'I study institutions for a living - this is the reason two-tier justice has infiltrated UK and no one is safe'

'I study institutions for a living - this is the reason two-tier justice has infiltrated UK and no one is safe'

Overview

Frank Furedi, a prominent sociologist, authored "The War Against the Past: Why the West Must Fight for its History" to address what he perceives as a systematic campaign to discredit the history of the West. Furedi argues that this movement is driven by a modern political agenda that seeks to undermine Western ideals and achievements.

Key Points

1. Historical Memory and Identity: Furedi posits that historical memory is the foundation of Western identity and culture. He argues that the campaign to discredit the past aims to dissolve the bonds of shared experience that make up a community.
2. Cultural Crusade: The book highlights various actions such as toppling statues, decolonizing curricula, and erasing terms from vocabulary as part of a cultural crusade designed to render the past toxic.
3. Impact on Society: Furedi warns that a society that loses touch with its past will face a permanent crisis of identity. He believes that casting the past as a story of shame has become a pervasive outlook in Western educational and cultural life.
4. Critique of Presentism: Furedi criticizes the attachment of historians to present values, which he believes often relies on bogus methodologies and tendentious selection of material. He argues that this approach marginalizes racial minorities and nations outside Europe and America.
5. Frank Furedi's theory about a two-tier justice system in the UK is a contentious one. He argues that political pressure leads the justice system to act more leniently toward protests and incidents associated with left-wing causes than those involving right-wing causes. This theory is supported by some examples, such as the differing sentences handed out to rioters from recent unrest compared to those involved in the Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests.

For instance, during the recent riots, individuals like Peter Lynch received sentences of over two years for violent disorder. In contrast, some participants in the BLM protests received more lenient sentences for similar offenses. This discrepancy fuels the argument that there is a bias in how justice is administered based on the political nature of the protests.

Additionally, the case of Wayne Brown, the former Chief Fire Officer of West Midlands, adds another layer to this discussion. Brown was under investigation for allegedly lying on his CV about his qualifications. The investigation and subsequent cover-up by senior officials, including Greg Brackenridge, the chair of the fire authority, have raised concerns about accountability and transparency within law enforcement and public institutions5.

These examples suggest that there may be inconsistencies in how justice is applied, potentially supporting Furedi's theory. However, it's important to note that these cases are complex and involve multiple factors, making it difficult to draw definitive conclusions.

Conclusion

"The War Against the Past: Why the West Must Fight for its History" by Frank Furedi is a provocative and passionate defence of Western historical memory. While it raises important points about the dangers of losing touch with the past, it also faces significant challenges in terms of understanding opposing views, methodological rigor, and political bias. Despite these challenges, Furedi's work contributes to the ongoing debate about the role of history in shaping contemporary society, and its impact on the rule of law and the approach that each case is based on its merit not the rule of the mob, and applied in a fair transparent and accountable manner.