Democracy is not natural. It is an artificial accomplishment that takes enormous work, writes NYT columnist David Brooks.
FILE - In this June 14, 2019, file photo, Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, toasts with Chinese President Xi Jinping prior to the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. Putin and Xi have established themselves as the world’s most powerful authoritarian leaders in decades. Now it looks like they want to hang on to those roles indefinitely.
The normal thing to say is that the liberal world order is in crisis. But just saying that doesn’t explain why. Why are people rejecting liberalism? What weakness in liberalism is its enemies exploiting? What is at the root of this dark century? Let me offer one explanation. “They designed a constitution for fallen people,” historian Robert Tracy McKenzie writes in his book “We the Fallen People.” “Its genius lay in how it held in tension two seemingly incompatible beliefs: first, that the majority must generally prevail; and second, that the majority is predisposed to seek personal advantage above the common good.”
American foreign policy had a second founding after World War II. For much of our history, Americans were content to prosper behind the safety of the oceans. But after having been dragged into two world wars, a generation of Americans realized the old attitude wasn’t working anymore and America, following the leadership of Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman, would have to help build a liberal world order if it was to remain secure.
What happens when you don’t tend the seedbeds of democracy? Chaos? War? No, you return to normal. The 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th centuries were normal. Big countries such as China, Russia and Turkey are ruled by fierce leaders with massive power. That’s normal. Small aristocracies in many nations hog gigantic shares of their nations’ wealth. That’s normal. Many people come to despise cultural outsiders, such as immigrants. Normal.
Will the liberals of the world be able to hold off the wolves? Strengthen democracy and preserve the rules-based world order? The events of the past few weeks have been fortifying. Joe Biden and the other world leaders have done an impressive job of rallying their collective resolve and pushing to keep Putin within his borders. But the problems of democracy and the liberal order can’t be solved from the top down. Today, across left and right, millions of Americans see U.S.
France Dernières Nouvelles, France Actualités
Similar News:Vous pouvez également lire des articles d'actualité similaires à celui-ci que nous avons collectés auprès d'autres sources d'information.
Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich joins Pastor Corey Brooks in camp-out for community center during stormFormer Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich joined Pastor Corey Brooks in his camp-out for a new Woodlawn community center during Chicago's winter storm.
Lire la suite »
WATCH: Aaron Blunck Ends Halfpipe With Frightening Fall, David Wise Races Up Hill to HelpAaron Blunck entered the men’s freestyle skiing halfpipe event as the lead qualifier, but on his third and final chance at putting up a gold medal run, he ended up taking a horrifying fall.
Lire la suite »
David Hockney Rediscovers Painting“I know what keeps me going: it’s work,” the artist David Hockney says, in a new interview with The New Yorker’s art editor Françoise Mouly. “That’s what keeps most people going, isn’t it?”
Lire la suite »
David Wise Wins Freeski Halfpipe Silver, Alex Ferreira Takes BronzeTeam USA earned two medals in the men's freestyle skiing halfpipe final on Friday night.
Lire la suite »