Beyond Heritage: Defining Western Civilization’s True Roots

Rubio’s ‘Western Civilization’ Echoes and Diverges

A recent standing ovation for Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the Munich Security Conference underscored a seemingly unified transatlantic sentiment. Rubio’s assertion that the United States and Europe share a common ‘Western civilization’ was met with applause, a welcome departure from prior, more contentious rhetoric and a return to the traditional framing of the transatlantic alliance through shared values. However, the specific contours of this ‘Western civilization’ as envisioned by Rubio, and indeed by many contemporary conservatives, diverge significantly from the understanding held by many Europeans and indeed, from a perspective rooted in the historical evolution of liberal thought.

Christianity, Equality, and the ‘End of History’

Rubio’s framing, which he seems to share with figures like J.D. Vance, emphasizes a ‘specifically Christian civilization’ and a culture built around ‘active Christian belief.’ This perspective often couples shared religion with notions of common ethnicity and ancestry. While acknowledging the undeniable Christian heritage that deeply influenced Western civilization, particularly its core tenet of the universal equality of all human beings in the eyes of God, this definition appears to overlook a crucial historical transition. The Apostle Paul’s words in Galatians 3:28 – ‘There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus’ – highlight an early, powerful abstract idea of human unity that has profoundly shaped Western thought. Many significant thinkers, from Tocqueville to Hegel and Nietzsche, have recognized Christianity’s role in fostering modern liberal democracy and the modern understanding of rights.

The Enlightenment’s Secular Turn

The evolution of Western civilization, however, involved a deliberate detachment from overt religious identification. The tumultuous period following the Protestant Reformation, marked by over 150 years of religious conflict stemming from differing interpretations of Christian doctrine, underscored the challenges of a religiously unified political sphere. The Enlightenment thinkers, recognizing this fragmentation and the impossibility of a single, universally accepted religious doctrine, strategically shifted politics away from the realm of private religious belief and towards shared secular principles. The focus moved from defining the ‘good life’ according to specific religious tenets to establishing the fundamental right to life itself, and the conditions for a shared political existence.

Furthermore, the historical tension between early natural scientists and the Catholic Church played a pivotal role. The eventual separation of empirical inquiry from religious dogma was a prerequisite for the emergence of modern natural science and the subsequent economic advancements it enabled. This historical trajectory suggests a different, and perhaps more inclusive, understanding of Western civilization – one that is built around liberalism itself, encompassing Enlightenment values of openness, tolerance, and a healthy skepticism towards received ideas. This perspective acknowledges the Christian origins of many democratic ideals and rights but does not necessitate defining our shared civilization in exclusive religious or ethnic terms.

Heritage and Ancestry: A Divisive Metric

The emphasis on ‘heritage’ and ‘ancestry’ as defining characteristics of Western civilization is particularly problematic. As the speaker points out, Rubio’s own ancestry traces back to the authoritarian Habsburg Empire, while figures like James Monroe and Thomas Jefferson had roots in a more liberal, Protestant segment of Europe. This highlights the inherent diversity and often contradictory historical threads within what is broadly termed ‘Western civilization.’ Attempting to define it by a singular heritage or ancestry risks alienating significant portions of its population and overlooking the complex, multifaceted origins of its core values.

Jesse Jackson, Civil Rights, and the Enduring Legacy

The recent passing of Reverend Jesse Jackson prompts a reflection on the complexities of Western civilization and its legacy. Jackson, a pivotal leader of the Civil Rights Movement, embodied many of the core ideals that this analysis champions. His work was deeply infused with Christian values of equality and compassion, aligning with the ‘least of these’ principle from the Gospels. Simultaneously, he was a staunch advocate for universal human rights, a cornerstone of Enlightenment liberalism. Ironically, Jackson also led a protest at Stanford in 1987 with the chant, ‘Hey-yi-hey, ho-ho, Western culture’s gotta go.’ This protest, and the subsequent removal of Western civilization core courses from many universities, replaced by multicultural offerings, is seen as a significant misstep. The argument here is that this decision led to a loss of a coherent understanding of the origins of students’ own culture and ideas. Jackson’s own life, in fact, serves as a powerful testament to the enabling force of Western culture and civilization, particularly its liberal and Christian dimensions. His fight for universal human rights and equality, whether framed through a religious lens or a secular one, was deeply rooted in the abstract ideas that have historically shaped Western societies and continue to define the American way of life.

Why This Matters

Understanding the historical evolution and diverse roots of Western civilization is crucial for contemporary political and social discourse. The differing interpretations of ‘Western civilization’ – one emphasizing religious and ethnic homogeneity, the other highlighting liberal, Enlightenment values – have significant implications for national identity, immigration policy, and international relations. Acknowledging the complex, often secularized, origins of our rights and democratic principles allows for a more inclusive and robust understanding of what it means to be part of a shared civilization. It underscores the importance of abstract ideas, such as universal human equality, as the foundation for a cohesive society, rather than relying on potentially divisive notions of shared heritage or ancestry.

Implications and Future Outlook

The debate over the definition of Western civilization reflects a broader tension between identity politics and universalist ideals. As societies become increasingly diverse, the challenge lies in forging a common ground that respects both particular traditions and universal values. The future outlook suggests a continued need to engage with the historical evolution of Western thought, recognizing its Christian and Enlightenment underpinnings while embracing its modern, liberal interpretations. The risk of defining civilization through exclusionary ethnic or religious criteria is the perpetuation of division and the erosion of the very liberal values that have been Western civilization’s greatest contribution. Conversely, embracing a definition rooted in abstract ideals of equality and human rights offers a path towards greater social cohesion and a more resilient democratic future.

Historical Context and Background

The concept of ‘Western civilization’ itself is a product of historical narratives, often constructed to define a particular cultural and political identity. Its roots can be traced through ancient Greece and Rome, the influence of Christianity, the Renaissance, the Enlightenment, and the rise of modern science and democracy. Each era contributed to its complex tapestry, sometimes through consensus and at other times through profound conflict. The post-World War II era, in particular, saw a renewed emphasis on ‘Western civilization’ as a bulwark against communism, often framed in terms of shared democratic values and freedoms. However, as the transcript highlights, the specific content of this shared identity has been subject to continuous reinterpretation and contestation, particularly in recent decades with the rise of globalization and evolving social demographics.

Source: What Is Western Civilization? (YouTube)