21 Lessons for the 21st Century

by Yuval Noah Harari

Yet the current crisis of liberalism is different from the crises of the 1930s and the 1960s. The three major movements that fought one another in the twentieth century all had a coherent vision for the entire human species—be it global domination, revolution, or liberation. Today, in contrast, the people who reject the liberal story don’t offer any coherent alternative, and actually take pride in that. Donald Trump’s main message is that it’s not America’s job to formulate and promote any global vision whatsoever. Similarly, the British Brexiteers barely have a plan for the future of the Disunited Kingdom—the future of Europe and of the world is far beyond their horizon. Most people who voted for Trump and Brexit didn’t reject the liberal package in its entirety—they lost faith mainly in its globalizing part. They still believe in democracy, free markets, human rights, and social responsibility, but they think these fine ideas can stop at the border. Indeed, they believe that in order to preserve liberty and prosperity in Yorkshire or Kentucky, it is best to build a wall on the border and adopt illiberal policies toward foreigners.