Francis Fukuyama delivered the Erhard Busek Memorial Lecture, arguing that Europe's common identity must be based on Enlightenment values rather than a purely Christian civilization, especially given current challenges and the evolving U.S. political landscape. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio's assertion of a "Western Civilization" rooted in "Christian faith" highlights a division between populists and liberals.
Fukuyama contends that while Western Civilization has Christian heritage, its modern identity, particularly since the 17th century, detached from specific religious beliefs to embrace universal human equality, openness, tolerance, skepticism, and the rule of law. This liberal understanding is crucial for Europe's future and its relationship with a United States increasingly divided between an Enlightenment-based identity and a "pre-modern," authoritarian, and unilateralist "America First" posture under leaders like Donald Trump. Trump's disregard for constitutional processes, international law, and treaty commitments, exemplified by actions like the Venezuela capture and the Iran war, erodes trust in the U.S. as a reliable ally. New technological developments, like artificial intelligence, are expected to exacerbate these issues, further necessitating a robust liberal foundation for Europe.
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