Unsettled Affinities

Book excerpt: Unsettled Affinities was Bendix'sfinal work. It has a unique place in his writing, as it continues the themes contained in thetwo volumes of Embattled Reason and extends them in his consideration of the idea of community.For Bendix, or affinities are personally, socially, and politically unsettled and unsettling.The work is divided into three parts: an initial, personal reflection on the author's emigrationfrom Hitler's Germany; an extended examination of the social definitions of community in Westernciviliation; and a consideration of politics, civil society, and the legitimiation of power. Inthe social and political sections, special attention is given to Germany. Using notes, letters,and lecture, John Bendix, the author's son, has provided an epilogue that gives indications ofthe direction Reinhard Bendix's thought was heading.