In Defense of Looting

Last updated

In Defense of Looting: A Riotous History of Uncivil Action
In Defense of Looting.jpg
AuthorVicky Osterweil
Language English
Publisher Verso Books
Publication date
September 17, 2019 [1]
Publication place United States

In Defense of Looting: A Riotous History of Uncivil Action is a 2019 book authored by Vicky Osterweil and published by Bold Type Books. [2] Osterweil wrote the book in response to the Ferguson unrest in 2014 and 2015. [3]

Contents

In the book, Osterweil argues that looting is a valid method of wealth redistribution. [2] [4]

Osterweil denounces nonviolent resistance; she argues that, when non-violence is "pushed as a philosophical, moral, or religious principle, it gains a nasty, authoritarian edge." She also denounces local politicians and political groups who advocate for limiting looting during popular rebellion. [4]

Criticism

In August 2020, Bret Stephens, a columnist for The New York Times , wrote that "In Defense of Looting is not an interesting book. It speaks for almost nobody beyond the fringe left—and certainly not for looters who hadn't thought about 'cisheteropatriarchalism.'" [5]

In a September 2020 review, Graeme Wood, a staff writer for The Atlantic , called the book "The Pinnacle of Looting Apologia", saying that "If the real, lasting change you wish to effect is burning society to cinders and crippling for a generation its ability to serve its poorest citizens, then I suppose I am forced to agree." [6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ A fresh argument for rioting and looting as our most powerful tools for dismantling white supremacy Retrieved 6/29/2022.
  2. 1 2 Escobar, Natalie (August 27, 2020). "One Author's Controversial View: 'In Defense Of Looting'". NPR . Retrieved March 26, 2021.
  3. ↑ Fallon, Claire (August 25, 2020). "Are Looters Undermining The Movement — Or Creating It?". HuffPost . Retrieved March 26, 2021.
  4. 1 2 Chotiner, Isaac (September 3, 2020). "Examining Vicky Osterweil's Case for Looting". The New Yorker . Retrieved March 26, 2021.
  5. ↑ Stephens, Bret (September 1, 2020). "Unwitting Progressives for Trump". The New York Times . ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  6. ↑ Wood, Graeme (September 2, 2020). "The Pinnacle of Looting Apologia". The Atlantic . Retrieved March 26, 2021.

Further reading

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.