Competing Visions for the Present World
Our vision of the World influences to a great degree how it operates. Walter Russell Mead, in his God and Gold, a book I've been blogging about, speaks of three competing visions.
1. Reason
Reason is advocated by those "who believe that universal logic, principles, and law are the only suitable or even feasible basis for an international system." (p. 405). This vision of the world has its advocates especially in Western Europe and America. They believe that systems need to be developed, which can enforce "the global rule of law." Advocates see things in a very universal way -- focusing on universal human rights and "universally valid legal principles." This is the Enlightenment perspective.
2. Religion
Many in the world believe that religion must be the "foundation for any just international order." You can find advocates among Wahabi Islam, Shi'a, certain Roman Catholics, and many Protestants and Pentecostals. These groups may disagree on the details, but they agree that order in the world will only come by way of revealed religion. Some may accept aspects of Enlightenment ideals, but religion "will have the last word." (p. 405)
3. Tradition
Tradition has its place, but what we're talking about here deals with what Mead refers to as "cultural and identity politics." This is the view of the populist nationalists who "believe that their own values and culture ought to be the basis for international life or at least that they must be protected from the soulless internationalism of others." (p. 405) The later is very prominent in large parts of Latin America and Africa.
Ultimately, Mead says that none of these visions can or will win out. The future then is to be found in what he calls the "anglican" vision, one that is able to bring these three seemingly competing visions into a whole.
That is, they will be limited in power, they will proceed from sometimes contradictory assumptions; they will be built in such a way that they can be interpreted and justified from opposed points of view. It will require of us a willingness to think broadly and listen to one another..
1. Reason
Reason is advocated by those "who believe that universal logic, principles, and law are the only suitable or even feasible basis for an international system." (p. 405). This vision of the world has its advocates especially in Western Europe and America. They believe that systems need to be developed, which can enforce "the global rule of law." Advocates see things in a very universal way -- focusing on universal human rights and "universally valid legal principles." This is the Enlightenment perspective.
2. Religion
Many in the world believe that religion must be the "foundation for any just international order." You can find advocates among Wahabi Islam, Shi'a, certain Roman Catholics, and many Protestants and Pentecostals. These groups may disagree on the details, but they agree that order in the world will only come by way of revealed religion. Some may accept aspects of Enlightenment ideals, but religion "will have the last word." (p. 405)
3. Tradition
Tradition has its place, but what we're talking about here deals with what Mead refers to as "cultural and identity politics." This is the view of the populist nationalists who "believe that their own values and culture ought to be the basis for international life or at least that they must be protected from the soulless internationalism of others." (p. 405) The later is very prominent in large parts of Latin America and Africa.
Ultimately, Mead says that none of these visions can or will win out. The future then is to be found in what he calls the "anglican" vision, one that is able to bring these three seemingly competing visions into a whole.
That is, they will be limited in power, they will proceed from sometimes contradictory assumptions; they will be built in such a way that they can be interpreted and justified from opposed points of view. It will require of us a willingness to think broadly and listen to one another..
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