Introduction – Special issue on Julien Freund: Decadence and the phenomenon of generations

In this issue, International Political Anthropology presents the first ever translation into English of an article written by French sociologist and philosopher Julien Freund in 1985. Decadence and the Phenomenon of Generations is a statement regarding the crisis of European civilization and its waning status in a globalizing world. Written more than 35 years ago, it asked the thorny question of whether any new generation could recover the European spirit amongst multiple challenges, including a sense of decadence, a loss of mission, and the rise of a global ideological enemy. Whilst some of Freund’s admonitions and concerns might have lost some punch, many others remain as burning as ever.