What's in it for Me?

'A model of intellectual clarity and political sophistication. ...You can disagree with some judgments, agree with others, but you will definitely profit from its plausible arguments.' Daniel Finkelstein, columnist and associate editor, The Times 'Impressive for the broadness of its horizon, the clarity of its analysis and the fairness of its approach, What's in it for me? is a timely and necessary exploration of what motivates politics at every level.' Rafael Behr, political columnist, The Guardian 'None of us has a monopoly on wisdom and we can all learn not just from understanding our political adversaries a little better, but also from taking a look in the mirror now and then. This well-argued book encourages us to do both and is all the more engaging for it.' Tim Bale, Professor of Politics, Queen Mary University of London and Deputy Director of UK in a Changing Europe 'In a time when the discussion of politics has become coarse and angry, Prosser shows that the key to understanding, rather than merely condemning, political opponents lies in accepting that we all bring our self-interest to politics. This book shows us how to get along better by disagreeing in a temperate way, which is the only way for a liberal democratic political culture to thrive.' Philip Collins, author of When They Go Low, We Go High Why do we hold the political views that we do? We often dwell on the self-interest of opponents, yet seldom reflect on our own. Considering five contemporary worldviews, Thomas Prosser argues that our views tend to satisfy self-interest. This raises questions. Why would richer citizens vote for parties which pledge to reduce inequality? Why would people who live in areas dependent on European funding detest the EU? Why do some of the well-to-do care passionately about asylum seekers? Prosser skilfully explains nuances. Self-interest is sometimes expressed in non-material terms; the immobility of Brexit supporters means they prefer a less open world. Limits to human reasoning mean that liberal and left-wing positions are not as altruistic as proponents believe. Personal freedoms are most enjoyed by those with money and education, while limited resources mean that supporters of left-wing movements unwittingly prioritize themselves. What's in it for me? is far from pessimistic. Prosser argues that recognition of self-interest makes us more reflective, allowing us to see humanity in adversaries.