The Political Illusion

Publisher Marketing: ""What is politization? . . . (It is that) all problems have, in our time, become political."" --J. Ellul, from the Introduction Jacques Ellul, the author of The Technological Society and Propaganda, here examines modern man's passion for politics, the roles he plays in them, and his place in the modern state. He holds that everything having now been ""politized,"" anything not directly political fails to arouse widespread interest among contemporary men--and in fact might be said not to exist. He shows that political activity is now a kaleidoscope of interlocking illusions, among which the most basic and damaging are those of popular participation in government, popular control of elected and other officials, and popular solution of public problems. This domination by the political illusion, Ellul demonstrates, explains why men now turn to the state for the solution of all problems--most of them problems that the state could not solve if it tried. This close-reasoned, brilliant diagnosis and prognosis is, like Jacques Ellul's earlier books, an alarming analysis of present-day life. ""The Political Illusion completed Ellul's trinity of social criticism that includes The Technological Society and Propaganda. On this 50th anniversary of the book's publication, his insight still holds strong that politics is no longer possible as the free pursuit of external goals to support the general good."" --David Lovekin, Philosophy, Hastings College Jacques Ellul (1912-1994), a French sociologist and lay theologian, was Professor Emeritus of Law and of the History and Sociology of Institutions at the University of Bordeaux. He wrote more than forty books, including The Technological Society, The Humiliation of the Word, and Technological Bluff . Contributor Bio:  Ellul, Jacques Jacques Ellul (1912-1994), a French sociologist and lay theologian, was Professor Emeritus of Law and of the History and Sociology of Institutions at the University of Bordeaux. He wrote more than forty books, including The Technological Society, The Humiliation of the Word, and Technological Bluff. Contributor Bio:  Gill, David W David W. Gill (Ph. D., USC) is an ethics writer, educator and consultant. He served as professor of Christian ethics at New College Berkeley (1978-1990) and professor of applied ethics at North Park University (1992-2001). As an adjunct or visiting professor, he teaches Christian ethics at Fuller Theological Seminary and Regent College, and business ethics in MBA programs at University of San Francisco, and Seattle Pacific University. He is also the Director of the Mockler Center for Faith & Ethics in the Workplace at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He is a member of the Society of Christian Ethics, Society of Business Ethics, and Association for Practical and Professional Ethics. He is president of the International Jacques Ellul Society. Gill has written or edited six books, including the two-volume introduction to Christian ethics, Becoming Good: Building Moral Character (2000) and Doing Right: Practicing Ethical Principles (2004). He often leads workshops, seminars and retreats for Christian students, faculty, professional and church groups, and he provides business ethics training and consulting services in the marketplace.