Pankaj Mishra’s The World After Gaza: Navigating a Time of Crisis

Pankaj Mishra’s latest book, The World After Gaza, offers a powerful reflection on the ongoing war in the Palestinian Gaza Strip, which he portrays as a tragic blow to the principles of human rights and morality. Published by Juggernaut Books, the work examines the war’s atrocities and systemic injustices, providing a stark critique of global moral decay. In an exclusive interview, Mishra discusses the origins of the book, its context, and its warnings about the perilous direction of global politics.

Key Points from the Interview

About the Book:

• The World After Gaza was written in response to the war in Gaza and reflects on the crisis within a historical context rather than aiming to be a literary or analytical masterpiece.
• Mishra emphasizes the urgent need to document the atrocities and address the moral and political failures of the modern world.

The World After Gaza:

• Hisham Matar calls the book a "humane inquiry into suffering" and its effects on humanity.
• Mishra warns of a world where core morality and norms are increasingly under threat, highlighting how influential figures fuel division, hostility, and resentment towards weaker groups and minorities.

Instrumentalization of the Holocaust:

• Mishra critiques Israel’s use of Holocaust memory to justify its expansionist policies, arguing that invoking the fear of another Holocaust to justify actions against Palestine cheapens and tarnishes the memory of Holocaust victims.

Warnings for the Future:

• Mishra anticipates a chaotic period characterized by rising extremism, moral decay, and political instability, urging readers to prepare intellectually and emotionally for these difficult times.