Will the US collapse amid its ‘culture wars’?
01 Nov 2023
By Fei-Ling Wang
Professor of International Affairs, Georgia Institute of Technology
Translated by James Loo, Grace Chong
Throughout history, the US has seen a myriad of “culture wars” over various issues that have divided US society. But despite these divisions, the overall effect and climate in the US is still conducive to promoting universal values and general balance.
Many people may know that the US has been mired in “culture wars”, especially in the past decade or so. From racism, illegal immigrants, presidential elections, relations between state and religion, to abortion rights, sexual preferences and gender identity, gun rights, high school admission, and freedom of speech, various issues are causing division.
Commentators often call this an unprecedented “American cultural revolution” that is bringing about a “schism” or even a “new civil war”; US society would fall into disorder and unrest, there would be a loss of rationality, increased conflict between communities, and a decline or collapse in the strength and international standing of the US.
Putting aside the grand ideas of “the rise of the East and decline of the West” and a reshuffling of the global order, just looking at the internal divisions and fighting in what has been the world’s largest economy for more than 130 years and the world’s premier military power for the past 80 years, naturally one would pay attention, or even feel aghast.
https://www.thinkchina.sg/will-us-collapse-amid-its-culture-wars
