Cultural Self-Hate: America vs. Europe

Dr. Beckeld discusses why, contrary to appearances, Europe is in fact more self-hating than America.
Zaid Jilani, “What Progressives Need to Learn about America from the Immigrants They Welcome”, Newsweek, October 25, 2021, www.newsweek.com/what-progres....
Benedict Beckeld, “‘Oikophobia’: Our Western Self-Hatred,” Quillette, October 7, 2019, quillette.com/2019/10/07/oiko....
Benedict Beckeld, “America Is Still the Freest Country”, The American Conservative, November 10, 2022, www.theamericanconservative.c....
"Western Self-Contempt" at Amazon:
www.amazon.com/Western-Self-C...
Barnes&Noble:
www.barnesandnoble.com/w/west...
Cornell University Press:
www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/...
Facebook: / benedictbeckeld
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My website: www.benedictbeckeld.com

[@davestang5454]

This just makes me respect the AMERICANS more than the Europeans. The Europeans have become like docile tamed animals of different kinds in a fenced-in pasture. You can see different formerly distinct European cultures slowly ceding their individual identities and beliefs for peace and safety and predictable outcomes in life. While the Europeans are alive, the Americans truly LIVE.

[@BenedictBeckeld]

I couldn't agree more, and I say that as someone who has spent about half his life in America and half his life in numerous European countries. (That's why it saddens me when I see America become increasingly similar to Europe in some respects.)

[@jebjeb1498]

Thanks,Dr Ben.A fascinating analysis that really helps comprehend the collapse of conservatism and the oikophobe phenomena.

[@BenedictBeckeld]

Thank you! Later this year a book chapter by me on the collapse of conservatism and the rise of pseudo-conservatism will be published.

[@saints51]

Thank you for sharing the fruits of your genius!

[@BenedictBeckeld]

Thank you for partaking!

[@nathanrichardson8402]

Thank you for making these videos that really helps to give people that don’t have a lot of learning about these issues. Be able to form a general understanding or better understanding of what is going on. I thought it was really interesting how you made such a fascinating point about how something can look like one thing on the surface, but actually be completely different or even the opposite when examined deeper.

[@BenedictBeckeld]

Thank you, I'm glad you're enjoying them!

[@baltvdb]

Oikophobia, in my opinion, hasn't won in Europe is just currently noisier. As always very thought provoking, thanks.👍

[@TheLincolnrailsplitt]

Thanks for telling a good story. 🤭😉

[@Proud_Troll]

Is your book an easy read, or is it complicated philosophy, like Nietzsche (which I can't understand)?

[@BenedictBeckeld]

My personal style is to be accessible, and I dislike the academic way of writing that often hides in needlessly complicated locutions the fact that the writer doesn't have much of interest to say. But you won't know until you've tried!

[@Proud_Troll]

@@BenedictBeckeld I'm going to buy your book in the coming days. I've had it on my list for too long. Are you insinuating that overcomplicated writers like (in my opinion) Nietzsche are overrated?

[@BenedictBeckeld]

I appreciate that; I hope you'll enjoy it. No, Nietzsche does not write in a typically academic style; he's one of the best writers of the German language, in my opinion (along with Heine, Kleist, and Mann). But most modern-day academic writers are very bad, yes.

[@Proud_Troll]

@@BenedictBeckeld Alright, makes sense. I'm just really struggling to read Nietzsche. I understand his philosophies, but I can't read his books.

[@thomask.8537]

For Europeans there is alays history, which understands and forgives. For Americans, however, there is only sociology, which judges and condemns. This explains the difference I think.

[@sterlingveil]

I disagree with your presumption that all (Western?) countries are following the same trajectory and that (Western?) Europe is further advanced on that trajectory. I think America is on a totally different path, largely because of our second amendment. That amendment is the ultimate reason we can be proud of our forefathers, as it is the ultimate source of sovereignty. And that amendment is what keeps the oikophobic tyrants at bay. So as long as Americans retain their People's Veto, I do not believe we are doomed to follow in the footsteps of Europe.

[@BenedictBeckeld]

Yes, I certainly agree with you about the second amendment, and I as well am very proud that we have that. And of course I hope you're right that we're not following on the same trajectory as other (Western, yes) countries. But I wouldn't call my opinion a mere presumption, since it's something I've written about extensively. There are differences among countries, of course, but the evidence for the trajectory of oikophobia and the slow collapse of conservatism appear to me to be very similar from one country to the next. If you're interested, I discuss this in detail in my "Western Self-Contempt".

[@baltvdb]

Interesting point, as Dr.B has said previously a German equivalent to your 2nd amendment in the early 20th century would have made the holocaust nigh impossible. From an English perspective it feels that much of our European oikophobia is following in the footsteps of "woke" US trends, I would evidence this with how much British BLM rhetoric against Anglo/European culture seems to site American history, as though Belgium might have been in some way responsible for Jim Crow etc. Also, many anti-woke Brits were wearing MAGA hats during the Trump presidency. For better or worse I think ideological tribalism is becoming more significant than nationalism. Any Brits who know history have a great admiration of the US.

[@sterlingveil]

@@BenedictBeckeld I've read a few of your articles over the years, so I'm aware that you have some basis for your belief, and I enjoy your analysis in general, but I'm still not convinced on this point. Prior to the Enlightenment, civilization was "stable" (or, more accurately, "steady state"). Think "empire cycling" or the "Malthusian trap". For 8000 years, human civilizations around the globe followed the same circular path, repeating the same blunders--expansionist growth followed by collapse. There were no exponential "hockey stick" graphs to speak of. But in the last few centuries since the Enlightenment, that train has apparently fallen of its track, as a result of the changing technological landscape--particularly, the introduction of guns. I think the majority of differences between Europe and America today are a direct result of the differences in how 19th century America and 19th century Europe handled that development. In short, America enshrined guns as a popular right. Europe regulated them and constrained their ownership to a relative, privileged few. I think this explains why both world wars started in Europe, for example. I think it explains much of 20th century geopolitics. And I think gun ownership will continue to shape American politics in the way that many Europeans find incomprehensible (a view which I am empathetic to, since widespread gun ownership is not without its downsides). In your November article you astutely use Covid to substantiate your claim that "America is still the freest country". I agree with your conclusion, but I think it has far less to do with philosophy and ideology and far more to do with the simple fact that Americans are better positioned to "veto" any over-reach in Washington (or governor's mansions)... with their guns. I think American political freedom is fundamentally downstream of the physical freedom afforded by ranged weaponry. And that is unlikely to change in my lifetime. And I believe as long as Americans hold on to their guns, they need not ever fear European (or Australian or New Zealander) style Covid policy. Such authoritarian measures, even if motivated by benevolence, are simply untenable in a country where the people's sovereignty is physically secure. (Although drone footage coming out of Ukraine has me wondering if another technological revolution is around the corner...) Anyway, thanks for entertaining me and I love your work. Have a productive 2023!

[@BenedictBeckeld]

@@baltvdb I agree about the American influence on Europe you're discussing. I'd distinguish there between a broader historical and a more immediate level. In the here and now, there's no question that the U.S. is indeed having an (in this case negative) influence on Europe. But on a broader historical level, the spread of oikophobic ideas took place in Europe long before it reached the U.S. (this is outlined in my book). I didn't know, however, that one would see a significant number of MAGA hats in Britain; interesting to hear.

[@BenedictBeckeld]

@@sterlingveil Thank you, I appreciate your readership! The book contains a lot more detail than the articles, however, as you might expect. The lack of guns in private hands being partial causes of war and tyranny in Europe is in fact a point I discuss in my video on American freedom. As for my November article that you mentioned, half of that article was originally devoted to the guns issue you're discussing, but the editors would only publish if I cut that out. But I think we're also getting slightly off topic. Political tyranny is far unlikelier here for the reasons you say - agreed - but cultural oikophobia is spreading. But, in any case, as I said before, I hope you're right! And I really appreciate your kind words. Have a great 2023.

[@JohnDoe-sl6di]

Americans culture war is out of control.