Civilization #52: Empire of Democracy

Oscar Wilde once quipped: "America is the only country that went from barbarism to decadence without civilisation in between."

What did he mean by this?

In this talk to his Beijing high school students, Jiang Xueqin argues that America in its attempt to become an "enlightened" civilization ultimately became an anti-civilization.

Civilizations have history, culture, and values, and therefore they have prejudices. These prejudices often lead to conformity, stagnation, and close-mindedness. America was a diverse open society that was determined to embrace its diversity and openness. It would welcome immigrants from all corners of the world in order to achieve its Manifest Destiny.

As such, the Founding Fathers focused on turning America into a "game" rather than a civilization. The Constitution became the basis for a fair, transparent, and competitive game that permitted all to achieve the American Dream.

References:

1.) Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

2.) Declaration of Independence by Thomas Jefferson

3.) Federalist Papers by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay

4.) Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln

5.) Democracy in America by Alexis de Tocqueville