by Ron Raskin.
In my previous post, I talked about different ideologies in the West. Many of them believe the solution to the world’s problems is exporting liberalism everywhere. This includes promoting multiculturalism. All such ideologies are essentially based on the assumption that liberalism is the one and only set of values—supreme above all others—and that all of humankind would happily embrace it if they could only see its true beauty. From this perspective, all we need to do is build a bridge, allowing others to come to us, experience this sacred set of values, and understand that there is no other God but the liberal God.
Indeed, for anyone who truly believes in the liberal God, globalization, diversity, inclusion, and the like are the best ways to promote that God and naturally appear as the best solutions to all our current troubles.
But the ironic thing is that those who promote multiculturalism are, in effect, shouting to the rest of the world that they—and their values—are inferior to liberal values. What incredible arrogance!
Let’s step back for a moment. Liberalism indeed brought the West to great heights. It created societies where most people are relatively happy. It encourages creativity, knowledge, peace, and respect for human life. But it’s not perfect. It comes at a cost: raising highly creative individuals can reduce fertility and weaken communal bonds. Individualism can decrease motivation to defend shared goals. In other words, liberalism is one set of values that works very well in some situations but can fail in others—just like tall grass thrives in sunlight but struggles in strong wind.
From a mathematical perspective, liberal values are just one “solution” in the ongoing societal optimization game, where societies test different values to find local peaks in a constantly changing environment.
So yes, it’s time to come down from the pedestal. This does not mean that liberalism is bad, nor does it mean that liberalism is worthless. Quite the contrary: even if liberalism is not universally superior, it is still worth defending—especially by those who grew up with it, learned its rules, and passed it on to their children. For these people, liberalism is the best system they can live with. Losing it would be like losing their place in the world. Other value systems, like Islamic or Chinese Communist values, would threaten the very identity of people raised in liberal societies. Liberalism may not be perfect, and yet, it is subjectively the best for many—and that alone makes it worth defending!
Understanding this distinction is crucial for seeing why some Western policies fail—policies like globalization, DEI programs, and uncontrolled immigration. Once we realize liberalism isn’t inherently superior to all other values, it becomes clear that not everyone outside the liberal world will adopt it. Some people might integrate; some won’t. There’s no guarantee that other societies will accept it either. Recognizing this truth forces us to see a simple fact: if the liberal world is weak, it cannot survive. Strength matters, and the sooner we accept this, the better it will be—for the West and, honestly, the entire world.
If this post has changed how you see the world, share it so others can open their eyes too. We need this awareness fast…