{"product_id":"political-pilgrims-9781560009542","title":"Political Pilgrims","description":"\u003cp\u003eWhy did so many distinguished Western Intellectualsfrom G.B. Shaw to J.P. Sartre  and. closer to home  from Edmund Wilson to Susan Sontag admire various communist systems  often in their most repressive historical phases? How could Stalins Soviet Union  Maos China  or Castros Cuba appear at one time as both successful modernizing societies and the fulfillments of the boldest dreams of social justice? Why  at the same time  had these intellectuals so mercilessly judged and rejected their own Western  liberal cultures? What Impulses and beliefs prompted them to seek the realization of their ideals in distant  poorly known lands? How do their journeys fit into long-standing Western traditions of looking for new meaning In the non-Western world? These are some of the questions Paul Hollander sought to answer In his massive study that covers much of our century. His success is attested by the fact that the phrase \"political pilgrim\" has become a part of intellectual discourse. Even in the post-communist era the questions raised by this book remain relevant as many Western  and especially American intellectuals seek to come to terms with a world which offers few models of secular fulfillment and has tarnished the reputation of political Utopias. His new and lengthy introduction updates the pilgrimages and examines current attempts to find substitutes for the emotional and political energy that used to be invested in them.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45651440271413,"sku":"ByrdShop_1560009543","price":69.68,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9781560009542.jpg?v=1781834708","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/political-pilgrims-9781560009542","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}