This book review was written by Eugene Kernes
“Western liberty was not something
marvelously distinct from historical reality, but the initially unintended side
effect of the drive for power. Rulers
competing for power found that the niches of liberty of local communities made
their societies stronger and more prosperous, hence more fit to compete.” –
David Gress, Introduction, Page 2
“The Grand Narrative was both a version of history and a
description of the ideal modern Western identity. In its basic form, the Grand Narrative
followed an axis that spanned five millennia, from ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia
to mid-twentieth-century America. It was
a history of reason, democracy, and economic growth. Its authors assumed that progress was real,
objectively definable, and universally desirable. Being free was better than being enslaved,
being rich was better than being poor, being healthy better than being sick,
being enlightened better than being superstitious, being at peace better than
being at war. Progress meant moving from
subjection, poverty, disease, superstition, and violence to democracy,
prosperity, health, science, and peace both domestic and international.” – David
Gress, Chapter One: The Grand Narrative and Its Fate, Page 40
“In Western history, the drama of power was inseparably tied
to two other fundamental and recurrent themes – empire and universalism. Power was necessary for empire, which was a
constant aspiration of the greatest Old Western rulers, because they believed
that a universal empire was the only order for humankind; just as there was
only one God in heaven, so there should be only one world ruler on earth.” – David
Gress, Chapter Five: Germanic Freedom and the Old Western Synthesis, Page 171
Is This An Overview?
As Western ideas have become dominant, they have also come
under attack. There is a lot to
criticize about the West, but there is also confusion about what the identity
of the West is. Confusion that seeks to
share the negative consequences without reference to the values.
The West’s defining feature is the contrasting evolution of
liberty and power. Liberty came from the
competition of power, as liberty enables societies to be more effective
competitors. The benefits of Western
ideas were thought to be universally desirable, which has totalitarian
features. Universal values that leaders
wanted to apply to everyone, wanted to rule over everyone. In response to the totalitarian imposition,
people sought for liberty. A search for
power lead to liberty, individualism.
But liberty without an appropriate administration, without governance,
lead to totalitarian regimes.
Caveats?
This book uses nonfiction and fiction to explain the Western
identity. Uses history and
mythology. The interpretations have
mixed qualities. Misinterpreting certain
information for a simplified narrative.
Creating an essence of other authors, and the West. Various authors presented have more complex
claims than a single underlying theme provided.
The same narrative of the West, can apply to other societies as well, as
the same aspects exist throughout various societies.
