The second half of Touraine’s new book is his proposal to “think differently” — penser autrement. It is a continuation of an argument he has been developing in a series of books since 1992: that we don’t need faith in either God or Progress, but in ourselves.

[A prediction made in November 2000, Bush v. Gore and Florida recount]: Even if [George W.] Bush is installed as our next president, the struggle will continue among the corporate leaders for control of the executive committee of the ruling class. And the New Economy people will demand some participation (and very likely will succeed in making their own candidate our next president, in 2004). [Nov. 2017 correction: No, it didn’t happen in 2004, but in 2008, in part for the reasons I anticipated.]