Pankaj Mishra challenges historical narratives in new book

Mishra critiques selective history and its role in justifying modern conflicts.

A rainbow appears over the ruins in Gaza as daily life continues under harsh conditions following a ceasefire agreement on February 12, 2025. Photo by Ashraf Amra/Anadolu/Getty Images

By Hayu Andini and Adila Ghina

The World After Gaza: A History, by Pankaj Mishra

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Pankaj Mishra, a writer known for his incisive analysis in both fiction and nonfiction, delves into the consequences of selective historical narratives in his latest work. He methodically unpacks what he calls the “extensive moral breakdown” that led to “the blithe slaughter of innocents in Gaza.” At the same time, he argues that Israel’s leaders did not hesitate to “exploit” the Hamas-led attack of October 7, 2023, to further their own political goals.

Mishra’s perspective on Zionism has undergone a transformation over the years. Once viewing it as a justified movement for the protection of a historically persecuted people, his travels and research led him to reevaluate its consequences. By the early 2000s, he was a respected contributor to major political publications, yet he found that his reporting on the “brutality and squalor of Israel’s occupation” in the West Bank faced editorial resistance. He describes encountering what he calls “pre-censorship in even liberal periodicals,” which, he believes, stemmed from a deep-rooted fear of being labeled antisemitic.

This fear, according to Mishra, is tied to a broader historical effort to position the Holocaust as “the sacred core of Israeli nationalism.” He traces how, in the aftermath of World War II, scholars worried about the genocide being forgotten. However, the 1961 trial of Adolf Eichmann brought it back into global focus, and subsequent military conflicts in 1967 and 1973 reinforced Israel’s position as a state facing existential threats from its neighbors.

The Holocaust, political power, and global narratives

Mishra argues that as Israel’s military victories grew, so did its strategic importance to the United States. In the wake of America’s defeat in Vietnam, U.S. politicians saw Israel’s success as an opportunity to maintain influence in the Middle East. This alignment coincided with the growing presence of the Holocaust in popular culture, from bestselling novels to Hollywood films. According to Mishra, these cultural portrayals often reinforced the notion that “those who have been or expect to be victims should preemptively crush their perceived enemies.”

By examining the intersection of history, politics, and public memory, Mishra challenges the ways in which suffering is selectively remembered and leveraged for geopolitical ends. He draws attention to a broader issue: across the globe, victims of genocide, slavery, and colonialism continue to ask why their own historical traumas have not received the same recognition.

A plea for historical literacy

At its core, Mishra’s latest work is an urgent call for a more inclusive understanding of history. He argues that acknowledging all historical atrocities—not just those most politically convenient—can open up what he calls “a broader vista of human fraternity and solidarity.” His critique extends beyond Israel, urging readers to consider how power shapes collective memory and justifies modern conflicts.

By exposing how historical narratives are curated to serve political interests, Mishra forces readers to confront uncomfortable truths. His work ultimately challenges the idea that history is a static record of the past, instead framing it as a battleground for the present.

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