Their aim is to dissolve the strong beliefs and powerful loyalties thought to have fueled the conflicts that convulsed the twentieth century.

Postwar reaction.The period after 1945 was shaped by a powerful, American-led response to the violence and totalitarianism of the first half of the 20th century. This response was characterized by a set of "anti imperatives" aimed at preventing a recurrence of such horrors. These included being anti-fascist, anti-totalitarian, anti-colonialist, anti-imperialist, and anti-racist.

Dissolving strong beliefs.The core idea behind these anti imperatives was that strong beliefs, passionate loyalties, and powerful ideologies were the root cause of the devastating conflicts between 1914 and 1945. Therefore, the goal became to weaken or dissolve these forces in society. This impulse intensified even after the fall of communism in 1991, leading to increased vigilance against perceived threats like "microaggressions" and the policing of language.

Historical turning point.While some saw the fall of the Soviet Union as the end of the 20th century, the author argues that the postwar era''s rhythms continued, marked by an intensification of the anti imperatives. This relentless pursuit of dissolving strong beliefs has created a paradoxical situation where the fight against the last century''s evils prevents the West from addressing the challenges of the current one, leaving people deprived of the solidarity born of shared loves.