The Triumph of Emotions: Geopolitics in an Age of Resentment, Anger and Fear
Dominique Moisi, Polity, £20

THE title of this book might lead you to believe it covers some interesting subject matter. Perhaps a psychological assessment of various world leaders? Maybe an examination of atrocity propaganda effects on different nations? Possibly how racial hatred is expressed in international relations? Alas, its none of these things. It’s Mr Moisi’s internal emotive reactions in written form.

These gut reactions are staunchly pro-Western. They are also, to Moisi, completely self-evident. A critical analysis of sources or scholarship is notable only by its absence, and instead we read a recitation of ruling-class propaganda narratives. Moisi examines a subject by asking himself how he feels about it and then tells us. Emotions really do triumph here.

Thankfully there are only four chapters. These cover the present Russia-Ukraine war, the global South, global East (a one-off definition for this particular work) and the global West. Consulting the imagination for emotional reactions gives a recognisable Fox News narrative to what is returned.