The European continent, at least the western part, is living in the torment of remorse. It is revisiting its past crimes: wars, religious persecutions, slavery, colonialism, fascism, communism. This is the position of Pascal Bruckner, for whom this remorse is one-sided; we do not demand it from other cultures or other regimes, which "wrap themselves in their purity so they can accuse us even better."

Why has Europe abandoned the critical spirit that has been its hallmark since the Enlightenment to plunge into masochism? What are the implications of this "Tyranny of Remorse"? Why do Europeans tend to forget that while they have given birth to monsters, they have also created theories and methods that allow for the subjugation of these monsters? Why do they forget that Europe, and only Europe, has struggled to overcome its barbarism?

[Excerpt from the text on the back cover of the edition]