Summary
Highlights
Oscar Wilde's quote, "America is the only country that went from barbarism to decadence without civilization in between," serves as a starting point. Professor Jiang argues that America was designed as an anti-civilization, with founding fathers aiming to redeem humanity from the flaws of traditional civilizations by establishing a new form of government based on enlightenment principles. This idea is explored through the lens of Alexis de Tocqueville's 'Democracy in America'.
Alexis de Tocqueville, during his visit to America in 1835, wrote 'Democracy in America' to understand its success. However, Professor Jiang highlights Tocqueville's skepticism, fearing that the spread of American liberty would lead to a world that is atomized, uniform, and mediocre. He describes America as the first mass democratic middle-class country, where individuals are selfish, conformist, and unimaginative, a state that he believes is reflected in the current world.
The discussion delves into the characteristics of the middle class, which generates anxiety, uncertainty, and competition. Unlike aristocratic societies with stable status, the middle class faces constant fluctuation, leading to a drive for continuous accumulation and achievement. Benjamin Franklin's focus on simple living and wealth accumulation is presented as an example of this middle-class anxiety.
Tocqueville believed that democratic societies, while reducing extreme misery, also lead to less passion, milder habits, and a general leveling of society, where neither great heights nor great depths exist. He observed that America's revolution destroyed tradition without building new ones, replacing the reverence for a king with an abstract concept of law that people don't fully respect. This democratic conformity, he argued, suppresses great individuals and limits their ability to challenge the system, leading to a focus on business leaders rather than traditional heroes.
Tocqueville foresaw a society where individuals are reduced to material beings, focused on acquiring things rather than seeking justice or virtue. This materialism and consumerism, he posited, would lead to a form of soft despotism where an 'immense tutelary power' benignly oversees people's petty pleasures. This creates a nation of servants, prioritizing consumerism, and eventually risking either civil war or the emergence of a single master.
Professor Jiang summarizes that traditional civilizations were defined by history, culture, and values, but suffered from prejudice, war, and inflexibility. America, founded by immigrants and valuing diversity and openness, sought to remedy these issues by not building a civilization but creating a 'game'. This game, governed by fair, transparent, and democratic rules (the US Constitution), is centered around material acquisition and private property. This structure allows for continuous immigration, innovation, and diversity, as everyone is encouraged to play.
While the 'game' of American anti-civilization has spread globally, leading to widespread adoption of its materialistic values, it inherently leads to massive inequality. As the game fails to satisfy all players, a nostalgia for traditional civilization emerges. This longing for a clear identity, purpose, and collective sacrifice, as seen in movements like MAGA, represents an attempt to restore the idea of civilization in America, seeking to return to a perceived golden age exemplified by figures like Thomas Jefferson.