100 Years of Identity Crisis

Introduction

Through the attempt to understand the historical origins of a phenomenon that today we call ‘identity crisis’, this author came to the conclusion that the condition can best be understood as a symptom of the unravelling of moral authority. Stable identities are not only psychological but also moral accomplishments. They are supported by clarity about meaning, which in turn draws on authoritative moral guidance. Without such guidance, people’s identities often become decentred and find it difficult to endow their lives with meaning.

The main argument outlined in this book is that identity and the crisis that often surrounds it, as well as its politicisation, are inextricably linked to the confusion that frequently envelops conflicts ...