The label most commonly associated with French intellectual Emmanuel Todd is that of “prophet.” Reviews of his latest book, “The Defeat of the West”, reinforce this narrative–albeit in diverging ways. While conservative writer Christopher Caldwell hails him as a “prophetic academic” in the New York Times, French newspaper Le Monde takes a more critical stance, describing Todd as a “prophet with his eyes closed,” allegedly furthering Russian propaganda amidst the Ukraine war.

The fact that the book was featured in two major national press outlets underscores the extensive media coverage Todd’s work receives. Equally representative is the ambivalence of its reception, reflecting the author’s fluid political positioning. At times, Todd aligns with the left of the French political spectrum; in other instances, he veers closer to conservative right-wing parties, or even conspiracy theorists.

Before delving into the theses Todd defends in “The Defeat of the West,” it is crucial to examine who Emmanuel Todd is and how his previous work has laid the foundations for his current argument. Central to his latest book is the assertion of an inexorable decline in Western–specifically, American–hegemony, a theme that has evolved through his earlier publications and shaped his current perspective.

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