Suicide of the West

“What made the West exceptional for centuries might also be the secret to its survival in the face of modern threats.”

1. The "Miracle" of Modernity

The rise of modern society around 1700 was a historic turning point, transforming poverty, violence, and oppressive governance into progress, innovation, and freedom. This transformation was seen as nothing short of miraculous.

Life prior to this period, following Thomas Hobbes' observation, was defined by scarcity, violence, and suffering. The late seventeenth century marked the Glorious Revolution in England, where a monarch was peacefully overthrown for parliamentary reforms. This legal shift underpinned centuries of unprecedented economic and social growth.

Key indicators of this miracle are evident in the skyrocketing of GDP per capita after 1700. Wealth increased, and democratic governance gained traction under frameworks like England’s Bill of Rights. By curbing the unchecked power of despots and advancing rule-based governance, modernity changed how people lived, worked, and thought about their future.

Examples

• The English Bill of Rights curtailed monarchal control, empowering parliamentary rule.
• Income levels rose post-1700, marking a departure from centuries of stagnation.
• Societies began prioritizing personal rights like property and liberty.

2. England's Unique Advantage

England was uniquely poised for change thanks to its legal apparatus, community values, and geographic isolation, which helped foster liberal institutions.

The common law system set England apart from the rest of Europe. This law limited monarchal power by honoring precedents from older legal cases. It protected rights like property ownership, making it harder for rulers to impose arbitrary laws. England’s geographic safety also meant it didn’t need to rely on authoritarian militarism to maintain control.

Civil society in England was infused with individualism, a quality Alexis de Tocqueville praised. The free associations between individuals in English society allowed progressive ideas and reforms to take place without fracturing communities.

Examples

• An English judge could reject a law from the king if it violated property rights.
• England faced fewer invasions due to its island geography, fostering a less militaristic governance style.
• Tocqueville credited individualism in England as the driving force behind its cohesive society.

3. Human Nature Resists Progress

Despite tremendous advancements, modernity’s success was achieved while contending with humanity’s innate tendencies toward violence and tribalism.

Humans evolved to prioritize their tribal groups over outsiders, a survival mechanism that historically led to skirmishes and distrust. Studies like those by psychologist Paul Bloom reveal children’s inherent morality but also early tendencies to prefer familiarity, which lays the groundwork for exclusionary behavior.

Modern societies counteracted these instincts by enforcing rule-based governance and promoting liberty over tribal allegiance. A stark example comes from pre-modern tribes like the Yanomamö, where murder and violence were normalized cultural practices.

Examples

• Psychologist Paul Bloom showed babies preferred “nice” behavior in experiments, but also showed inherent biases against outsiders.
• Anthropologist Napoleon Chagnon documented the high murder rate among the Yanomamö, where violence was encouraged.
• Modern governments have drastically reduced violence, as shown by Steven Pinker’s findings comparing prehistoric and modern death tolls.

4. Liberty vs. the Collective

Modern philosophical debates pit individual liberty, championed by John Locke, against collective interests, advocated by Jean-Jacques Rousseau.

Locke believed humans established governments to escape the chaotic “state of nature.” For him, the state existed to safeguard individual rights such as life, liberty, and property—ideas that directly formed the bedrock of America’s founding principles. Locke’s vision prioritized economic independence and personal opportunity as pathways to happiness.

Rousseau, conversely, viewed society as corrupt and argued for individuals to prioritize the “General Will” of the collective. His ideas inspired revolutionary fervor but also narrowed focus to collective interests over individual freedoms, a perspective that influenced tyrannical regimes like Robespierre’s in post-Revolutionary France.

Examples

• Locke’s philosophy informed America’s Declaration of Independence, modifying property rights to the “pursuit of happiness.”
• Rousseau asserted humans were innately good but corrupted by social constructs.
• Robespierre’s rule tied Rousseau’s ideas of collective good to authoritarian practices.

5. Meritocratic Elitism is Necessary

Elites are inevitable in any system, but their power must have checks and balances to prevent stagnation and abuse of authority.

True aristocracy, rooted in ability and competence rather than lineage, fosters innovation and progress. For example, Cornelius Vanderbilt’s railroad achievements transformed America by making transportation affordable and accessible. However, unchecked power corrupts. Historical examples like the Venetian Republic show how entrenched elites can stymie progress once meritocratic principles are abandoned.

America’s founders built safeguards into the Constitution. By creating separate branches of government, they ensured that no single group or individual could consolidate overwhelming power, preserving both liberty and fairness.

Examples

• Vanderbilt’s railroads drove economic growth by lowering commodity costs.
• Venice’s Great Council initially upheld merit but later created a hereditary ruling class.
• America’s three-branch system prevents unchecked governmental power.

6. The Threat of Bureaucracy

The administrative state undermines democracy by empowering unelected officials and inhibiting economic and social mobility.

Since the establishment of the administrative state under Woodrow Wilson in 1913, unelected bureaucrats gained immense influence over policy. This system creates inefficiencies, such as in licensing requirements, which limit innovation and opportunity. Occupational hurdles, like unpaid training programs for minimal-skills roles, disproportionately harm working-class individuals.

Moreover, government agencies often escape accountability, causing disillusionment among the population. For example, the Environmental Protection Agency was not penalized after releasing toxic waste into the Animas River, highlighting the issues of governance beyond legal oversight.

Examples

• Occupational licensing jumped from 5% of roles in 1950 to 30% today, blocking many workers.
• James Watt, the steam engine pioneer, initially failed to get a license for his work.
• Bureaucrats are almost impossible to fire, creating stagnancy in governance.

7. The Rise of Identity Politics

Identity politics takes America away from meritocracy and pushes its citizens into divisive and tribal-like categories.

Modern movements advocating for race and gender-focused policies undermine the color-blind, character-based ideals of figures like Martin Luther King Jr. By emphasizing demographic identities, these movements foster resentment and reduce individuals to singular attributes rather than recognizing their capacities or contributions.

This erosion of equality fuels tribal behavior. For instance, white working-class Americans have reacted against progressive identity politics by embracing their own racial consciousness, as seen during the Trump era.

Examples

• Leftist editorials opposed color-blind policies, undermining King’s vision of equality.
• Some feminists discounted Sarah Palin as a “real” woman because of her politics.
• Tribalism drove white working-class voters toward populist candidates in 2016.

8. Reviving Family and Education

Families, schools, and cultural frameworks must teach liberal ideals to counter tribalism and prepare future generations for modernity’s ideals.

Parents play a central role in fostering values like responsibility and mutual respect, essential for a functioning liberal society. Similarly, educational and civic bodies must reinforce commitments to liberty and equality while curbing tribal instincts.

Extreme political measures or bureaucracy are not acceptable replacements. The only solutions are individual responsibility and institutional accountability.

Examples

• American schools historically taught constitutional principles to instill democratic values.
• Constitutional safeguards slowed radical proposals, ensuring stability.
• Parents provide early lessons on fairness, liberty, and respect.

9. Individual Commitment to Freedom

The survival of liberal societies depends on citizens consciously choosing freedom, equality, and democratic accountability.

Constitutional protections alone are insufficient. Public buy-in is necessary to defend the values laid out during the American Revolution and the Enlightenment. Without this commitment, populist forces and identity-focused politics threaten to unwind the miracle that brought the West prolonged prosperity.

Citizens must resist overreaching government while supporting merit-based systems to ensure equality and fairness in society.

Examples

• America’s Constitution sets high barriers for amendments, safeguarding its principles.
• An engaged citizenry has historically pushed back against authoritarian governance.
• The Enlightenment-inspired balance of liberty and law remains central to modern democracy.

Takeaways

1. Advocate for principles enshrined in the Constitution, like liberty, equality, and the separation of powers.
2. Encourage education systems to teach democratic and liberal ideals to future generations.
3. Resist tendencies toward tribalism by fostering relationships and values that go beyond identity.