The Public Interest

Priestess of progress

Hillel Fradkin

Winter 2000

A DISCUSSION has emerged on the Right of our political spectrum about the future and its prospects. It arises from the concern that our future be one of progress rather than regress, of innovation, both technologically and socially, rather than stagnation, stale habit, and reaction. Central to this debate is Virginia Postrel, perhaps the most vigorous defender of what she calls the “dynamist” future. In her recent book, The Future and lts Enemies, † Postrel celebrates human beings as the playful creators of their own destiny; and she believes that, in the aftermath of the Cold War, such a dynamic, playful future is finally possible, if only its enemies, whom she calls “stasists,” can be defeated.

Download a PDF of the full article.

Download

Insight

from the

Archives

A weekly newsletter with free essays from past issues of National Affairs and The Public Interest that shed light on the week's pressing issues.

advertisement

Sign-in to your National Affairs subscriber account.


Already a subscriber? Activate your account.


subscribe

Unlimited access to intelligent essays on the nation’s affairs.

SUBSCRIBE
Subscribe to National Affairs.