Source: 📖 21 Lessons for the 21st Century ch 1

The fall of liberalism

In the year 2016, Donald Trump and the Brexit vote signified the wave of disillusionment in the liberal story reaching the heart of European and American states. From three stories to choose from in 1938 (see Three ideologies of the 20th century), now down to zero.

Going from a single, clear story—the most reassuring situation possible—to no story at all is a frightening change. The way we interpret the world has been called into question. Liberals, still sure of their story, interpret this change as nothing short of apocalyptic—as though history departing from their core beliefs must mean that we are surely heading for Armageddon.

• Political alignment has become a kind of religion