Oct 7, 2020
In this episode, I speak with Brad Birzer about the American Sociologist Robert Nisbet and his critique of the Modern Nation State. Nisbet was a strong proponent of decentralization and a multiplicity of associations. We discuss some of his ideas, including developmentalism, the quest for community, and authority. We also discuss Nisbet's influences—Alexis de Tocqueville, Edmund Burke, Proudhon, and the Counter-Revolutionaries—and his critique of Jean Jacques Rousseau, who he called the "demon of the modern mind". Brad is currently working on a book on Robert Nisbet that will be published by Notre Dame Press.
Dr. Birzer is professor of history, and the Russell Amos Kirk Chair in American Studies at Hillsdale College. He is the co-founder of The Imaginative Conservative, and has written books on J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Dawson, Russell Kirk, and the rock star Neil Peart.
Show Notes: https://www.themoralimagination.com/episodes/bradley-birzer