Diagnosis of our Time
16 MENTAL HEALTH
- Author:
Karl Mannheim. Kegan
Paul. 10s. 6d. Pp. 179.
In this work a distinguished professor of sociology formerly in Frankfurt, discusses the future reconstruction of society. He points out that: ” We are living in an age of transition from laisser faire to a planned society,” and that this planned society will take one of two forms. Either it will be ruled by a minority in terms of dictator- ship, or else it will be controlled by a new form of government, a dynamic type of democracy.
Democracy in Professor Mannheim’s opinion, must abandon its laisser faire liberalism and cease to mistake neutrality for tolerance. If it is to succeed in defeating dictatorship, it must organize itself and adopt a more active policy, giving a lead to the re-organization of the new world order. And in order that it may do so, democracy must enlist the help of its youth. The totalitarian states long ago recognized the importance of organizing the entire youth of the nation, and demo- cracies must follow their lead in developing youth movements. We must not refuse to learn from the totalitarian states even although our aims may be very different from theirs.
Dr Mannheim is of the opinion that Britain is eminently fitted to take the lead in the founding of a new world order, but if she is to do so, the British must become more vocal and formulate more clearly their ideas. He complains that we have a dislike for all theories and prefer to work silently without speaking of what we are doing. If democracy is to survive it must become more militant and proclaim the ideals for which it is fighting. Dr Mannheim believes that unless it does so mankind will be enslaved by some totalitarian system of planning which once it is estab- lished, it will be difficult to get rid of.
Dr Mannheim’s essays deal with issues which cannot be evaded and they will be read with great interest by those who are concerned with the future of society. He is confident that Europe can be saved by careful planning and re-organization, more confident indeed than many of his readers are likely to be. He deals very little with the great fundamental difficulties dependent on the nature of man. K.W.
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