In 1997, Frank Furedi published a book called Culture of Fear. It was widely acclaimed as a perceptive and prophetic book and sold well in hardback and paperback. Now Furedi returns to his original theme, as most of what he predicted has come true.

After a short introduction on the changing forms of fear in history, he draws a contrast between fear mediated through religion (fear of God and ancestors) and fear mediated through secular culture. This being established, Furedi’s main concern is with forms of fear during the modern era.

Fear has become a problem in its own right to the extent that people now use the term ‘culture of fear’ as an everyday idiom. Fear has become detached from its material and physical source and experienced as a secular version of a transcendental force. So now fear has become a ‘Perspective’ accepted throughout society. Society is trained to believe that the threats it faces are incalculable and cannot be controlled or regulated – all this has resulted in a redefinition of personhood. As a consequence we are constantly searching for new forms of security, both physical and ontological. What is the role of the media in promoting fear and who actually benefits from this culture of fear? These are some of the issues Furedi tackles and much more.