reflection to their anti racism. Another important takeaway from the history sections is that racist policy precedes racist rhetoric (and racism springs from self-interest).

Well, that was a weird one. I have mixed feelings about this book, particularly the fact that the layout seems broken in many places (pictures and information blocks are often misplaced and match topics discussed five pages earlier or later). Being trans, a lot of the history was fairly familiar; one thing the book does really well is placing those facts in the larger historical context (as well as their relative context). I find it extremely jarring that the book uses the term transsexual to refer to people that undergo medical transition for most of the book (though to be fair, the fluidity of terminology is explicitly addressed at the start of the book). The main thing I'd say I've learned is just how transphobic the American* LGB-movement was throughout the years, which puts current day developments in a new perspective.

After the time covered by the book (which is basically the time the second edition was published - it covers 2008-2016 quite extensively, though not as much wish a historical lens), I'd say the major developments are changes to the supreme court and rescinding Roe v. Wade; the increasing escalation of transphobia in the vein of TERF island (as the UK is now known as in this context) and the alliances between gender critical people, conservatives and neonazi groups; and finally the growing international importance of this issue and growing connectivity between antisemitic and transphobic conspiracies (e.g., Putin explicitly addressing the issue).

• I point to American specifically here because the book explicitly covers American history