WQ FOUR DECADES OF THE WILSON QUARTERLY CLASSIC ESSAYS SURVEYING THE WORLD OF IDEAS

WINTER 2014 W THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 SURVEYING THE WORLD OF IDEAS V. 38, NUMBER 1 Q PUBLISHED BY THE WOODROW WILSON INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR SCHOLARS

A LESS THAN SPLENDID LITTLE WAR by ANDREW J. BACEVICH America’s easy victory in the Persian Gulf War of 1990–91 spawned a vision of global power whose consequences still haunt us today.

WHY PUBLIC INTELLECTUALS? by JEAN BETHKE ELSHTAIN Many lament the diminished BOOKS, GADGETS, AND FREEDOM presence of public intellectuals in America’s by MARIO VARGAS LLOSA debates over policy and morals, but few realize what true public intellectuals The culture of freedom cannot thrive contribute to civic life. without books and the people who write and read them. THE POETRY OF JOSEPH BRODSKY A WORLD ON THE EDGE by ANTHONY HECHT by AMY CHUA One of America’s finest modern poets offers When the West tries to export a brand of an appreciation of his Nobel Prize–winning free-market democracy it has never practiced peer, along with a selection of his works. itself, the result is often ethnic violence. A HISTORY OF THE PAST: THE GENTEEL REPUBLIC LIFE REEKED WITH JOY by RICHARD L. BUSHMAN by ANDERS HENRIKSSON Built on a distinctive cultural foundation There’s nothing like reading college students’ in the early years of the Republic, American term-paper bloopers to lighten the burdens civility is now in need of renewal. of history.

CONTINUES EDITOR’S COMMENT CURRENT BOOKS Reviews of new and noteworthy nonfiction FINDINGS ABOUT US IN ESSENCE PREVIOUS PAGE: In London during the Blitz, readers peruse Our survey of notable articles from other the selections at the Holland House library. journals and magazines Photograph: Harrison/Getty Images ON THE COVER: The Salute (1944), by Jean Helion Photograph: Banque d’Images, ADAGP/Art Resource, N.Y.

The views expressed herein are not necessarily those of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Empires of the Ancient World

Yours for

only $19.95Save over $390

e Maya • e Aztecs • e Incas • e Hittites e Babylonians • e Egyptians • e Persians

As your introduction to The Folio Society, we are pleased to offer you this unique, beautifully bound set — worth $410 — for just $19.95.

Empires of the Ancient Near East is a lavishly illustrated chronicle of the four major civilizations to emerge between the end of the Stone Age and the advent of Hellenistic Greece. Empires of Early Latin America, charts the three empires which dominated Central and South America in the pre-Columbian age; and these books give an unrivalled insight into how civilizations developed outside the Christian world.

The Folio Society, established in England in 1947, publishes beautiful illustrated books for readers who wish to experience the pleasure of owning a collection of fi ne editions now and in the future. Society members are required to purchase four books annually. Books are also available for individual purchase to non-members. Prices start as low as $37.95 and many of our books are less than $50. Why not start your own collection today?

For more information EDITOR’S COMMENT

WITH GRATITUDE In this issue we have reached back to present some of the classic essays we The Wilson Quarterly, my predecessor, have published since the magazine’s Jay Tolson, once wrote in this space, is a founding by Peter Braestrup in 1976, magazine that moves forward by look- touching on many of the themes that ing backward, like a rower in a scull. It is have animated the WQ, from American especially appropriate to look back now civic life to global affairs. This has always because following this issue, after 36 been a magazine for intellectually curious years in print and two as a tablet mag- readers, and reading one past issue after azine, the WQ will assume a new form another, I have been struck by the enor- with different leadership. (See our Web mous range and depth of our offerings, site, www.wilsonquarterly.com.) covering an array of subjects that would

THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 have impressed even the great encyclo- Small Town” (Winter 1992) by Andres pedist Denis Diderot. I am also struck Duany and Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk, by the enormous effort required by our we introduced New Urbanist ideas small, dedicated staff to produce each about the making of neighborhoods quarter a volume of superior writing and cities—ideas that have since re- equivalent to a book. shaped the American landscape and We have been fortunate to present become conventional wisdom. That the work of some of the leading writers essay could not be included in this and thinkers of our time—including issue, but as part of the WQ’s tran- Daniel Bell, Carlos Fuentes, Rich- sition the magazine’s complete ar- ard Rorty, and E.O. Wilson—and to chives are now open to all through have brought to readers’ attention a the Web site. number of rising intellectuals, such as For all its concern with the big Andrew Bacevich and Amy Chua. In questions of our time, the WQ has “The Second Coming of the American taken a practical, even workmanlike

THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 approach to ideas. Like a teenager ob- sessed with computers or cars, we have always wanted to know: How does this thing work? In our case, the thing is the world. Our question leads down many roads and has yielded many shimmering bits of illumination. “Darwin’s Worms,” Amy Stewart’s essay in the Winter 2004 issue on the great scientist’s lifelong fascination with earthworms, revealed his conclusion that the fine dust that mysteriously falls on ships at sea is the product of earthworm castings. How remarkable that he even asked, and then published a paper on the subject. In the

same issue’s In Essence section (then called The Periodical Observer), we reported on a scholar’s argument that the Enlightenment was partly stimu- lated by the introduction of coffee and tea in Europe. It opened with Samuel Johnson’s thundering peroration against sleep, “Short, O short then be thy reign/ And give us to the world again!” Curiosity has been the great driver of the WQ and the uniting spirit of its readers. Curiosity inspires the constant questioning of received ideas, and we

THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 have been particularly proud over the to have been part of the WQ’s jour- years of publishing views with which ney for 33 years, serving as editor we disagree—and of baffling those who since 1999. Gratitude is the word that have tried to pin a political label on the describes my feeling—and, I can magazine. This is not a matter of mere say with confidence, the feelings vanity. From its beginning in 1976, the of my many WQ colleagues over WQ has proceeded—even crusaded—in the years—for the opportunity to the classic liberal spirit of open inquiry have been part of this great enter- and debate. If we have been even a mi- prise. With them, I deeply thank the nor beacon of the liberal idea it is our writers and readers who have made proudest accomplishment. everything possible. It has been a great privilege for me — STEVEN LAGERFELD

THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 FINDINGS BRIEF NOTES OF INTEREST ON ALL TOPICS 1. 4. Exorcise Machines Spooked Undiplomatic nostalgia When lawyers get wired George F. Kennan was not merely an . . . During three decades on the CIA’s legal staff, John Rizzo faced a modest but recurrent frustration: the agency’s . . . 5. Small Favors Lessons from quacks “Sugar pill, sugar pill, never cured and 2. never will!” Philadelphia medical . . . Curating Gets Grating Forced retirement? Like stale madeleines, forbidden . . .

6. 3. Citizen Bane Gettysburg Redress The Know-Nothings always win Second thoughts about second thoughts In the United States, democratic In November, The Patriot-News, a . . . theory suffers from an ineluctable . . .

THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014

, THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY American policy foreign during Cold the life—he in died his long Throughout War. Excerpts now of his journals have Luddite. DiariesKennan in The been published edited by Frank Costigliola (Norton). Costigliola Frank edited by 2005, at 101—he was also an unrepentant at 101—he 2005, TODD MCLELLAN / BARCROFT USA / GETTY IMAGES An infernal machine? George F. Kennan was not merely an author, merely an author, Kennan was not George F. and one geopolitical analyst, diplomat, Wiseof the so-called who shaped Men EXORCISE MACHINES MACHINES EXORCISE nostalgia Undiplomatic

FINDINGS

- More

THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY GRATING GRATING Kennan realized that most people Kennan realized that most people is a as it happens, “curate,” The verb CURATING CURATING GETS retirement? Forced forbidden words Like stale madeleines, E. In 1972, can forgotten times. evoke “vibes,” White proscribed “uptight,” B. later, years Four “groovy.” and “copout,” New Jersey, would soon be getting be getting soon would Jersey, New dial telephones. other the and phones dial embraced was unmoved. but he new technologies, the faintest idea haven’t “The‘people’ he declaredin for them,” what is good imperfect“Have I? An idea— 1984. but better than theirs.” yes; Lake Superior StateUniversity in Michigan began issuing an annual hit words, list of trendy-turned-hackneyed “yuppie” (1976), including “détente” and (1997), “multitasking” (1986), Shibley John and (2004). “metrosexual” “List PinkThomas of LSSU curate the the Queen’s Banished From Words of and Overuse, English for Misuse, General Uselessness.” to “I grown have candidate for the list. lexicogra detest this innocent word,” Sara pher recentlyHawker told

------Kennan privately bemoaned one privatelyKennan one bemoaned in 1955 particularA development ly irked him. “What, one wonders, “What, wonders, one ly him. irked “How far he wrote. do people want?” theydo carryto wish of the process for they yearning Are automation? of all when [the] day the processes will and there life will be automatic, leftnothing be for to hands human in a hushed, will all and we sit, do, perpetual our televi stillness before of life let the span pass by sets, sion some and wonder hardly noticed, us, vaguely briefly and and with times, it used how curiosity, out too much This alive?” to be when people were the news by diatribe was provoked that his neighborhood in Princeton, technology after another. In 1933, In 1933, technology after another. “pantomime that the he complained re been had of silent films genius” of incredible “sentimentality by placed arrival the of talkies was crudeness”; Automo “tragic.” nothing short of and “drugged he wrote in 1937, biles, He the American public. debilitated” disease of skin “a deemed mankind the he deplored In 1954, the earth.” and “cold of the “utter loneliness” exem world,” gleaming push-button the self-serve by plified carts baggage porters at Grand replacing that were Central Station.

FINDINGS

- -

THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY , had declared had & Union, Patriot The correction. The newspaper’s ances newspaper’s The correction. We don’t curate Etruscan pottery; we don’t We tor, tor, Pennsylvania, marked the sesquicenten marked Pennsylvania, nial of the Gettysburg with Address a GETTYSBURG GETTYSBURG second thoughts Second thoughts about The Patriot-News, a daily In November, newspaper published in Harrisburg, REDRESS REDRESS museum piece. museum curate Twitter feeds. Let’s hope “curate” “curate” Let’s hope feeds. Twitter curate a place—as its proper resumes soon - Journal of Interactive Me Journal of Interactive restaurant critic, this nice little appetizer became a “flight” of “curated” little appetizer became a “flight” of “curated” restaurant critic, this nice Times New York Originally, curating took place only curating place in took Originally, explained last year, is dia in Education explained last year, “what all doing online.” are we (Nov.–Dec. 2013). “It’s 2013). Life (Nov.–Dec. Intelligent used to convey a form of self-inflation, concerned has the idea that the person so now It’s . . . expertsome knowledge. just a way widely become it’s used that of saying ‘select.’” It seeped into performance museums. The when New York in 1982, spaces a dancer with curatingTimes credited Village. in the East an evening program gone has now it In the digital context, the LSSU list of 2011). on viral (a word the Curating, In the hands of a BRIAN HARKIN / THE NEW YORK TIMES / REDUX meats and cheeses.

FINDINGS - The . An articleAn on . THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY reporter Donald Gil reporter Donald Patriot-News But Saturday Live Night quoted deputy site Web ’ Patriot-News who editor Matthewopinion Zencey, “This must written had correction: the feelsbe what it like when a baseball Zencey also grand hits a slam.” player “Gee, subtext: the correction’s explained ran believe rock-heads can what you this ago?” 150 years outfit liland reviewed the paper’s 1863 articles, articles, 1863 reviewedliland paper’s the that and discovered interviewedscholars, editorial is, remarks” “silly the tale of the more War, episodes in the Civil like many nuanced and complicated than it seems. - - - , NPR, the Associated Press, and the Associated Press, NPR, Time, LOC the Gettysburg Address shows a much less exalted The sole photograph of Abraham Lincoln delivering occasion than posterity imagines. in 1863 that Abraham Lincoln’s “silly “silly that Abrahamin 1863 Lincoln’s at the dedication Get of the remarks” tysburg military cemetery deserved“a edi the paper’s Now, of oblivion.” veil “we have in an editorial, announced tors Their conclusion.” a different to come to failed had predecessors War–era Civil im “momentous recognize the speech’s and lasting timeless eloquence, portance, “The that adding they said, significance,” error.” the regrets Patriot-News dozens of other news organizations ran lighthearted stories about the belated a sketch on and it inspired mea culpa,

FINDINGS

- - - - editorial THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY The Patriot & Union The Patriot Perhaps “silly” was excessive, but the but was excessive, “silly” Perhaps Much“silly of the commentary the on Finally, Finally, Responding to cheers the night before to cheers the night before Responding “If shouted, Someone in the crowd “It very often hap Lincoln continued, pens that the only to help it is to way Believing that it is my nothing at all. say I must this evening, condition present addressing me from to excuse beg of you further.” you exactly magisterial. weren’t remarks beginning of Lincoln’s reelection cam reelection of Lincoln’s beginning It brought to scholars. according paign, political with leading fig him together - Pennsyl crucial three states, from ures York. and New Ohio, vania, applied the “silly remarks” characteriza- remarks” “silly applied the “little speeches”—plu to Lincoln’s tion ral. The judgment seems to encompass judgment seems to encompass The ral. not just the Gettysburg but Address earlier remarks also the president’s to supporters. Lincoln the dedication of the cemetery, the Gettysburg from emerged house thanked the staying, he was where and half-apologetically said he crowd, think and didn’t no speechhad prepared “In my it prudent off the cuff. to speak it is somewhatposition important that foolish any things,” I should not say he observed. can help it!” you

- - - - a Demo The Patriot & Union The Patriot To start with, the paper didn’t treat treat didn’t the paper start with, To article one called Lin- In addition, putdown remarks” “silly the Moreover, The harsh but not groundless. That’s President Lincoln’s remarks as incon as remarks Lincoln’s President editorial remarks” “silly The sequential. smallwas just a partcoverage. of the newspaperThe the pres published also speech in full. ident’s “briefspeech calculated and to coln’s deep feeling”—aarouse rather generous Not considering the source. appraisal, only was opposed to reflexively cratic newspaper, a run-in had it also had with Lincoln; the previous year. the administration publishing a handbill it considered For Army jailed the had the Union seditious, and editors for 16 days. owners paper’s “for as Gilliland explained, Accordingly, than & Union it was more The Patriot just politics—it was personal.” in an editorial appeared decrying the politicization of the cemetery program. speak- “heartless” Lincoln and the other “coldly cal were the editorial said, ers, culating the political which advantages “panorama” this from might be derived” and benefit for [Lincoln’s] “more staged of his partythe benefit than for the glory of the honor and nation of the the dead.” Gettysburg the appearance marked

FINDINGS

- - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Homeopathy’s founder, the German the German founder, Homeopathy’s After several tries, the hypercautious the hypercautious After several tries, physician Samuel Hahnemann, rose to to rose Samuelphysician Hahnemann, during the 1831 cholera prominence He prescribed epidemic in Europe. cam- of copper, doses homeopathic plant called and a flowering ve phor, sickthe be to ordered also He ratrum. to take quarantined and the healthy baths. frequent stream medicine. medicine. stream SMALL FAVORS SMALL FAVORS Lessons from quacks never cured and “Sugar pill, sugar pill, Philadelphia medicalstu- never will!” chanteddents at homeopaths gibe this But according in training in the 1890s. theory homeopathy—the to Erika Janik, ingesting that sickness can by be treated doses of substances diluted infinitesimal deservein liquid—may an infinitesimal main for advancing of credit measure of birth. “He says he can’t be sure,” the sure,” be “Hesays can’t he birth. of “because he doesn’t told Rizzo, examiner at the time.” being there remember passed his polygraphnew hire exam. Rizzo “The of Security,” Office CIA “has always understand shown reports, unique psyches ing in navigating the of attorneys.” - - Company Man: Man: Company Law school to hunt teaches students One apprehensive lawyer who kept fail- kept who lawyer apprehensive One remarks” editorial, including the paper’s including the paper’s editorial, remarks” seems correction, tongue-in-cheek own P. the historian what E. by animated “the enormous con calledThompson The rock-heads of posterity.” descension their reasons. of 1863 had ing would start off by refusing to answerto refusing start would ing by off his place questions: of the baseline one During three decades on the CIA’s legal legal on the CIA’s During three decades Rizzo John a modest but faced staff, - re the agency’s frustration: recurrent newly that quirement attorneys hired In test. detector lie a pass of Controversy and Crisis ThirtyYears in Rizzo writes that (Scribner), the CIA “lawyers generally are lousy at taking polygraph exams.” for subtleties and nuances in judicial and elsewhere. contracts, opinions, “Lawyers instinctively pause to pon der and mentally parse the most basic, an- before black-and-whitequestions when that “and Rizzo writes, swering,” happens during the polygraph exam, needlethe polygraph the on machine tends to jump.” SPOOKED SPOOKED When wired lawyers get

FINDINGS

- - Homeopathy didn’t didn’t Homeopathy while, were bleeding and were while, patients, purging their which exacerbated de- and often hydration hastened death. as but, cholera, cure it was more Janik notes, faithful to the ancient do no “First, directive, than the main harm,” of the medicine stream Some traditional era. doctors even conceded that they learned had the pseudoscience. from dismissed as he Even “in as an homeopathy the effable delusion,” physician New York it Dan King credited with demonstrating that sometimes patients are from fatal dehydration. dehydration. fatal from - mean doctors, Regular THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY - , “the Quackeryphysician Unmasked, Homeopaths were ahead of their their of ahead were Homeopaths better off with little or no treatment. better off with little or no treatment. in his 1858 King predicted “Henceforth,” book his patient.” upon hand will a gentler lay to according too, time in other respects the in stressing Theyway the led Janik. importance of diet, exercise, and hygiene. and hygiene. exercise, importance of diet, - cartoon. Homeopaths encour Puck Magazine cartoon. Homeopaths Marketplace of the Marvelous: ofMarketplace the Marvelous: In The Strange OriginsThe Strange of Modern Medi that explains Janik Press), (Beacon cine quarantine and hygiene Hahnemann’s of the disease. the spread slowed directives and veratrum did camphor, copper, The whichin they solution the but nothing, patients some saved administered were aged good nutrition and exercise as well as dialogue between patient and aged good nutrition and exercise as well as dialogue practitioner at a time when most doctors did not. THE ART ARCHIVE AT ART RESOURCE, NY ART ARCHIVE AT THE ART traditional medicine, Homeopathy once presented a healthy challenge to in this 1883 as illustrated

FINDINGS

- - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY (Stanford Univ. Press). Press). (Stanford Univ. Democracy and Political and Political Democracy tend to be well informed tend to be well toPolitico Even if a panacea did exist, Somin, a Somin, did exist, if a panacea Even Moreover, political ignorance has en Moreover, As those unwitting Marxistsunwitting As those might Ilya Somin miracles, expect Don’t dured despite plummeting information dured TV into brings Congress Cable costs. and anybody with a smart- the home, than the data at hand has more phone best-educated American of the 1940s. who watch C-SpanBut the voters and read When to political it comes start with. the bottleneck is demand, information, not supply. Univer Mason at George law professor is skeptical whether it would about sity, Education levels have risen, but but Education risen, levelshave has remained political knowledge ev some Indeed, about the same. writes in WhySmaller Government Ignorance: Is Smarter idence indicateshigh school that graduates of the 1940s knew as much about politics as college graduates of the 1990s. two candidates for their district’s candidatestwo for district’s their a third about And seat. congressional believethat Karl injunction Marx’s to to his ability, each according “From appears in need” to his each according the Constitution. what is to be done? put it,

- - - Women accounted foraccounted nearly two- Women it Nineteenth-century homeopathy, They established a professional asso They a professional established the before years three in 1844, ciation launch American of the Medical Asso- schools admitted Homeopathic ciation. medical regular decades before women schools doing so. began too. patients, of homeopathic thirds wanted a full catalog Homeopaths as as well emotional of symptoms, Janik women,” many “For physical. during“this attention exam writes, medicine validated time was the first their feelings and experiences of their The pioneering femi bodies.” own nist Elizabeth Stanton Cady and the writer Louisa on Alcott relied May and homeop remedies, homeopathic makes an appearance in Alcott’s athy . Little Women better in practice than worked seems, in theory. In the United States, democratic theory In the United States, democratic theory an ineluctable weakness: suffers from name Most Americans can’t the voter. branches the three of their government. of them can Just four percent identify CITIZEN BANE CITIZEN BANE always win The Know-Nothings

FINDINGS

—Stephen Bates —Stephen THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY

After one of Adlai Stevenson’s failed After Adlai of one Stevenson’s “but a lot of Stevenson, replied “Yes,” campaigns for the presidency in the campaigns for the presidency the in a supporter tried to console 1950s, she election, the lost have may He him. succeeded in educating but he had said, the country. people flunked the exam.”

be adopted. Elected officials may “lack may officials Elected adopted. be measures enact to incentives strong levels and knowledge that will increase potentially reelection make their own uninformed their part, For less likely.” unlikely are to risevoters up and demand he writes, ignorance,” “Political change. turn obstacleout to be a major to “could alleviation.”its own

FINDINGS HOOVER INSTITUTION ARCHIVES, STANFORD UNIVERSITY Samizdat, the practice of secretly publishing banned manuscripts in the Soviet Union, produced this easily concealed copy of Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn’s The Gulag Archipelago, a three-volume work circulat- ed in the early 1970s that described the extent and horror of the Soviet concentration camp system. BOOKS, GADGETS, AND FREEDOM

Mario Vargas Llosa was one of several Latin American and Soviet novelists who came to the Wilson Center as visiting scholars during the politically tumultuous decades at the end of the 20th century. In 2010 he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for “his cartography of structures of power and his trenchant images of the individual’s resistance, revolt, and defeat.” In this essay from the WQ’s Spring 1987 issue, Vargas Llosa reflected on freedom’s intimate connection to literary imagination.

BY MARIO VARGAS LLOSA THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 - - - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY The lecturer maintained that all Third Third that all maintained The lecturer speaker proud The formula that the ground consists of nothing but arrows, nothing but arrows, of consists ground of commu This way and figures. lights, explained, he universal, nicationmore is language for instance, for it overcomes, the al to congenital a problem barriers, system. phabetic of persisting instead countries, World in those costly campaigns aimed at teaching their illiterate to how masses them should introduce and write, read to what will be the primary of source the handling of machines. knowledge: used with a defying wink still rings in as And, but gadgets.” books “not my ears: to all those who might bea consolation illiteratean of prospect the by saddened us that the alpha he reminded world, betic period in human history in any had did The lecturer casebeen short-lived. would culture not think the alphabetic nor did he wish it to do so. totally vanish; of the book He forecast that the culture survivewould in certain university and social enclaves for the entertainment and interested of the marginal group benefit The it. and consuming in producing thesis—which of this exponent I have outlined very roughly—was not Mar prophet the Canadian shall McLuhan, - - - -

OOKS MEAN IDEAS, WORDS, FANTASY, FANTASY, WORDS, IDEAS, MEAN OOKS Noth of intelligence. the practice ing has pushed forwarding has pushed cultural MARIO LLOSA VARGAS

The lecturer had spent two weeks in weeks spent two had The lecturer However, to many its future is un future its to many However, certain. I recall with anguish a lecture I I recall a lecture with anguish certain. It at Cambridge a few ago. heard years and “LiteracyDoomed,” Is was entitled culture, its thesis was that the alphabetic writing based on the one and books, to the lecturer, According is perishing. will replace soon audio-visual culture whateverand it writtenThe word, it. an anachronism is already represents, urgent and avant-garde since the more for the experience required knowledge of our time is transmitted and stored in machines and has but not in books signals and not letters as its tools. every traveled he had where Mexico, and even in the underground where, though he spoke no difficulty, he had system because the entire no Spanish, instructionsof Mexicanthe in under life as much as the invention of printing, printing, of invention the as lifemuch as to nor has anything contributed more Gutenberg’s From democratization. its has been the the book times until today, - and depositor of knowl best propeller source as an irreplaceable well as edge, of pleasure.

By B

BOOKS, GADGETS, AND FREEDOM -

THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY The nature of culture—either literate of culture—either nature The Second, the audio-visual product the audio-visual product Second, ble audience by appealing to the lowest appealing to the lowest ble audience by denominator. common or enslaved—does free or audio-visual, historicalnot stem from determination, of science. the blind evolution from Audio-visual culture is is Audio-visual culture easily infinitely more controlled, manipulated, by power and degraded word. than is the written to dull sen- tends to limit imagination, I am minds. passive and to create sibility, allergic to audio-visual not a retrograde, After literature On the contrary. culture. than the cinema, nothing more I love TV program. and I deeply a good enjoy But even in the few countries such as a high TV has reached England where TV the average level of artistic creativity, which that pattern, sets the program, attempts to embrace the widest possi people’s conscience, the written word conscience, people’s against up a stubbornhas put resistance the With its demise, being enslaved. the power—to to minds of submission be total. powers—could

- - Y PESSIMISM IS BASED ON TWO ON TWO Y PESSIMISM IS BASED audio-visual First, certainties. easily is infinitely more culture

We must be appalled at this, because be appalled at this, must We who said that the book would “die” by by “die” would book the that said who McLuwas it 1980 in - fact, (In 1980. Center for forgotten now han and his The that died.) Technology and Culture emi Sirspeaker was Leach, Edmund then nent British anthropologist, social from Coming College. of King’s provost a distinguished mandarin of the alpha such statements our time, of betic culture trueis It be taken lightly. not should the writtenthat for people is many word dispensable. and more more becoming less important are evenBooks to the (consideringliterate people of today the time they devote and the effect to them than they were their lives) on have books to the literate people of the past. - Pro of prophecy the doubt I although if it does it fessor Leach true, will come Together will be a disaster for humanity. writers and their and with the books, the else will something vanish: readers, of freedom. culture

controlled, manipulated, and degraded manipulated, controlled, Be- the written than is power word. by cause of the solitude in which it is born, the speed at which it can reproduced be on and its lasting mark and circulated, M

BOOKS, GADGETS, AND FREEDOM

------THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY The fire that Shakespeare lit when Shakespeare that lit when The fire This miracle been have not would The civilizations to which both of them belonged were repressive ones that ones repressive were them belonged themselves to maintain managed thanks of discriminationto exploitation the and But in the specific the poor and the weak. Just like those ancestors of our culture of our culture ancestors those Just like time sung them for first the heard who vicar too are we the rhapsodies, out by iously to experience made those cere that and adventure of passion monies eagerly soul of the human are by desired every civilization. his tragedies and come in he recreated the from dies the Elizabethan universe, of with its fresco gossip plebeian street typespicturesque and its rich vulgarity astuteness of the struggleto the refined of rulersfor power and warriors or the delicacies and torments and the love of still burns every time those feast of desire, stories materialize a stage. us on before the begin possible if the old poets from civilization and the En nings of Greek apart glish playwright not enjoyed, had their marvelousfrom of lan command and an incandescentguage imagination, to their the possibility rein of giving free letting them move private phantoms, as they and submitting wished around with to their dictates when confronted the papyrus or a piece of paper. - - - - -

of the of the peripeteia But I do not think this Orwellian the earliestEven stirrings of the liter ary intimately are bound up imagination the existence in fact, and, with freedom, is a necessaryof such a connection pre fortimelessness of a liter the condition the Consider ary work. Greece, of Ancient and the men gods 3,000 years which a blind poet recited and whichago still dazzles us today. operated, that of artistic of artistic operated, that we would creation, what was call “permissibility” almost absolute. Fortunate will reallynightmare occur. fate is our ly for us writersreaders, and that illness or linked to that of freedom, humanityvice caught by rather late in history that affects part a good of man kind in an incurable way. In the specific field in whichIn the specific Homer and Shakespeare The decisive factor will always be man’s will always factor The decisive man’s be caught are gadgets and books If choice. in a deadly defeat and the latter the fight responsibility will the with lie former, chosethose who to allow it to happen. choice. be their last may that And

BOOKS, GADGETS, AND FREEDOM

- - - - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Shakespeare’s genius could not have could not have genius Shakespeare’s pro of Elizabeth in the age I, Power, hibited English historical and also works several on theaters occasions. shut down the dramatists were fortunately, But, so that the disdained and left in peace, theater of London only was the place hear di man could the common where commentaries and honest about life. rect which already existed—the legends and and legends existed—the which already reli enthroned the myths, collective of illustratinggion—and the in fables an independent but morality, established au left devices, to his own individual, thorized using the unknown to explore and desire, introspection, imagination, city to open the doors of the to reason his private ghosts. - flourished free without the unlimited (as passions human to show had he dom far era, Tudor The wrote). Johnson Dr. A and brutal. was despotic tolerant, from religious close people’s was kept on eye sign of heterodoxy and any behavior, the parton of Catholics or Puritans was or death. torture, punished with prison, a vulgar and But drama was considered the too far below plebeian amusement, and libraries academies, world of salons, was pro the prevailing culture where of the to be worthy duced and preserved, that was exerted over punctilious control for example. or political religious texts,

- - - - - The triumph of reason followed the followed The triumph of reason To the Greek, the poet was a spokes the poet was Greek, the To man of the gods, an intermediary from gods, man of the the other world the artistic in whom and entwined values in an indissol religious that, could a culture How uble manner. separate not did literature ours, unlike the moralityand art from and religion, the hindered have the body, spirit from was that a man whose function of work of a priest as that of an and a seer as well free that unconditional To illusionist? the Greek enjoyed that the poet dom its particular owes development, culture it both to that allowed that evolution richnessattain a prodigious of invention art, ideas, of in the field and knowledge a certain to fix and patternand literature of beautychanged the and thought that it a upon imposing history of the world, tech whichrationalityentire the from West the of nical progress and scientific as the gradual humanizationas well of to derive. society were for the first Perhaps triumph of liberty. time in the course of human history the simplyman not a was poet charge in to that of putting rhythm and music field in which Homer and Shakespeare in which Homer field of artistic that creation, operated, con use of a modem making what we, was “permissibility” call would cept, almost absolute.

BOOKS, GADGETS, AND FREEDOM

- -

THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Civilization and Capitalism Freedom of creation does not guar- of creation Freedom Does this mean that once a political, a political, that once this mean Does (1967–79), devoted to the history of the (1967–79), world the 15th and between Western unforeseen way, by accident unforeseen way, negligenceor through the culture thatof the dominant or organizefails to legislate activity. certain areas of Freedom awakens in anFreedom awakens antee genius: It is merely the propitious antee genius: In in which it canground germinate. as literature from so distant activities the eruptions industry and commerce, circumstances unleashed by of liberty, also pro to the willforeign of power, moral, or religious censorship vanish censorship or religious moral, immediately genius flourishes? Of es, It only that when means course not. human is faint, does not exist or freedom creativity shrinks art and and literature poor. become duced such transcendentalchanges in in social life as those that derived, worldthe of intellectsensibility, and - A re artistic the great creations. from Fernand Professor by study markable Braudel,

- - - -

S IN LITERATURE, AS IN ALMOST ALL ALMOST ALL AS IN S IN LITERATURE, freedom of human affairs, fields by way, awakens in an unforeseen

The result is that fresco of man and fresco is that The result actions—whether good or bad, saint or saint or bad, good actions—whether generous or chaste, dissolute sinner, pulverized.or greedy—was Shakespeare, the stiff symmetry that had Shakespeare, served since the beginning of the Chris tian era to catalogue man and the human with the authorities the with because writhis of - Shakespearethan use better made ings, privilege—the free of this accidental No one, not even his contemporary Ben one, No into trouble himself get who did Jonson, dramatists to in create—granted to dom Elizabethan England. religious, social, his demons—political, and enlightens or sexual—that dazzles and subtlety, us because of its variety, insight into the complexity of human In the 37 theatrical of works nature. late or organize certain areas of activity. organizeor late certainactivity. of areas privilege, Thanks to this exceptional canindividual initiative copiously man is always, The result ifest itself there. have the same as we or later, sooner seen incarnated of Homer in the works winds impetus, creative or Shakespeare: of change.

accident or through the negligence of of the negligence or through accident that fails to legis culture the dominant A

BOOKS, GADGETS, AND FREEDOM

------THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY We tend to forget that this notion of of forget that this notion tend to We It is onlymodern in has times that man emancipated himself from the gregari the from emancipated himself ous placenta to which he had been tied been tied to whichous placenta he had eignty. The ideas of social justice, egal ideas of social justice, The eignty. and, the rights of man, itarian utopias, the theories and practice of of course, the most fertile are seeds of democracy, that doctrine the individual that made the center of the universe. since prehistoric times. This happened This happened since prehistoric times. of uncontrolled when the proliferation and artistic activities, social, economic, in which the spontaneityand fantasy with no of the individual could flow of the evolution encouraged barriers, philosophical and political thinking that breaks all to that notion the way historical with the entire of tradition humanity: sover that of individual markets. But the most decisive conse decisive the most But markets. history of acceleration of the quence and production free by provoked is the riseexchange of the individual. very is in fact individual the sovereign civ one limited to recent, and exotic in the course of a history in ilization, which a collectivist always vision pre Man forms. albeit in different vailed, previously had individual an been not an undifferentiated but part of a herd, stamped an anonymous group mass, of servitude.with the feature

- - The consequences are similar to those are The consequences prevailed. a collectivist vision always a collectivist vision course of a history in which course of a history to one civilization, in the to one civilization, exotic and recent, limited exotic and recent, individual is in fact very individual is in notion of the sovereign The notion of the sovereign stage, the market, brought about in society. about brought the market, stage, 18th centuries through the production of production the centuries18th through and exchange, techniques, tools, objects, instructs mutation the astonishing us on and its trade that the apparition of free nication between people and countries, nication people and countries, between the old social hierarchies of weakening or military title, name, established by new by and their replacement function, ownership hierarchies determined by The blossoming function. and economic ruralof replacement the civ city, the of result one is urbanan ilizationone, by of of this opening and multiplication produced by freedom in art or science: in art or science: freedom by produced of new development creativity, energy, industries, of proliferation techniques, and culture gradual collapse of religious of commu increase of rationality, growth

BOOKS, GADGETS, AND FREEDOM

- -

THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY In the economic field, the same lib field, In the economic erty is also has impelled that progress of inequalities and can the source open chasms those who between huge up nothing. those who have a lot and have The curiosity that it and inventiveness man to tame illness; allowed fuels have of matter, of the sea, the abyss explore the transgressing and of the body; and, But it to sail the skies. law of gravity, him to devisehas also allowed weapons modernthat make any state a poten tial trigger for the kind of devastation and holocaust that makes the efforts like or Genghis Khan seem of Nero amusements. playground Those enclaves in which in which Those enclaves and individual initiative exercised whim could be were neverwithout restraint constantas numerous and as in the West. on man. Liberty meant, if not abolition abolition if not Liberty meant, man. on at least political and of injustice abuse, awareness and the its radical reduction we But such abuses. to fight of the need have cost we bear in mind the high must to preserve order in to pay it. - - - Reaching that point—the vision of the of vision that point—the Reaching have All civilizations and cultures Of course, the fact that freedom has that freedom fact the course, Of This probably accounts for the West’s West’s forThis probably accounts the individual as an entity as an individual rights entitled to life communal whom around duties and be organized—ismust doubt without which the ethical of human history, peak as the great defined Croce Benedetto achievement of liberty. they can all of; to be proud something boast of having enriched—some less, tech - others a lot—the arts, more, some is also possi It and the sciences. nology, or here of them, in each one ble to trace, the doses, in limited or abundant there, enclavesthose But freedom. practice of and whimin which individual initiative without restraint could be exercised as and constant never as numerous were in the West. tributemisfortunesof imposedhas it that merce, sometimes through both com through sometimes merce, substantiated other cultures with its own substantiated other cultures and values, institutions, beliefs, customs, sometimes little, little by that, and the fact - com through sometimes force, through assimilate, to destroy, it managed bined, these other cultures. or impregnate been the motor of social and material not make us forget the must progress might, its growth, and the strength with and the strength its growth, might, or tran overcame which it imposed itself,

BOOKS, GADGETS, AND FREEDOM

- - - - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Intellectuals, too, have demonstrated have too, Intellectuals, fillment, an illusion of happiness that fillment, define If we can hardlyfreedom match. be of harmony happiness as a state feelings and the reality in man’s tween people a doubt no yes, whichlives, he under chains can less be happier—or people. a free unhappy—than It is the their impatience with freedom. birth gave who to after all, intellectual, those theories that that attempt to show a formal privilege is relative, freedom a mirage and fortune, linked to power minoritiesthat the dominant use to of the masses. disguise the exploitation that liberty once they Curiously enough, call and fallacious is suppressed, fictitious a right-wing militaryeither by dicta and a Marxisttorship or by revolution, the first they that theyonce discover are that without away, victims when it fades becomes work this mirage their own against Iraq. Religious faith, if fanatically Religious faith, against Iraq. can make of liberty something followed, ful worthlessemotional evenand give death and sufferingdeath the corrupted than yes. autocracy Apparently, the shah? of explain the ap to is no other way There nor can stabilityparent of the regime, otherwise conceive one burning of the and el men, zeal with which children, run into derlyof ancient Persia people that nonsensical slaughter of the war

------It is not only the sleep of reason that onlyIt is not reason sleep of the Its exceptions. obviously, are, There tion of classestion of and the establishment collectivistequality casethe in totali- of of a dog or the imposition tarian ones; high a price of for benefits the supposed case in the order, law and it: suppressing the aboli of authoritarian dictatorships; in the case dictatorships. of religious ma, with the satisfied the people of Iran Are theocratic despotism of the imams that caused in that countryhas already more can engender monsters, as Goya wrote in wrote as Goya can monsters, engender vigilant rea Lucid, etchings. of his one just as capable is freely, when it flows son, impeccableof formulating theories on justifying inequalitythe races; human of slavery; inferiority the proving - of wom innatethe yellow, the or black, the en, evil the exter of the Jew; legitimizing and supporting of the heretic; mination war between and colonialism, conquest, In spite of all its dan or classes. nations of all that its use the catastrophes gers, is no doubt there and abuse can produce, and peoples choosethat most individuals libertychance. wheneverthe theyhave to they seem ready When they do not, to achieve it. sacrifices the worst face enemies enemies tend to be transitory, only until they realize that when free the poverty and grayness vanishes, dom suchof life that they are became too

BOOKS, GADGETS, AND FREEDOM - - - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY This admission, nonetheless, is often nonetheless, This admission, inequalities; monstrous are there Yes, classless society and have improved classless society improved have and of control and censorship thought to levelsthe individual of artistic per intellectual is The European fection. a lucid critic of to- whole, the on today, himself talitarianism has resigned and liberal that the mediocre to admitting democracies—so boring and lacking splen- the to compared appeal sex in did revolutionary apocalypse—provide, humane more despite their handicaps, only and make societies not ways of life, prosperous. but also more freer solidaritythe by contradicted Eu- the of intellectual with the totalitarianropean countries—as if World Third cause in forwhat is bad the English or Hungari Dutch—couldthe or French the or ans, Or as forbe good Cubans or Peruvians. if their misery made and exploitation countriesmen in underdeveloped ineli The truth is gible for political freedom. that the Latin American people in their political generally choices have shown than a goodly foresight greater number of our intellectuals. countriesour in poverty recurrent a is the Rio all from the way nightmare, and Grande to the Straits of Magellan; employ health, as far as education, to is much there and justice go, ment, - - This is a phenomenon of our time time of our This is a phenomenon the magnetism with which In Europe, number of our intellectuals. number of our er foresight than a goodly er foresight than have generally shown great- have generally in their political choices choices in their political erican people people American The Latin that should make us stop and think: In In stop and think: that should make us intellectuals and artists countries, free to totalitarianismcommitted abound, ei while in societies under repression, intel the Leftther from or the Right, lectuals and artists at the forefront are (Chile and of the struggle for freedom. examples.) good are Poland the Marxist-Leninist utopia attracted War intellectualsso many afterWorld effect II under the corrosive faded has Soviet by of the testimonies dissidents about the reality of the Gulag and the is the too, Instructive, nomenklatura. workers of East European rebellion established that have against regimes dictatorships in the name of a future a frustration, and that the cause and that true of a frustration, forward move does not justice an inch artists the and intellectuals without it, turnmost zealous into its defenders.

BOOKS, GADGETS, AND FREEDOM

- - - - - Ulysses to The Divine Comedy Comedy The Divine THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Any notion of “progress” is question “progress” of notion Any There is a law here that admits of no that admits is a law here There This somber perspective should make perspective This somber able in literature. in literature. able may be better or worse than The Odyssey be better or worse , may Joyce’s prefer may and a reader opment of militaryopment technology and has seen wars in which the slaughter also in terms of the number of vic- progressed tims and in the efficiency of destruction. primithe - skullthe by smashed From of to the annihilation anthropoid tive is a long there and Nagasaki, Hiroshima history development in which scientific achieveto unable seems equivalent an in moral behavior. progress vulnerability through of human existence the perfection of weaponry. Each period of scientific exceptions. the devel by has been preceded apogee capable of hitting any target seven seven capabletarget any hitting of after minutes or eight launched. being ways in which the different us consider It is evolved. have literature science and the notion that afterall, only in science, chronological a distinct has “progress” of discovery the progressive of knowl sense: discoveries previous that made obso edge conditions living better and brought lete his domination for man and increased how of science, The advance of nature. illness, pushing away while it was ever, theaccentuated scarcity, and ignorance,

- - hap- Latin

first to learn it should be those who first to writepretend of the in the name HE LESSON IS ALL TOO CLEAR. THE CLEAR. TOO ALL IS LESSON HE

But what part, specifically, can books specifically, But what part, accomplish. But, at the same time, same time, at the But, accomplish. pened only a few decades ago in Europe, pened only a few in Europe, decades ago in the Middle happens today what or or have our people Africa, East and in Far of fascination the to succumbed seldom they have Whenever asked, despotism. resolutely chosen freedom. masses. Despite hunger, economic in economic Despite hunger, masses. justice, and misfortune, our people have have people our misfortune, and justice, appetite for their lost not liberty are and to follow would those who not prepared so rashly with it. do away struggle in the continuing play for when that particularly today, freedom, struggletheless than nothing involves destructionpotential allof civilizedlife? weigh we however grim, are The facts one On example. one Consider them. 200 to 300 meters over a range of 3,000200 to 300 meters over side of the fron On the other kilometers. from Eastern Europe, 300 Soviet SS-20 Eastern Europe, from Each shelters. missiles lie in underground nuclearindependent three contains one of precision warheads and has an impact side of the border that separates Western Western that separates the border side of II 108 Pershing bases, in the NATO tier, and 464 cruise been set up, have missiles

Americans say that, unlike what unlike Americans that, say T

BOOKS, GADGETS, AND FREEDOM - - the 2010 Nobel the 2010 Nobel

THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY n laureate in literature, is the author of novels, novels, is the author of in literature, laureate including Con- and other writings, plays, The War (1975), in the Cathedral versation The and (1984), ofWorld the End of the Wilson was a He of (2001). the Goat Feast Center fellow in 1980. MARIO VARGAS LLOSA, MARIO VARGAS ree rein to his worst appetites, dreams, dreams, appetites, worst his to rein ree biguous mist of literature, the spirit of biguous mist of literature, destruction can operate with impunity. civilization that has Unlike the scientific fragile ancestors our than more us made the they learned before fight to were under a literary civilization more tiger, men and dreamy passive, impractical, But at least these men be born. would their fellows to dangerous be less would vot to be since we grown have than we and against the book. ed for the gadgets Leta ever get we if mind in this bear us choice. second f that to those demons and obsessions, inside hand in hand with the angels go materialized, if they were him and that, In the am make life impossible. would Physical and moral violence moral and Physical presenceare a permanent plays, and novelsin poems, in all ages. - - - - urned Literature is more than this. It is a It is a than this. is more Literature There is a difference, of course. If the of course. is a difference, There What I am trying is that since to say poetry, stories, drama, and the novel to the and the novel drama, stories, poetry, secondary entertainment. of mere role can man reality where happily empty giving spirit, his of recesses obscure the this drive without much risk. We should We risk. this drive without much the impulse that turned sci reconsider stead of gadgets. Literature can Literature mitigate of gadgets. stead relegating ence into the tool of progress, . But no great literary no great But work . Don Quixote centuries 10 appeared that erases one is exactly what however, This, before. where science, of the field happens in chemistry abolished alchemy t (or The spirit of destruc- it into literature). seemingly in the creative inherent tion, is not absent in ability human beings, of physical and On the contrary, literature. moral violence is a permanent presence in all and novels ages. plays, in poems, IIs launched, are SS-20s and Pershing it is over. know we the human game as all the literary dev On the other hand, - pro and bloody orgies have astations and a yawns, thrills, duced only shakes, few readers. orgasms among de of eradicating is no way man’s there structive drive—which priceis the he pays forfaculty the invention—we of should try in books it toward to direct

BOOKS, GADGETS, AND FREEDOM CHOO YOUN-KONG / AFP / GETTY IMAGES Looting was the least of the injuries suffered by Indonesia’s ethnic Chinese minority in the riots that followed the 1998 collapse of the Suharto regime. Indonesia was left reeling from the subsequent capital flight of $40-to-$100 billion. A WORLD ON THE EDGE

With the debate about globalization focused on economics and politics, Amy Chua raised an alarm in our Autumn 2002 issue about the dangerous escalation of ethnic tensions in many countries caused by the triumph of free-market democracy. Chua later wrote Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother (2011).

BY AMY CHUA

THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 - - -

THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY According to the police report, my my to the police report, According On my 10th birthday On my 10th birthday diamonds, wrapped up in toilet paper. at approximately knife” butcher’s “a with of Two 1994. September on 12, 8 p.m. they and questioned, her maids were my aunt’s Abique, confessed that Nilo planned and executed had chauffeur, and with their knowledge the murder she gave me 10 small she gave me 10 small single 58-year-old “a Leona, Aunt was killed in her living room woman,” Leon—were close, as only twins can be. as only twins can be. Leon—were close, she dot of her own, children Having no with us nieces and showered her ed on trinkets the older, grew we As trinkets. birth On my 10th became treasures. me 10 small diamonds, she gave day My aunt wrapped up in toilet paper. up and bought them diamonds loved them in emp concealing dozen, the by ty moisturizer face Elizabeth Arden shelf. right some her bathroom on jars, When things. She accumulating liked she stuffed her ate at McDonald’s, we ketchups.Gucci purse with free - - -

NE BEAUTIFUL BLUE MORNING IN IN BLUE MORNING NE BEAUTIFUL a call I received September 1994, my mother in California. from AMY CHUA

The murder of a relative is horrible is horrible of a relative The murder sisters and I were younger My three By

In a hushed voice, she told me that that she told me voice, In a hushed twin sis my father’s Leona, my Aunt in in her home been murdered had ter, her slit by her throat the Philippines, news the broke mother My chauffeur. Chinese Hokkien to me in our native said in En she “murder” But dialect. the from as if to wall off the act glish, family language. through grief My father’s anywhere. for anyone, he has to this day, was impenetrable; subject. the his silence on not broken there though, of the family, the rest For For of disgrace. element was an added luck is a moral attribute, the Chinese, neverand a lucky be would person Like having a birth defect, murdered. being murdered or marrying a Filipino, is shameful. who was veryLeona, of my Aunt fond never married. and had petite and quirky Filipino wealthy Chinese, Like many in all accounts bank of kinds had she and Chicago. San Francisco, Honolulu, She States visited us in the United reg She my father—Leonaand and ularly. O

A WORLD ON THE EDGE

. - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY My uncle was not simply being cal- After the funeral, I asked one of my one I asked After the funeral, my relatives’ I could not understand - WhenWest a by asked cases. these in ern it is so frequently the journalist why the Philippines, all Filipinosethnic poor Philippines, the notoriously are unmotivated themselves, dreds of Chinese in the Philippines dreds are almost invariably kidnapped every year, often victims, Many ethnic Filipinos. by even af- brutally are murdered, children, like Other Chinese, ter ransom is paid. killed a kidnapping, without are my aunt, usually with a robbery. in connection killer is it unusual that my aunt’s Nor in police The neverwas apprehended. they not more shockedthey not more that my aunt had who people by been killed in cold blood, her saw with her, lived for her, worked everyWhy they not outraged day? were When released? been that the maids had I shortwas he me with uncle, my pressed said. he “That’shere,” are things way the “This is the Philippines—not America.” death my aunt’s As it turns out, lous. Hun was part pattern. of a common uncles whether there had been any fur- uncles any been had there whether inves murder in the ther developments tersely He replied that the killer tigation. His wife explained been found. not had essentially police had that the Manila closed the case. Why were attitude. almost indifferent

- - Meanwhile, my relatives arranged a arranged relatives my Meanwhile, Why were they not more not more Why were they shocked that my aunt had been killed in cold blood? private funeral for my aunt in the pres assistance. “A few hours before the few the before hours “A assistance. was [Abique] respondent killing, actual seen sharpening the knife allegedly After the killing, crime.” used in the witnesses joined the two “respondent was that their employer and told them wearing was he a time, that At dead. pair of and was gloves bloodied white of also with traces still holding a knife, on the reportwent But Abique, blood.” war with the “disappeared,” had to say, The two rant outstanding. for his arrest released. maids were tigious Chinese cemetery in Manila buried of my ancestors are many where white-marble family tomb. in a great, who to the feng shui monks According not be my aunt could consulted, were buried of the family with the rest because lest of her death, of the violent nature luck bad strikemore her surviving kin. So smaller in her own she was placed next to—but not touching—the vault, main family tomb.

A WORLD ON THE EDGE

- -

THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Later the inci I mentioned that day dent to my Aunt Leona, who laughed Leona, dent to my Aunt affectionately and explained that the servants—there perhaps 20 living were all ethnic Filipinos— the premises, on fortunate for our were to be working they If not for their positions, family. ratsamong and open be living would their heads. over without a roof sewers, I re A Filipino maid then walked in; of food a bowl for member that she had the My aunt took Pekingese. my aunt’s were talking as if the maid but kept bowl Although they constitute constitute Although they of the just one percent population, Chinese as much Filipinos control as 60 percent of the private economy. I must have gone down an extra an flight of down gone have I must becauseliterally I onto stumbled stairs, found I had the male six male bodies. family’s my where quarters, servants’ and chauffeurs—I houseboys, gardeners, Abique imagine that Nilo sometimes on sleeping them—were was among of stank place The a dirton mats floor. I was horrified. and urine. sweat

- - - - pines’ tiny but entrepreneurial entrepreneurial but tiny pines’ and economically powerful Y FAMILY IS PART OF THE PHILIP IS PART Y FAMILY

Since my aunt’s murder, one child one Since murder, my aunt’s hood memory keeps haunting me. I was hood memory keeps haunting me. splendid staying at my family’s eight, It was hacienda-style house in Manila. I Wide awake, still dark. dawn, before the kitchen. a drinkdecided to get from - Although they consti Chinese minority. of the population, percent tute just one as 60 Chinese Filipinos as much control includ of the private economy, percent ing the country’s four major airlines and hotels, almost all of the country’s banks, and big conglomerates. shopping malls, familyMy own in Manila runs a plas Unlike taipans Lucio tics conglomerate. my Gokongwei, or John Henry Sy, Tan, Chinese “third-tier” only are relatives they swaths of prime own Still, tycoons. severalestate and vacation homes. real full safeThey deposit boxes also have roughly the size each one bars, of gold I but strangely heavy. of a Snickers bar, Aunt My myself such bar. a gold have Leona it to me as a law express-mailed a few school present graduation years she died. before

Chinese who are targeted, one grinning one targeted, who are Chinese Filipino was that it explained policeman money.” more “they have because M

A WORLD ON THE EDGE

- - THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Y AUNT’S KILLING WAS JUST A A JUST KILLING WAS Y AUNT’S pinprick in a world violent more ever imag than most of us have Each time I think of Nilo Abique—he Abique—he Nilo of think I time Each ined. In America, we read about acts of about acts read we In America, ined. mass slaughter and savagery—at in first closer coming now home. faraway places, do not understand what connects We private-security forces. one like Abique, must see the Chinese: see the Chinese: must like Abique, one their intruders, foreign as exploiters, superiority their inexplicable, wealth I will never forget the entry intolerable. “motive in the police report for Abique’s was not given The motive for murder.” the jewelsdespite money and robbery, the chauffeur taken. was said to have was just one there for motive, Instead, word—“revenge.” was six-feet-two and my aunt was four-was six-feet-twoaunt was my and myselffeet-eleven—I up welling find intense so revulsion and hatred a with time I But over it is actually consoling. the vast glimpses of how also had have especially some majorityFilipinos, of All peasants are Filipinos. All domestic Alldomestic Filipinos. All are peasants My servants Filipinos. are and squatters literally live the walledrelatives off from all-Chinese in a posh, Filipino masses, named streets on enclave, residential Princeton. and Stanford, Yale, Harvard, The entry armed by guarded points are M

- - Nearly of the roughly 80 two-thirds - she con The Filipinos, there. not plainly but not Chinese, tinued—in caring maid understood or whether the lazy not—were and and unintelligent If they really to do much. want didn’t corruptfewa and politicians aristocrat - all of the ic Spanish mestizo families, of Chinese are billionaires Philippines’ all menial jobs in By contrast, descent. Filipinos. by Philippinesthe filled are didn’t like working for us, they were free they were for us, like working didn’t aunt my After all, time. at any leave to not slaves. employees, they were said, million ethnic Filipinos Philip in the - Forty less than $2 a day. on pines live in tem lives entire spend their percent porary shelters. Seventy of all porary percent shelters. Almost a rural Filipinos no land. own But to sanitation. no access have third alone Poverty of it. not the worst that’s itself does not make by Poverty never is. poverty be added must To people kill. and grievance. hopelessness, indignity, of Filipi millions In the Philippines, Chi- almost no for Chinese; nos work The Chinese for Filipinos. nese work industrydominate at and commerce Global markets every level of society. When for- intensify this dominance: do business in the Phileign investors - they deal almost exclusively ippines, a handful of Apart from with Chinese.

A WORLD ON THE EDGE

- THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY h machetes. Bill Berkeley Bill Berkeley h machetes. In Rwanda in 1994, ordinary Hutus In Rwanda in 1994, often together with their daughters. often daughters. with their together were lucky, if they were The men, beaten to death as their Serbian guards if they were anthems; sang national castrat they- were not so fortunate, to castrate forced at gunpoint, ed or, with sometimes their fellow prisoners, thousands were In all, teeth. their own tortured and executed. a period over of Tutsis killed 800,000 typically hacking them months, three to death wit - In the Serbian camps concentration killing was just killing was just My aunt’s a pinprick in a world more violent than most of us have ever imagined. these acts. Nor do we understand the role understand do we Nor these acts. in bringing them about. played have we Rwandan refugees scramble to climb aboard a humanitarian agency’s truck in 1995. Tens of thou Tens truck in 1995. humanitarian agency’s Rwandan refugees scramble to climb aboard a JEAN-MARC BOUJU / AP IMAGES sands of majority Hutu died in Rwanda’s 16-month ethnic conflagration; some 800,000 minority minority 16-month ethnic conflagration; some 800,000 sands of majority Hutu died in Rwanda’s were killed. Tutsi of the early 1990s, the women pris the women of the early 1990s, many raped and over, over were oners often bottles, with broken times a day,

A WORLD ON THE EDGE

- - - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY There is a connection among these these among is a connection There minorities canMarket-dominant be all of the country’s largest conglomerates. allof the country’s conglomerates. largest entre In Myanmar (formerly Burma), preneurial Chinese recently have taken and of Mandalay the economies over Chinese are a market-dominant minority a market-dominant Chinese are not just in the Philippines but through In 1998 Chinese out Southeast Asia. of the percent only three Indonesians, roughly 70 percent controlled population, including private economy, of Indonesia’s think! Why you are hated allWhyhated the over are think! you proclaimed held by a banner world,” Arab demonstrators. liesIt violence. their apartepisodes from the relationship—increasingly, the in the three collision—among explosive operatingforces in the most powerful and democracy, world markets, today: - a phe exists today There ethnic hatred. nomenon—pervasiveWest outside the indeed often rarely acknowledged, yet mar viewed as taboo—that turns free ket democracy into an engine of ethnic - the phe speaking of I’m conflagration. minori- of market-dominant nomenon for widely ethnic minorities who, ties: con under market tend varying reasons, often economically, to dominate ditions “indigenous” the to a startling extent, majorities them. around The found in every corner of the world. - - g children would come come would g children On September 11, 2001, Middle East- 2001, On September 11, In Israel in 1998, a suicide bomber bomber suicide a 1998, in Israel In In Jakarta in 1998, screaming Indone screaming In Jakarta in 1998, The Graves Are Not Yet Full Full Yet writes Are in The Graves Not that youn (2001) fathers, their mothers, find to home room the living on and brothers sisters, and limbs. heads piles of severed in floor, sian mobs torched, smashed, and looted and looted smashed, torched, sian mobs shops and homes, of Chinese hundreds One who 2,000 dead. than leaving more survived—a girl— Chinese 14-year-old taking rat suicide by later committed She been gang-raped and had poison. ern terrorists hijacked four American pilot using them as intent on airliners, ed missiles. They destroyed the World World the They destroyed ed missiles. side of Center and the southwest Trade crushing or incinerating the Pentagon, “Americans, than 3,000 people. more genitally mutilated in front of her parents. genitally in front mutilated driving a car packed with explosives driving a car packed with explosives with 34rammed schoola into filled bus six of Jewish the ages between children Overthe next few such years and eight. daily becoming intensified, incidents collective and a powerful occurrences “We hatred. of Palestinian expression Arafat Yasir to aide senior a you,” hate “The air hates elaborated in April 2002. hate trees the you, hates land the you, purposestaying no is there your in you, this land.”on

A WORLD ON THE EDGE

- - in the hands of the THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Market-dominant minorities are minoritiesare Market-dominant market-dominant minority, while de- while minority, market-dominant mocracy the political power increases spectacular wealth, wealth, spectacular were a market-dominant minority a market-dominant in were Jews as almost Yugoslavia, formerthe certainly Russia. in postcommunist are the Achilles’ heel of free-market de free-market heel of Achilles’ the In societies with such a mi mocracy. and democracy markets favor nority, people or different not just different classes groups. ethnic but different often concentrate wealth, Markets

Market-dominant minorities are the Achilles’ heel of free-market democracy. ©JEAN-MARIE SIMON America. But light-skinned minorities dominateOpen ethnic conflict is rare in “mixed blood” Latin the discontented around their Indian roots. many economies, and new leaders are rallying Yangon. Whites a market-dominant are Yangon. in minority in South Africa—and, in Brazil, complicated sense, a more and much Guatemala, Ecuador, Lebanese a are Latinof America. minorityWest market-dominant in Croats the Iboare as Nigeria. in Africa,

A WORLD ON THE EDGE

- - - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY democracy and ethnic violence democracy and ethnic violence the worldaround is inextrica HE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FREE-MARKET HE RELATIONSHIP To a great extent, globalization con extent, a great To sists of, and is fueled by, the unprece and is fueled by, sists of, and of markets dented worldwide spread decades than two more For democracy. along American the government, now, bly bound up with globalization. But But bly bound up with globalization. the of market-dominant phenomenon minorities complications introduces escapedthat have the view of both with American and business consultants promoting has been vigorously interests, globalization’s enthusiasts and its critics. globalization’s dominance. At the same time, global global same time, the At dominance. democratic and populist movements to and voice legitimacy, strength, give excluded frustrated, impoverished, the the world—inmasses of words, other susceptible to most precisely people the In more anti-American demagoguery. countries than Americans non-Western and fair elec- free care to admit, would antimarket, bring would to power tions the past 20 For anti-American leaders. Americans been grandly have years, and de both marketization promoting In the world. mocratization throughout at ourselves directed have we the process, writer Orhan Pamuk Turkish what the of the damned.”“the anger calls T

- - - Global anti-Americanism has many Since September 11, the conflict has the conflict Since September 11, resentment that afflicts the Chinese of resentment the whites of Zimbabwe, Southeast Asia, and other groups. is the ironically, of them, One causes. and de markets of free global spread the world, Throughout mocracy. bitterly are global markets perceived American and as reinforcing wealth wielding outrageously disproportionate num- to our relative power economic become have we the As a result, bers. popular object of the same kind of mass mocracy at the global level. Nevertheless, Nevertheless, mocracy at the global level. Americans everywhere are today perceived minority, market-dominant as the world’s Americans are not an ethnic minority Americans not an ethnic minority are national-origin a mi are (although we been brought home to the United States. States. to the United home been brought de is there Nor a close cousin). nority, democracy- po of an engine becomes tentially ethnonationalism, catastrophic ma- “indigenous” frustratedpitting a opportunistic, easily by aroused jority, against a politicians, vote-seeking This ethnic minority. wealthy resented, is playing in countryconflict out after Sierrato Indonesia from country today, Venezuela, to Zimbabwe from Leone, Russia to the Middlefrom East. of the impoverished majority. In these In impoverishedof the majority. of free-market pursuit the circumstances,

A WORLD ON THE EDGE

- - - - The New York The New York THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY The Lexus and the Olive Tree Tree The Lexusand the Olive For globalization’s enthusiasts, the the enthusiasts, globalization’s For Thomas Friedman of Friedman Thomas Times ofbeen a brilliant has proponent his best-selling In view. this dominant book book a Merrill Lynch he reproduced (1999), markets free of spread “the said that ad and democracy the world around per is everywhere people mitting more to turn achievements,” into their aspirations just geographical borders “not erasing Globalization, but also human ones.” “tends to turn all elaborated, Friedman ‘competitors.’” friends and enemies into “Golden his also proposed Friedman Theory Prevention,” of Conflict Arches countries two that “no which claims that ever fought have McDonald’s both have (Unfortu a war against each other.” University historian Yale notes nately, United States“the LewisJohn Gaddis, allies chose just that in- and its NATO to begin bombing auspicious moment was an embar there where Belgrade, rassing arches.”) number of golden and ethnic hatred for group cure violence the world around is straight and more markets forward: more after September the Thus, democracy. op-ed published an Friedman 11 attacks, piece pointing to India and Bangladesh piece pointing to India and Bangladesh for the Middle models” “role as good East and citing their experience as a

- - - - The prevailing view global among ization’s supporters and is that markets ization’s elixir democracy a kind of universal are ills for of underdevelop the multiple capitalism Market is the most ment. system economic the world efficient Democracyis the fair has ever known. est political system the world ever has of most respectful the one and known, world into a community of prosperous, world of prosperous, into a community and individuals war-shunning nations, civic-minded citizens and into liberal, religious hatred, Ethnic consumers. aspects of “backward” and other zealotry, away. will be swept underdevelopment individual liberty. Together, markets and markets Together, individual liberty. democracy will gradually transform the free-market democracy the throughout free-market worlds. developing postcommunist and powerful Both directly through and such as the institutions international Monetary International Bank, World Organization Trade World and Fund, bring helped has it (WTO), capitalism to literallyand democratic elections the same time, At billions of people. foundations, American multinationals, organizations and nongovernmental touched every(NGOs) have corner of bringing with them bal the world, hip-hop lotKings, Burger and boxes and banking codes and Hollywood, American-drafted constitutions.

A WORLD ON THE EDGE

- - THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Introducing democracy Introducing such under When democracy free-market is pursued in the presence of a of a is pursued in the presence the result, minority, market-dominant the nation’s patrimony and identity—oil and patrimony the nation’s in diamonds Venezuela, in Russiaand silver and tin in Bolivia, South Africa, and rubies Myanmar. in teak, jade, not transform does circumstances co-citizens into open-minded voters the Rather, community. in a national competition fostersfor the emer votes who scapegoat of demagogues thegence minorityresented eth and foment active demanding movements nonationalist that the country’s and identity wealth “true of the owners the be reclaimed by as America Even celebrated nation.” of democracy in the the global spread new political the world’s slogans 1990s, developments: ominous told of more “Eritreans “Georgia for the Georgians,” “Kenya for Kenyans,” out of Ethiopia,” “Kazakhstan forPardos,” “Venezuela “Hutu “Serbia forSerbs,” forKazakhs,” Vadim “Jewsof Russia.” out Power,” 2001 a candidate in Romania’s Tudor, was not quite so election, presidential he de- the Impaler,” Vlad “I’m pithy. referring and to the historically clared, he Hungariandominant minority, will hang them directly “We promised, their Hungarian tongue!” by - - - Because markets and democracy Because and democracy markets I believe, rather, that the global spread the global spread that rather, I believe, solution to the challengesthe to terror of solution “Hello?Hello? Islam: militant and ism democracy, It’s here. a message There’s pluralistic, multiethnic, . . stupid!”—“. democracy.” free-market of markets and democracyof markets a princi is pal aggravating cause of group hatred pal aggravating cause hatred of group the throughout and ethnic violence In the numerous world. non-Western worldthe a have around that societies andmarkets minority, market-dominant democracy not mutually reinforcing. are in such ethnic groups different benefit de- the pursuit of free-market societies, mocracy highly produces and unstable - con Markets conditions. combustible centrate in the hands enormous wealth fo thereby minority, “outsider” of an among and hatred menting ethnic envy In often chronically poor majorities. majoritythe may or may terms, absolute not be better off—a dispute that much of the globalization debate revolves sense of improvement any around—but is overwhelmed poverty its continuing by and the hated minority’s extraordinary humiliating More success. economic along minorities, market-dominant still, partners, with their foreign-investor the crown invariably to control come often symbolic of jewels of the economy,

A WORLD ON THE EDGE

- - THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY , 95 percent The Economist, Watching Zimbabwe’s economy take a take economy Zimbabwe’s Watching free fall as a result of the mass land grab, land grab, of the mass fall as a result free Statesthe United and United King with dozens together of human dom, Mugabe President urged rights groups, and calledto step down resoundingly But the and fair elections.” “free for democracythat idea to answer the is - is breathtaking problems Zimbabwe’s have Mugabe would Perhaps ly naive. in the absence lost the 2002 elections it’s so, But even if that’s of foul play. important that Mugabe to remember The of democracy. himself is a product black liberation of Zimbabwe’s hero a master manipulator of and movement to victory he swept in the the masses, closely of 1980 by elections monitored white “stolen” to expropriate promising has helped Repeating that promise land. Moreover, him win every since. election campaign land-seizure was Mugabe’s - of the democratic pro another product It was deftly timed in anticipation cess. and de of the 2000 and 2002 elections, liberately calculated to mobilize popular teetering regime. support for Mugabe’s to According largely white-owned of Zimbabwe’s earmarked now farms are commercial compensation, without for confiscation off been ordered farmersand many have the land.

- - - - Zimbabwe today is a vivid illustra today Zimbabwe tion of the first kind of backlash—an kind of backlash—an of the first tion ethnically reac antimarket targeted President now, severalyears For tion. Robert Mugabe has encouraged the of of 10 million acres violent seizure farmland. commercial white-owned “The explained, Zimbabwean As one foreigners The us. to belongs land is no There here. land should not own in land black who owns Zimbabwean Why European should any England. Mugabe has been more land here?” own “Strike fear in the heart of explicit: Most enemy.” our real the white man, “foreigners” of the country’s white Zimbabweans. third-generation are the pop of percent one just They are for but theygenerations have ulation, country’s of the 70 percent controlled largely in the form of high best land, and tobacco 3,000-acre ly productive sugar farms. almost invariably, is backlash. Typically, Typically, is backlash. invariably, almost The first it forms. of three one takes that tar- is a backlash against markets minority’s market-dominant the gets attackan is against second The wealth. the to favorable democracy forces by the And minority. market-dominant genocidal, sometimes is violence, third the market-dominant against directed minority itself.

A WORLD ON THE EDGE - - - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY modities. Already living in indescribable Already modities. Sierra Leoneans watched the cost poverty, blamed and many of rice nearly double, the rebel event, In any the Lebanese. ceeded by other autocrats, who struckwho other autocrats, by ceeded essentially- the same deal while also suc cessfully courting investment foreign the Inter In 1989 and 1990, and aid. championed a Monetarynational Fund reform free-market “bold and decisive” package that included of a phase-out public subsidies for rice- other com and economically powerful Lebanese, and in economically Lebanese, powerful they—with net their business exchange, and the Soviet Union, in Europe, works States—workedUnited economic the enormous generating profits wonders, and kicking portions back handsome (It is just to Stevens and other officials. relationships of preexisting such webs with the outside world given that have economically minorities dominant their extraordinary the current in advantages era of globalization.) Stevens was suc in 1961) had been followed by a seriesa by followed been had 1961) in thatpolicies and measures antimarket of mi aim at market-dominant direct took or Asiatic “European of People norities. de- were including the Lebanese, origin,” thus approach Stevens’s nied citizenship. about-face—a a complete represented in country been repeated pattern that’s Stevens the protected after country.

- - - -

N THE CONTEST BETWEEN AN ECO BETWEEN CONTEST N THE nomically ethnic minority powerful and a numerically impov powerful In Sierra Leone, as in many other other many in as SierraIn Leone, erished majority, the majority does not erished majority, Rather than a backlash always prevail. possible another market, against the is a backlash democ against outcome racy market-dominant the favors that Examples of this dynamic are minority. most The world’s extremely common. capitalism” “crony notorious cases of all partnerships involved have between ethnic minoritya market-dominant and Mar- Ferdinand autocrat. a cooperative for Philippines, in the dictatorship cos’s from and profited sheltered example, Chinese before the country’s wealthy In in 1986. office he was driven from who arapDaniel Moi, President Kenya, “beware warnedAfricans once had of to series a of is sustained by Asians,” bad tragedy of Sierra Leone’s recent histo recent tragedy of Sierra Leone’s ry can be traced in significant part to Siaka Stevens, of President the regime into office his elective converted who a dictatorship during the early 1970s alliance formedand promptly a shadow of the country’s Lebanesewith five dealers. diamond independence (which came countries, “business arrangements” with a handful “business arrangements” the bloody And of local Indian tycoons. I

A WORLD ON THE EDGE - of victims (2000), glob- (2000), , at least we know know at least we , THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Because if we don’t know how to work work know how to Because if we don’t To their credit, critics of globalization their credit, To persecution.) In a now-famous speech speech In a now-famous persecution.) 1991—which con in March delivered and tains a telling allusion to Croat Slovene- dominance—Milos market then fight, “If must we evicdeclared: I hope they And will fight. we my God will not be so crazy against as to fight us. do business well or to “the corporation the made al markets earth,” on institution most powerful “CEOs as a class transformed into one and, elites of all time,” of the wealthiest “forgot Americafrom to Indonesia, how to fight well!” (Emphasis added.) (Emphasis well!” to fight how calledhave to the grotesque attention produce. markets imbalances that free in Frank Thomas writes In the 1990s, Under God One Market of Balkan electoralof Balkan democracy helped resentments. and enmities stir ancient and future the demagogue In Serbia, Slobodan Milosevic cleanser” “ethnic in 1990 as supporters to power swept will “We declared to hysterical crowds, with rustykill Croats because spoons (In the same year, it will hurt more!” victory landslide a won Tudjman Franjo anti-Serb preaching in Croatia hatred; killingthe subsequent mass of Croatia’s Serbs that market-dominant shows always the minorities aren’t

- The third and most ferocious kind kind and most ferocious The third and democracy markets Of course, leader Foday Sankoh had little trouble Sankoh little trouble had Foday leader recruits for insurgency. his finding Some in the ensuing chaos. 75,000 died of backlash is majority-supported a aimed at eliminating violence recent Two minority. market-dominant of cleansing” “ethnic the examples are and Yugoslavia former in the Croats Rwanda. in Tutsi of slaughter mass the unmediated sudden, In both cases, democratization the rise encouraged demagogues ethnic megalomaniacal of hatreds long-suppressed and released against a disproportionately prosperous ethnic minority. not the only causeswere of these acts neglected but they were of genocide, for Yugoslavia, In the former factors. with the along the Croats, example, a strikingly enjoyed long have Slovenes, of living than the Serbshigher standard and Croatia and other ethnic groups. to Western Europe, while the Eastern while the Eastern Europe, Western to Orthodox Serbs inhabit the rugged for centuriessouth and lived under the By the thumb of the Ottoman Empire. per capita in northern income 1990s, risen times had to three Yugoslavia The sudden coming that in the south. Slovenia are largely Catholic, with geo Slovenia largely Catholic, are graphical and historical proximity links

A WORLD ON THE EDGE

- - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Critics right of globalization to de are ous. Empowering the Hutu majority Empowering ous. desirable in Rwanda did not produce the did empowering Nor consequences. Serbian majority in Serbia. be paid to the attention mand that more enormous disparities created of wealth But just as it is dan global markets. by viewpanacea to the as markets gerous so too povertythe world’s and strife, for to see democracyit is dangerous as a and democracy Markets may panacea. offerwell the best long-run economic and political hope for developing and In the short societies. postcommunist part they’re of the problem. however, run, warned that the WTO must “either bend “either WTO warned that the must to the will of the people worldwide or are Echoing these voices it will break.” literally dozens of NGOs that call for “democratically the poor empowering de- unless But majoritiesworld.” the of mocratizationmore means something calling majoritythan unrestrained rule, for democracy in the developing world can shortsighted be and even danger for one thing: more democracy. At the At democracy. more thing: for one Lori in Brazil, Social Forum World 2002 Public of Citizen the rejected Wallach and explained “anti-globalization” label is globally really, movement, “our that justice, diversity, equality, for democracy, has also Wallach and quality of life.”

- - - West however, fundamentally, More trange bedfellows have joined Frank in Frank joined trange bedfellows have his criticism of “the almighty“the market”: his criticism of American farmers factory and workers the Northopposed to American Free environmentalists, Agreement, Trade of Labor– the American Federation of Industrial Organizations, Congress World Third human rights activists, ket disparities. They tend to see wealth Theywealth see to tend disparities. ket not and poverty in terms of class conflict, might This perspective ethnic conflict. Western make sense in the advanced of the but the ethnic realities societies, developing world completely differ are - Essentially, West. those of the ent from anti-globalizationthe asks movement ern critics of globalization, like their like their erncritics of globalization, have counterparts, pro-globalization overlooked of mar the ethnic dimension worse off without global marketization, off without global marketization, worse Bank studies show World and recent important with some exceptions, that, globalization’s including most of Africa, the poor as has benefited “trickle down” as the richwell in developing countries. tion respond, with some justification, justification, some with respond, tion even be would poor that the world’s advocates, and sundry that other groups advocates, and Genoa, Davos, in Seattle, protested Defenders of globaliza City. York New about the poor with a decisiveness we we with a decisiveness the poor about A host of 1920s.” since the seen hadn’t s

A WORLD ON THE EDGE - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY It is ethnicity, however, that gives the gives that however, ethnicity, is It four centuries, as a kind of cattle-owningof kind a as four centuries, But for most of this period, aristocracy. were Tutsi Hutus and the lines between the spoke groups The two permeable. combination of markets and democracy of markets combination identityEthnic combustibility. its special scientifically determinable is not a static, status but shifting and highly malleable. the 14 percent for example, In Rwanda, minority the Hutu ma dominated Tutsi jority economically and politically for For the past 20 years the For the past 20 has been United States the promoting throughout world raw, non-Western laissez-faire capitalism—a form of markets that the ago. abandoned long West for free-market democracy currently democracyfor currently free-market developing countries on pressed being States, United the In world. the around totallythe poor were disenfranchised by formal property in virtual qualifications lyevery for decades state after many the economic and was ratified, Constitution barriers well to participation remained into the 20th century.

------

N THE WEST, TERMS SUCH AS “MARKET “MARKET SUCH AS TERMS WEST, N THE refer system” “market and economy” spectrum sys economic of to a broad “Democracy,” too, can take many can take many too, “Democracy,” tems based primarilytems based private on property - reg with government and competition, ranging from and redistribution ulation States) (as in the United substantial to (as in the Scandinavianextensive coun investment initiatives. As a practical As a practical initiatives. investment include any if ever, matter they rarely, measures. substantial redistribution “democratiza the term I use forms. to the political to refer reforms tion” thein actually promoted are being that world concert today—the non-Western largely driven by for example, ed efforts, imme- to implement the United States, suffrage. universal with diate elections striking It’s to note that at no point in ever nation historyWestern did any capitalismimplement laissez-faire and suffrage simultane overnight universal formulaously—though the precise that’s ization, the elimination of state subsidies of elimination the ization, and foreign and free-trade and controls,

tries). Yet for the past 20 years the United for the past 20 years Yet tries). throughout States been promoting has laissez-faire world raw, the non-Western capitalism—a form that the of markets procap- The ago. long abandoned West being implemented italism measures include privat West outside the today I

A WORLD ON THE EDGE

- - - - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY a universal theorya universal applicable to The argument I am making is fre The argument I am quently misunderstood. I do not I do not quently misunderstood. attack America—on resent on economic glo on democracy, on markets, on ment, balization, or on any other single cause. single cause. other any or on balization, propose propose Much more concretely relevant is the is the relevant concretely Much more roughlyzero is - inter realitythere that marriage blacks between whites in and is virtually as there just no Zimbabwe, intermarriage and Chinese between Malays in Malaysia Arabs or between That in the Middleand Israelis East. ethnicity canartifact an once be at of in the and rooted human imagination of history—fluid recesses darkest and important yet to enough manipulable, kill for—is ethnic conflict what makes so terrifyingly to understand difficult and contain. every developing country. There are cer are There everydeveloping country. tainly developing countries without developing countries without tainly China minorities: market-dominant and major examples. two are Argentina Nor arises that ethnic conflict do I argue of a market-dominant in the presence only countless instances are There minority. at economically directed of ethnic hatred I emphati last, And, groups. oppressed cally do not mean to pin the blame for particularany case of ethnic violence— whether the mass killings perpetuated by or the allYugoslavia sides in the former

- - - - - At the same time, ethnic identity is the same time, At same language, intermarriage occurred, intermarriage occurred, language, same “become Hutus could successful and true was no longer That after Tutsi.” in steeped arrivedthe Belgians and, specious theories of racial superiority, identityissued ethnic basis the cards on and cranialof nose length circumfer sharpThe resulting ethnic divi ence. leaders the later exploited by were sions all similar lines, Along of Hutu Power. Latinover it is America today—where di “ethnic no often are that there said because“mixed” everyone has visions” numbers of impoverishedblood—large and Peruvians Chileans, Bolivians, suddenly are they being told that are whatever or just indios, Incas, Aymaras, identity and mobilizes. best resonates are These indigenization movements but they not necessarily or bad, good potent and contagious. are Sub rarely constructed air. out of thin of identity often perceptions jective de traits assigned “objective” more pend on for example, to individuals based on, morphologicalperceived characteristics, Try or ancestry. differences, language telling black and white Zimbabweans onlythat they imagining their ethnic are is a social “ethnicity differences—that construct”—andthey’ll agree least at being helpful. not You’re thing: one on

A WORLD ON THE EDGE

------THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY This is a refreshingly unromantic unromantic This is a refreshingly roundly condemns America’s post–Cold roundly America’s condemns campaign to export democracy to War civil institutions—both of which he institutions—both civil implicitly be generated would assumes capitalism—are precondi market by Contrasting Leetions for democracy. authoritarian prosperous Yew’s Kuan “blood - Singapore the murderous, with democratic of Colombia, states letting” Kaplan and South Africa, Rwanda, succeed.” it can’t where “places As but ultimately unsatisfactory. view, “If authoritar writerone has observed, then the key to prosperity, ianism were Africa be the richest would continent do) for Ask (as some an in the world.” PinochetAugusto or an Alberto Fuji or an Idi Amin get may and you mori, fundamen More Duvalier. Doc Papa a Kaplan overlooks the global prob tally, He minorities. lem of market-dominant but the ethnic biases of elections stresses neglects the ethnic biases of capitalism. He is overly about the ability optimistic to lift alone indige of markets the great and he fails nous masses out of poverty, some not just favor markets that see to hated often, others but, people over ethnic minorities ma indigenous over Kaplan Overlooking this reality, jorities. violence of the world’s blames too much democracy. on and anarchy

------(2000), (2000), The Coming Anarchy HERE DOES THIS LEAVE US? US? HERE DOES THIS LEAVE What the implications of are minorities market-dominant

The point, rather, is this: In the nu is this: rather, The point,

merous countries around the world the world countries around merous pervasivethat have poverty and a democracy market-dominant minority, unre and least in the raw, markets—at W edly catalyzed edly in highly ethnic conflict - con with catastrophic ways, predictable including violence genocidal sequences, and markets of subversion the and That has been democracy themselves. the sobering of globalization lesson over the past 20 years. strained forms in which currently they are only in proceed promoted—can being In such deep other. with each tension pursuit of free the combined conditions, markets and democratization has repeat Many overlappingMany and complex factors historical enmities, dynamics—religion, particular or a na territorial disputes, policy—are always foreign in play. tion’s for and international policy national Rob- making? Influential commentator Hold Kaplan offers answer: one ert D. democracyoff on markets until free social and enough economic produce to make democracydevelopment sus In tainable. Kaplanmiddlea that argues class and

A WORLD ON THE EDGE

- - - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Yet we must be realistic. The underlying be realistic. must we Yet likely includeintangibles such a host of “level the playing field” To in developing societies will thus be a painfully slow process, taking generations if it is possible at all. causes of market dominance are poorly are causes dominance market of to tangible to reduce difficult understood, event highly any and in intracfactors, for example, suggests, Research table. education, on spending that additional major socioeco by if not accompanied depressingly produces reforms, nomic though favoritism, Political few benefits. often majority point with the a sore in societies with a market-dominant many con the tends to be more minority, causethe sequence than of market Most market-dominant dominance. in whether the Bamiléké minorities, enjoy or Indians in Fiji, Cameroon at success economic disproportionate every level of society to the small down who can rarely boast est shopkeepers, Indeed, of useful political connections. minoritiesof these many despitesucceed discrimination against them. official of their success will explanation Any

- - - - - The first and most obvious step is obviousmost and is step first The The best economic hope for hope develop economic The best ing and postcommunist countries does postcommunist ing and formlie in some of market-generated best politicalTheir hope lies growth. - with con formin some of democracy, to local tailored constraints, stitutional de if global free-market But realities. of the problem mocracy is to succeed, minorities be must market-dominant stop ped If we head-on. confronted and over markets unrestrained dling night to as cure-alls—both elections ourselves and others—and instead candidly perils in the inherent address is there and democracy, markets both for cases optimism. in many room address, and possible, where isolate, to the causesof the appropriate, where In certainof dominance groups. market expanding educational South Africa, opportunities for the black majority— to than 70 years restricted for more inferior Bantu schooling—is properly prioritya national and should be vig orously supported the international by Latin America, Throughout community. educational reform and equalization poor of opportunities for the region’s majoritiesindigenous-blooded are to are if global markets imperative of than just a handful more benefit cosmopolitan elites.

A WORLD ON THE EDGE

------THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY In many respects, the results have have the results respects, In many the market designed to “correct” ethnic “correct” to designed market the exam leading The imbalances. wealth New such of ple an effortis Malaysia’s es a program (NEP), Policy Economic aftertablished riots violent in 1969 by Malays angryindigenous the eco over investors of foreign dominance nomic and the country’s ethnic Chinese minori The Malaysian adopted government ty. corporate ethnic quotas on sweeping university admissions, equity ownership, and commercial licensing, government initiated large-scale It also employment. of corporatepurchases behalf assets on majority. (Malay) of the bumiputra While has NEP the been impressive. not lifted majority the great of Malays (particularly in the ruralof out areas) a sub create it has helped to poverty, Prime middle stantial Malay class. who Minister Mahathir Mohamad, has frankly that the NEP concedes well-connected elite, tended to favor nevertheless that it contends Malays, serves an important symbolic func “With tion: fewthe of existence the rich Malays canat least the poor say their fate is not entirely to serve rich the point of view of From non-Malays. the is still and this ego strong, racial ego, unseemly tycoons of Malay existence is essential.” - - - (2000) for the benefits of giving of for(2000) benefits the A more controversial strategy controversial A more consists A crucialA ways to challenge find to is To “level the playing field” in develop “level playing the field” To the poor in the developing world formal, developingthe in poor worldthe formal, legally defensible property rights to the because but to which, land they occupy legal systemsof underdeveloped and they very often the tangles of history, lack legal title. intervention government of direct in ing societies willing societies thus be a painfully slow it is pos if generations taking process, immediate measures More sible at all. the potentially will to address be needed - of ethnic resent problems explosive that hatred ment and ethnonationalist countries. these threaten markets of global the benefits spread a handful of market-dominant beyond minorities investor and their foreign redistributive Western-style partners. social taxation, programs—progressive insurance— unemployment security, at least in but, should be encouraged, limited poten they have the short run, simplyThere is not enough to tax, tial. and nearly who can no one be trusted Other possibilities to transfer revenues. The encouraging. somewhat more are Hernando de Soto economist Peruvian The Mystery of casemakes a powerful in Capital as the influence of religion and culture. and of religion influence as the

A WORLD ON THE EDGE

------THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY More affirmatively, if free-market if free-market affirmatively, More democracy is to prosper, the world’s world’s the democracyprosper, to is ing, and recreational opportunities for and recreational ing, In number of wealth-sharing schemes. is the unusual case of the there Russia, Abramovich, Jewish Roman billionaire and am philanthropy whose generous as election him won bitious proposals of the poverty-strickengovernor Chu- East. in the Russian Far kotka region building ethnic however, typically, More action. collective require goodwill would most economically success Fortunately, for ful minorities the resources do have in the form of localethnic such action, clan associa chambers of commerce, and other organizations. tions, Kenya. The Madhvani family, owners of owners family, The Madhvani Kenya. and commercial, industrial, the largest not agricultural Africa, in East complex hous health, only educational, provide also employ but their African employees, Africans and offer in top management a of the Chinese community generally. generally. community Chinese of the begin minorities must market-dominant contribu and visible making significant whichin localtheythe to tions economies Although such efforts have thriving. are few no means al been relatively and by goodwill, ways successful in promoting canmodels valuable some be found. for example, The University of Nairobi, Indians in to wealthy its existence owes

------Efforts like the NEP, however, are far are however, EffortsNEP, like the best hope for the better or worse, For address today’s most pressing challenges. challenges. pressing most today’s address be recognized that it must begin with, To minoritiesoften market-dominant en practices—bribery, in objectionable gage labor exploita discriminatory lending, ethnic stereotypes reinforce tion—that of free-market image the and besmirch the notorious In Indonesia, democracy. Suhar of President capitalism” “crony a handful of Chinese to depended on resentment magnates and fueled massive from a universal solution. Few coun - Few solution. universal a from of prosperity the degree tries that enjoy even and Malaysia feasible, makes them eradicatingof achieved not goal has its may such programs Moreover, poverty. rather exacerbatewell ethnic tensions especially when gov them, relieve than themselves ethnic ernment are leaders Serbia’s mind, In his own partisans. Slobodan Milosevic a was conducting behalf of on action form of affirmative Zimba as majorities, long-exploited Robert Mugabe doubtless feels he bwe’s is doing now. democracywith lies global free-market minorities themselves. market-dominant This is adamantly not to blame these erup for the ethnonationalist groups it is to suggest But against them. tions tothat they be in the best position may

A WORLD ON THE EDGE n (2003). (2003). y THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY The Wilson a member of The Wilson

World on Fire: How Exporting Free Free Exporting How on Fire: World AMY CHUA, ’s board of editorial advisers, is the is the of editorial advisers, board Quarterly’s Yale of Professor Law at Duff Jr. M. John her adapted from is This essay Law School. book Breeds Ethnic Hatred and Democracy Market Instabilit Global millions around the world the World World world the around millions the - ex symbolized Center greed, Trade and cultural indifference, ploitation, By extending themselves humiliation. Americans could poor, to the world’s sort different send a to begin - mes of or into isolationism Retreating sage. glorifying American chauvinism holds to It is difficult no long-term promise. a little generosity how event, in any see, and humility could possibly hurt.

- - What- econom largest world’s of the its gross domestic product to foreign to foreign product domestic its gross other ad any than a smaller share aid, vanced country. Rightly or wrongly, for for Rightly wrongly, or country. vanced in world poverty, at least in the near fu at least in the in world poverty, those who call in for increases Yet ture. poor do seem to aid to the world’s U.S. The United their side. on wisdom have States devotes of only now 0.1 percent ically minority? dominant What are Americans obviously It’s to do? true including the that anti-Americanism, stem doesn’t virulentIslamicist strain, As deprivation alone. economic from Islami- the pointed out, others have cists themselves rarely even speak of a it is fantasy And for prosperity. desire aid can do economic U.S. that think to than make a small dent anything more

A WORLD ON THE EDGE SAINT LOUIS ART MUSEUM In George Bingham’s Stump Speaking (1853–54), a common code of civility enables people of many different kinds to meet for political discussion. THE GENTEEL REPUBLIC The decline of civility was beginning to reappear as a public concern when we published this historical perspective on the phenomenon in the Autumn 1996 issue. The introduction we wrote then is perhaps even more apt today: “A democracy, more than any other society, is built on mutual trust and cooperation among strangers, on the street as well as in the meeting hall. Creating and sustaining such trust was an important public commitment of America’s early years—one that we seem increasingly unable to make.”

BY RICHARD L. BUSHMAN

THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 - THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY These fears, of course, were not bornenot were course, of fears, These The Founders’ consternation grew out consternation The Founders’ tionary America did pass out of existence. tionary America did pass out of existence. not only survived but however, Gentility, element an essential becoming prevailed, democratic in the success of America’s middle-class the After 1776, experiment. democ- by empowered people who were ar- well-to-do racy—middling farmers, and schoolteachers—laid clerks, tisans, claim of gentility. version to their own to eager entrepreneurs Encouraged by sell them the trappings of respectable Americans installed parlors existence, carpets purchased for in simple houses, The Founders feared that feared that The Founders democracy refinement and were contradictory. of prerevolu The old social order out. state of postrevolutionary America. They feared of an anxiety to us: foreign democracy and were that refinement was after all, Gentility, contradictory. a way an elite culture, of the product and gentlemen of distinguishing ladies and thus hardly people, common from society. suited to a republican - - - - - URS IS NOT THE FIRST AGE TO FEEL THE FIRST AGE TO FEEL URS IS NOT pangs of anxiety the decline about and man refinement, of civility,

RICHARD L. BUSHMAN L. RICHARD

ners. Two centuries ago, the currents of the currents centuries ago, Two ners. similar fears among stirred revolution To Fathers. Founding America’s of many of the Enlightenment, these creatures Virginialiving in their hous- plantation manners es and Philadelphia mansions, rankedrule with the of and refinement and of science, the development law, artsthe practice of the as the greatest In their achievements. of civilization’s after in the years moments the darker democratic as a continuing Revolution, social the traditional shook revolution worried that of the Founders many order, the United States into bar was sliding a Philadelphia Rush, Benjamin barism. of the Declarationsigner and physician “the that complained of Independence, of the people had principles and morals” declined every and that government “into of the the hands fallen had where and ignorant and needy partyoung of Rushto as far so went community.” the to all done he had that he regretted say Thom the revolutionaryadvance cause. Samuel and Ad Jay, John as Jefferson, others who the many among ams were disappointment with the deep voiced

By O

THE GENTEEL REPUBLIC

- - - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY The essence of gentility was a com These new houses were dramaticallyThese new were houses pulsion to make the world beautiful, the world to make pulsion beautiful, beginning with the individual person ciate with the era come into wide use.) ciate with the era into wide use.) come and numerous. large were The windows The floor plan distinguished the great Where the mainonce all. of most houses house were of even the finest rooms and sleeping, eating, used for working, were certain now rooms entertaining, set aside strictly for a public purpose, the gathering of polite society. Earlier colonial houses were neverEarlierpaint houses were colonial occasionally except for and door the ed, rarely built of and were frames, window The new houses often red were brick. painted bright were if frame, brick or, other colors. and blue, hues of yellow, (Only asso later did the white we much years after Colonel John Foster built one after Foster years John Colonel every mem mansions, Boston first of the gentry colonial ber of the felt he must furnished with pol- in a mansion reside and creamwares, furniture, ished walnut plate—all life. ornaments of the genteel The their predecessors. from different people of even the wealthiest homes low of the earlier cramped, era were newThe mansions and dark. ceilinged, risingsometimes to tended to be taller, higher ceilings with much stories, three colorful. also more They were inside.

- - minds of the first English set minds of the first tlersTheir lives in North America. ENTILITY WAS NOT MUCH ON THE THE NOT MUCH ON ENTILITY WAS

material conditions of early colonial life. material of early conditions life. colonial a at the end of the 17th century, Then, recently migratedhandful of merchants Britain citybuilt from Bostonin houses would houses that we and Philadelphia, Soon new substantial callnow mansions. Georgian in the fashionable dwellings style up in these cities and going were Ports in Tidewater, Virginia the across Valley, River in the Connecticut mouth, and near Charleston. the Hudson, along barely 90 By the time of the Revolution, generally were governed by more austere more by governed generally were the austere not to mention codes, religious

the floors, drank tea from inexpensive inexpensive drank tea from the floors, shrubs planted grass and in creamware, been weeds had there where yards front and bought books and packedearth, instructing them in comportment and this peculiar amalgam From etiquette. capitalist conviction, of republican practice there and genteel enterprise, society: an anomalous emerged a mid- dle-class democracy of remains with the aristocratican in its embedded culture It was a society uniquely equipped core. of equality with the promise to reconcile of economic the unpleasant realities inequality and social division. G

THE GENTEEL REPUBLIC THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY HILL’S MANUAL OF SOCIAL AND BUSINESS FORM HILL’S Here, readers are warned against “ungraceful Etiquette manuals proliferated during the 19th century. details of social life. positions” in the parlor and instructed in practical

THE GENTEEL REPUBLIC

- - - Il- Gala THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY itself derives from the the itself derives from genteel , and again in the late 16th century , gentle , which entered English usage twice, twice, usage English which entered , gentil , first published in 1558. In Europe, In Europe, published in 1558. first , Washington’s manual was one of lit manual was one Washington’s The word word The teo used to instructthe courtesy were books preparing for gentlemen life at young court of noblemen. or in the households a crucial facilitated The books transition erally cir of such that books hundreds and its colonies Europe culated through the 16th centuryfrom Indeed, onward.* 110 rules were Washington’s most of an Italian manual, derived from French French in the 13th centuryfirst when it turned into the English with the new along to England traveling when, of more it retained ideas about behavior at court, The . and became genteel pronunciation its French terms: of kindred was linked to a number word well-bred, tasteful, refined, polished, polite, civil. gay, fashionable, urbane, * wearing clean clothes, much less attend much wearing clean clothes, recent a relatively was manners, ing to everything Now associated innovation. genteel body was subject to with the Rule after rule young told the discipline. not to let his mouth closed, man to keep slack. go jaw his or out hang tongue his so indelibly mouth, composed The firm, the was Washington, associated with a model of a gentleman, posture facial person’s of the genteel for the treatment body. entire

- - -

Even among the European aristocracy, aristocracy, the European among Even and reaching out to the environment— to the environment— out and reaching even streets. parks, gardens, houses, more even as they built grander, Thus, the gentry new built houses, refined of 10 As a boy selvesto inhabit them. George for example, or 12 in the 1740s, his tutor to by was required Washington “110 Rules of Civility and Decent copy and Conversa Behaviour In Company “courte of of hundreds It was one tion.” during this era. in circulation sy books” of trivialThe rules a multitude covered of Others “In the Presence behaviors: humming a with Sing yourself to not Drumnor Fingers your with or Noise, required regulations were Many Feet.” of “In Company society:in a deferential those of Higher Quality than yourself a Ques asked Speak are not ti[ll] you then Standtion upright put of your in fewHat and Answer words.” the practice of bathing regularly and The essence of gentility of gentility essence The make to was a compulsion - beautiful, begin the world the individual ning with out and reaching person to the environment.

THE GENTEEL REPUBLIC - ly THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY The genteel idea cut hard against thecut hard idea The genteel But the power of gentility cut two of gentilitycut two the power But for personal aggrandizement. Genteel for aggrandizement. personal as a private a public as well had conduct of beautifully The purchase purpose. decorated objects was not the whim of These mimicry. or simpleminded wealth objects and the forms of behavior that instruments them were accompanied a for achieving of living, a higher mode civilized. refined, of being polished, way grain of the ideas and forces of many that America through pulsed in the years been could have Nothing 1776. around sisted on the best manners. It was not, It was not, manners. the best sisted on a discipline undertaken mere moreover, ways. To claim it, the gentry had first claim it, To ways. discipline. to an exacting to submit the construction of Gentility required parlors demanded that be mansions, in furnished with walnut furniture, unstable foundation of wealth rather rather wealth of foundation unstable inheritedthan rank. cut hard The genteel idea many the grain of against forces that of the ideas and America in pulsed through the years around 1776.

- - Gentility than a decorative was more in the organization of power in Europe, in Europe, organizationin the of power feudal the system kings to weak of from the Ren- the end of by a system which, focal the kings made point aissance, social power. and political, of military, ruled once who had with nearlyNobles unchecked sovereignty own their over to attend compelled now were domains polished where court, at the monarch appearancesmanners and beautiful were and privileges. needed to win favors It was a flourish adorning life at court. fa- gaining of means a formpower, of and of assertingvor cultural superiority. analyst great the theof LawrenceStone, tion in an efforttion keep up appearances to They under King Charles I (1625–49). their houses, themselves, to refine had styleand their entire of life to maintain court at their positions and in society. Gentility thus arrived in the colonies and a mission. pedigree with an honored of all that of the court, It was the culture of the high and noble, was considered also an instrument it was and best; finest available to all who wished to of power needed such an in- group No claim it. gen strument than the colonial more whose authority the was built on try, War, concluded 17th-century that the War, aristocracy nearly spent itself to extinc English aristocracyEnglish evethe Civil the of on

THE GENTEEL REPUBLIC

- - - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY REVOLUTIONARY OPPOSITION CAN CAN OPPOSITION REVOLUTIONARY of the the culture either destroy rulingpreceding class or appropri Once appropriated, gentility was gentility was Once appropriated, ate it. In the American Revolution, the In the American Revolution, ate it. While many choice was appropriation. at the prospect of the elite despaired others of vulgarity to power, coming In the years at polishing society. worked muse for example, after the Revolution, founded to elevate the public ums were - taste and reformers pushed for the cre manners where schools, public of ation R’s. the three with taught along were culture, of obliteratingInstead genteel American democracy ordinary allowed people to make gentility their own. In the turned to democratic purposes. gentility apartset had smalla colonies, educated and ladies elite of wealthy, gentlemen who lived in the great houses, houses, in the great who lived gentlemen high and occupied society, dominated and Backgammon; so much Horse Rac much so and Backgammon; Strength, “produce It would said. Adams Fortitude Courage, Activity, Hardiness the manly Enterprise; and and noble Sublime Qualities in human Nature.” ing and Cockfighting, so many Ballsand so many Cockfighting, ing and Plays so many and Concerts Assemblies, that the very of them makes Imagination frivolous and insignif light, me feel vain, other qualities, favored A republic icant.” A

- - - - - New York Weekly Weekly New York Adams went on to say that an that an to say on went Adams American monarchy “would produce “would produce American monarchy so much and Politeness, Taste so much Equipage, Furniture, Elegance in Dress, so much Musickso much and Dancing, Cards so much and Skaiting, Fencing more alien to the spirit alien gentility of more than for demand its with - disci capitalism, and self-denial. frugality, plined work, a Man as warm keep as may Cottage “A Neces is no absolute there and a Palace; sity of covering Bodies with Silk,” our declared a writer in the no quenching“Is there Journal in 1735. but in Chrystal? cut No Thirst, of our unless the Knife has ting of our Bread, of This is the voice an Agate Handle?” capitalist rationality elevated into moral at times ministers Protestant injunction. But re critical their own added voices. probably the publican politicians were Gentility was an affront loudest critics. to the basic egalitarian impulse of repub Ad John Madam,” “Pray licanculture. Warren ams asked his neighbor Mercy eve the of American on in January 1776, for an Ameri - you “are independence, or Republic? Monarchy can Monarchy and most fashionable is the genteelest the why know and I dont Government, Ladies Elegance ought not to consult in Government, as well and the Fashion or Chariots.” Bureaus as Gowns,

THE GENTEEL REPUBLIC ------THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Gentilityto Americans gave a reason consump this increased of The volume tion is not a matter of guesswork. In ru of guesswork. is not a matter tion for example, Delaware, ralCounty, Kent of those of middlingless than 10 percent shortlydied who means Revthe before - or cherry walnut, leftolution mahogany, fancy furniture—the parlorsin kind used Of those who died 70 and dining rooms. more 1842 and 1850, between later, years such owned furniture. than two-thirds similar sevenfold increases were There forged between gentility between forged capitalism. and that capitalismbuy the goods produced, and capitalism in turn democratized turning energeticaland gentilityout by of the versions affordable ly promoting The required. living genteel that goods of the gentrygrowth during the 18th cen tury itself fueled startling by economic of the spread In the 19th century, gains. segment of larger to a much refinement vastlythe mar population the enlarged Thousands goods. ket for manufactured silk, of Americans damask, needed now the rough to replace woolens and fine deemed quite adequate once homespun cur They required and suits. for dresses carpets for their tains for their windows, paint for chairs for their parlors, floors, plantings for gar- their their clapboards, established a in short, Gentility, dens. style of consumption.

- - it

What drove this transformation What this transformation drove apitalism democratized apitalism democratized government offices. Now everyone everyone Now offices. government Everyone who gentility. possess could was a popular desire to emulate those to emulate was a popular desire who stood at the peak of society and life a with one’s dignify to government, portion of the glory that radiated from ex- the But circles. best and highest the traordinary of gentility growth in the United States been possi not have would ble without the unlikely alliancewas that a few of the outward signs of refined a few signs of refined of the outward life—perhapsparlora carpet cloth a and be respect table—could the dining on “ladies and In the 18th century, able. designated a distinct class of gentlemen” the rest. people who stood apart from minor artisans, farmers, long, Before schoolteachers and all answered clerks, By the middle of the to that name. it included everyone who 19th century, attended a circus. affordable versions of affordable versions of the goods that genteel living required. gentility by promoting gentility by promoting C could adopt genteel manners and exhib manners genteel could adopt

THE GENTEEL REPUBLIC

- - - - -

THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY But moderating this viewof human ues that measured human worth differmeasured that ues in One might not be able to live ently. the same neighborhood as an Astor or a but it was nevertheless possible Biddle, effort diligent claimthrough to lay to an This society. “respectable” in equal place writers, by viewwas actively promoted and other reformers who preachers, worried about class in the 19th divisions a Catherine Marie Sedgwick, century. wrote popular New England novelist, that tends more is nothing “there that to the separation into classes than dif thatThis is a badge of manners. ference all can see.” The novelist Catherine The novelist Catherine wrote that Marie Sedgwick that tends “there is nothing more to the separation difference into classes than of manners.” cultural genteel val achievement were wealth. If wealth alone were the mea the were alone If wealth wealth. capias unadulterated of success, sure United then the implied, talist culture States was a profoundly unequal and undemocratic society.

------

for the goods produced in the in for produced the goods dustrialists’ factories, so it facilitated so it facilitated factories, dustrialists’ UST AS GENTILITY CREATED A MARKET UST AS GENTILITY CREATED

italism itself, with its vast payoffs for for with its vast payoffs italism itself, successful businessmen and its rela for most others. tively rewards meager industrial under capi growth Indeed, inequalities great talism depended on the accumulation to facilitate of wealth of capital large-scale that made invest to Revolution the From possible. ment inequality economic in War, the Civil the United States grew increasingly se the period, the of end the by until vere, of property upper 10 percent holders of the than 60 percent more controlled a peculiar kind of equality. The greatest The greatest a peculiar kind of equality. democratic to equalitythreat was cap did, and more than half of the two mid than half of the two and more did, tion owned a carpet; 70 years later, every later, years 70 a carpet; owned tion top quarter in the one population of the dle quarters. Similarwas seen in growth dle quarters. looking bed linens, ceramic dinnerware, After the and carriages. clocks, glasses, story Kent County’s was Revolution, all the new over repeated United States, as striving the essential families amassed a vast creating living, of genteel tokens new for goods. consumer market

in virtuallyin every genteel of kind other died in who one No good. household CountyKent the eveRevoluthe of on J

THE GENTEEL REPUBLIC - - - - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Many 19th-centuryMany Americans took The spread of genteel culture muted the class question in the United States, softening divisions between rich and poor. him, and every gen is a possible laborer him, of money possession the by not tleman, clothes—butthe refin or fine through of intellectualing influence moral and the doors therefore, wide, Open culture. all libraries galleries, of your and picture Plant spacious ye true. republicans!. . unloose their and cities, in your parks gates of morninggates as wide as the to the whole people.” ele up the challenge and sought to add Sedg to their lives. ments of refinement volumes publisher said her three wick’s popular seriesmost the of of “one were suc They were ever published.” works cessful because of others were hundreds eti- values through genteel propagating The novels. and magazines, books, quette print of tidal wave flooding the country life of genteel into every images bore All literate persons corner of the land. even and manners, exposed to good were exposed to the ornaments of were more

- - - - - the poor and degraded to degraded and poor the assist (1835), lives frugally lives his modest in (1835), Like Sedgwick, Frederick Law OlmFrederick Sedgwick, Like Sedgwick told uplifting stories poor of sted, the designer of New York City’s City’s York the designer of New sted, the was thought culture Central Park, of inequality. to the problem solution that shall need institutions more “We directly pay on good books, music, and draw music, books, good on pay Home Home meagerhis of some spends but tenement ing lessons, and sends his children to and sends his children ing lessons, When an acquaintance dancing school. Barclay the dancing lessons, questions “There that conduces is nothing replies, than learning grace, to ease and more to dance.” elevate themselves,” he declared. People People he declared. elevate themselves,” gar up parks, “get to like himself had dens, music, dancing schools, reunions, reunions, dancing schools, music, dens, which as to force will be so attractive the and bad, the good into contact in hope of rowdy,” and the gentleman inspira Olmsted’s uplifting the latter. was the landscapetion An architect whose ringing drew Jackson Downing, Park” “The1851 manifestoYork New course when he laid out set Olmsted’s “The later in the decade: Central Park higher social and artistic elements of lie dormant within nature every man’s men who managed to live genteel lives lives genteel live to who managed men the Barclay, Mr. poverty. despite their print shop in York of a New manager

THE GENTEEL REPUBLIC - - - - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Yet the middle-classthe belief idea—the Yet beautiful pictures and write and pictures beautiful was verses was un that was also much There naive. though generous vision, Their forgiving. excluded allwho failed to those it was, Olmsted set standards. embrace their strict rulesforbehavior of newhis park was not to be a beer It in Manhattan. were and parkgoers he warned, garden, and gentlemen—or like ladies to act a a lot from He asked home. else stay con rudely educated population, poor, A immigrants. stantly augmented by portionlarge of the American populace gentility still on looked with scorn or Many as an alien culture. indifference lacked the means or the understanding African Amer their betters. to emulate In Philadelphia, of all. icans worst fared of the many and Boston, York, New bar- black urban elite—schoolteachers, artisans—embracedand ministers, bers, that it only to find promise the genteel them no closerbrought to equality. could lift conduct that proper a person into the ranks of the respectable—ex erted influence in the Unit a powerful transmittedIt was through ed States. virtually every channel of society to down reaching everycorner society, of to the immigrantghetto schools where waysin the theof tutored were children of the As the population newcountry. - - - There was much in the republican in the republican was much There The spread of genteel culture muted muted culture of genteel The spread but left were sure, be out to Many ent order of life. Income differentials in differentials Income of life. ent order vast, United Statesthe are day this to of Americans proportion a huge and yet identify themselves as middle-class. other and Olmsted, Sedgwick, of vision The no reformers that was unrealistic. learn that farmers to drawtion would many found their way in. Large numbers in. foundmany their way the late 19thof working-class people by even had and some century parlors, had might Their incomes pianos in them. to what compared been miniscule have enjoyed, of town those in the better areas their opportunitiesand been might have not of a differ but they were limited, genteel existence by shopkeepers, ped shopkeepers, by existence genteel catalogues. mail-order later, and, dlers, classthe States, United the in question softening rich between divisions and em- and employers between and poor whose members household Any ployees. could learn to wash their hands and to handkerchief, a with noses their blow who could boast even a small parlor and claimcould of flowers, appreciation an The middlemembership in the class. of the upper culture of the adoption made even rudimentary in classes, form, it possible to claim in the membership same cultural order.

THE GENTEEL REPUBLIC - - - - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY The genteel idea was moored not only moored idea was The genteel in ideas. Throughout the 19th century, century, 19th the Throughout ideas. in the by it was continuously reinvigorated of an aristocracypresence that Europe in the embodiment was still considered The writers of courte of elevated life. “best manners of the cited the sy books meaning the as their authority, people” aristocracyEuropean the Ameri and can elite that tried social to imitate it. counterculture’s celebration of “authen of celebration counterculture’s all with of its during the 1960s, ticity” fallout continuing for American society. we have From Freud on, been made to believe that civilized refinement is a thin veneer covering raw forces below the surface. that it is a measure of human progress, progress, of human is a measure that it sci- and art, rule the with along law, of as ceased to command ago long ence, possible to it was also After Freud, sent. gentility have—that many insist—and disguising our trueis a mask nature, au best ripped to allow a more away Although hardly thentic self to emerge. this conception the belief of everyone, for the the way of human life prepared - - - -

assured, of course. Even as gentil Even of course. assured, ityzenithits reached a culturalas ENTILITY’S HOLD WAS NOT ETERNALLY NOT ETERNALLY ENTILITY’S HOLD WAS

not to talk or laugh too loudly. “Gentle too loudly. not to talk or laugh men will kindly the stamping of avoid feet and pounding of canes the floor, on the Management,” and greatly oblige by applause is best shown “All said. one clapping of hands.” out printed cards admonishing offendersout printed cards admonishing country’s cities swelled from about 10 about country’sfrom swelled cities in 54 million to some in 1870 million simply on getting the premium 1920, work and Poor public grew. in along but ing-class ways, their own people had the weight where was no question there the turn Around lay. opinion of public writes historian F. John of the century, in the new movie and vaude Kasson, peo- together ville theaters that brought of life, walks different many ple from uniformed the aisles to ushers patrolled handing sometimes maintain decorum,

force around the turn of the century, its the turn of the century, around force undermined. being were foundations to been made have we on, Freud From passions—lust, believe that the dark of human the realities fear—are greed, is a and that civilized refinement life, covering thin veneer raw below forces gentility could be best, At the surface. The assertion seen as a tragic necessity. G

THE GENTEEL REPUBLIC - - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Although we lament the decline lament we Although of its hold on our conduct altogether. Be altogether. conduct our on its hold cause habit, mainlyheld in place it is by run, is no telling long its fate in the there but an early seems unlikely. death observersmanners—and issuing were Victorian such even laments in the era—gentility has been transmuted ever, than More ratherobliterated. than lifesocial performancea is which, in like the gentry America, of colonial albeit with to appearance, heed pay we or fashions apparel dress-for-success All the country, over the Gap. from endlessexpend people effort man on their beautiful show lawns to icured and spend houses to best advantage oils and olive exotic significant sums on that advertisetheir cultural other goods Every sophistication and refinement. a room have house must respectable can guests entertainedbe where and china the good and silver can where be no longer we while And put into play. still have we the aristocracy, admire superior emula societies that inspire of the magnetic Part and striving. tion League of Ivy attraction is universities the aura of a higher and they project Obtaining an Ivy League better society. is the modern-day equivalent of degree The Ivies house the marrying a title. newaristocracy. ------Since the retreat of aristocracy, no no of aristocracy, Since retreat the With its intellectual and social foun dations weakened, gentility seem may weakened, dations But it is prema to extinction. doomed concludeto ture courtesythat will lose table for scandalous their escapades than their social graces. cultural authority to take has emerged and consumption. of conduct command an of buying to emulate Instead goods people con imagined superior society, sume for pleasure, sensation, efficiency, efficiency, sensation, sume for pleasure, comfort—a host of desirables— therapy, followingmagazine writ the whims of and pop preachers, pundits, admen, ers, authority unified No psychologists. Wash did in as it culture over presides Pleas for to civility a return day. ington’s out of a vague sense that social lifegrow not deteriorates manners, without good out of a serious to submit commitment The word “society.” self to the sovereign a stain rather than a itself is now genteel signifying- an exces of distinction, mark preoccupation a nicety, concern with sive to face a refusal appearances, with mere realities. the hard Americancaptains of industry in the century19th greater no could imagine glory for fortheir daughters than them bit the aristo But bit by to marry lords. crats forfeited their illustrious standing, no- more are even royals the today and

THE GENTEEL REPUBLIC n

is Gouverneur is Gouverneur THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY RICHARD L. BUSHMAN Morris Professor of HistoryMorris Professor emeritus at is the author of He Columbia University. including The Refinement books, numerous Cities (1992). Houses, of America: Persons, Civil behavior, an effort to please, regard an effort to please, behavior, Civil and virtually all the feelings, for others’ Washington’s other principles in George courtesy an advantage. still book give Our in civility belief often be too may but until it no in the breach, honored are children way influences the longer bruised and gentility will endure, raised, very but alive. much perhaps, wounded

- Powerful cultural forces such cultural as gentil forces Powerful ity the centuries over gather momentum This is inertia through alone. on and roll such as racism, as true malign forces, of cultural Good ones. benign is of it as not easily are ones as bad habits as well especially taught they when are broken, Middle-class are children in childhood. dancing schools, still to endure made and endless instructions piano lessons, that know Their parents in behavior. crucialat points—applying forjob, a meeting a interviewing for college, the boss, impressing parents, fiancé’s count. a customer—manners persuading

THE GENTEEL REPUBLIC JOSEPH SOHM / VISIONS OF AMERICA / CORBIS A blizzard of confetti and balloons greeted American troops during New York City’s Persian Gulf War victory parade in 1991. A LESS THAN SPLENDID LITTLE WAR On the 10th anniversary of the triumphant end of the Persian Gulf War, and only months before 9/11, Andrew J. Bacevich wrote this prophetic critique of the new conception of America’s role in the world he said had emerged from the victory. Bacevich wrote a number of articles for the WQ after he retired as a colonel from the Army in the 1990s. This essay is from the Winter 2001 issue.

BY ANDREW J. BACEVICH

THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014

------THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY In the war’s immediate aftermath, aftermath, immediate the war’s In to announce the suspension of combat of combat the suspension to announce H.W. George President operations, Bush leftfor the doubt that room no United States achieved precisely had “Kuwait sought: had it outcome the army is defeat Iraq’s is liberated. Our military met.” are objectives ed. with Characterizing his confrontation General Nor army, Saddam Hussein’s man Schwarzkopf colorful used more to make the same point: language leaving butt, kicked this guy’s “We’d we’d mind that no doubt in anybody’s decisively.” won desert victory seemed not America’s only but without precedent decisive So in the annals of military history. stunning an achievement fueled expec that Deserttations Storm pay would the dividends extending far beyond Those expectations— military sphere. the bat on the action than even more Americans tlefield—persuaded that the stun In a turninga point. marked war ripostening criticsto argued had who the 1980s that the United throughout States slipped into a period had of ir War Gulf the Persian decline, reversible emphaticallyannounced that America was back top. on - - The EARLY A DECADE AFTER ITS CONCLU A DECADE EARLY observes Rich of Frank sion,” , “the Persian Gulf Persian “the Times, New York

ANDREW J. BACEVICH

Rich is correct in the sense that, 10 10 in the sense that, Rich is correct In outline, that official version was was version that official In outline, By War is already looking like a footnote looking is already War appraisal of Rich’s Americanto history.” Operation Desert Storm and the events at once, to be, manages it surrounding accurate and massively wrong. appears the war no longer on, years a colossal 1991: as it did in 1990 and adeptly a courageous and feat of arms, and of statesmanship, stroke executed that to aggression response a decisive laid the basis for a new international view of the war, “official” The order. senior U.S. energetically by promoted military and figures government of ficers and, at least for a time, echoed echoed at least fora time, and, ficers exultant national an by and amplified obsolete. has become media, and das- unprovoked simplicity itself: peace-loving a small, tardly aggression; a line snuffednation out of existence; a swift and certain drawn in the sand; the United States by that response mobilizes- communi the international The outcome, ty to put things right. Speaking from was unambiguous. too, 1991, the Oval February on 28, Office

N ‘‘ A LESS THAN SPLENDID LITTLE WAR

- - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY That view accorded precisely with the That view accorded To the president and his advisers, the advisers, his and president the To United States with a unique opportu nity: only not the recurrence to prevent the foundation but to lay of aggression for what Bush called a new world order. order, shape that Americanwould power guaranteeand American would power the United States in place a preeminent out to the rest “reach America would it. se Bush and his national of the world,” curity adviser Brent Scowcroft wrote, but, but, curity Scowcroft Brent wrote, adviser “keep the America would in doing so, hands.” tightlystrings in [U.S.] of control Cherishing preferences. own Pentagon’s American their newly prestige, restored military no means eager by were leaders They touted the Gulf to put it at risk. not simply as a singular victory War conflict a event, paradigmatic a as but vivid demonstration of U.S. military of U.S. vivid demonstration in the Gulfpaid to lin put had prowess gering doubts about Americancredibility. Its newly the minted credibility endowed we say something that is objectively is objectively that something say we to listen.” going are people . . . correct, heal appeared to The war that had festered wounds for a generation.

- - frequently. “I less frequently.

N A SINGLE STROKE, THEN, THE WAR THE THEN, STROKE, A SINGLE N appeared to heal wounds that had had that to heal wounds appeared Reflecting forgeneration. a festered Bush himself famously proclaimed

the views of many professional officers, officers, viewsthe professional many of chairman of General Powell, Colin his expressed the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Vietnam of the the demons belief that last been exorcised. at long had War he DesertThanks to Operation Storm, “the American people fell in love wrote, Indeed, again with their armed forces.” phrase to troops”—a “the to references and network pundits, which politicians, anchors all a sudden liking—con took a not-so-subtle shiftveyed in attitude a level of soldiers and suggested toward and affection that had respect, empathy, and even unimaginable, been absent, since the late 1960s. Gulf, with its victory in the Persian that, the United States last kicked at long had That the so-calledVietnam syndrome. welcomed did not mean the president such military of more the prospect ad was reverse the anything, If ventures. the Its militarytrue: unshackled, power United States henceforth would find force itself employing we think because of what has happened, the around forces to use U.S. have won’t during predicted his first Bush world,” “I think when conference. postwar press I

A LESS THAN SPLENDID LITTLE WAR

- - - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Subsequent events have not dealt Subsequent dealt not events have affair with love America’s starters, For the war’s immediate aftermath, Bush’s Bush’s aftermath, immediate the war’s ratings 90 above rocketed approval experts Most believed that the percent. handling adept of the Per president’s sian Gulf crisis all guaranteed but his term. to a second election kindly with those initial postwar expec the 1992 presidential Indeed, tations. whichAmericanselection—in handed of victory architect the Gulf the in his that the war’s walking papers—hinted than legacy be different actual would and the fruits originally advertised, Bill of victory than expected. other of com elevation to the office Clinton’s mander in chief was only among one several surprises. an turned more be to out troops the lasting commitment. than a infatuation A series of scandals—beginning just aftermonths Desert Storm with the conven Tailhook infamous Navy’s U.S. in 1991—thrusttion the military into Kulturkampf. the center of the ongoing contentedly of basking Instead in the military institutions of victory, glow found themselves pilloried for being out of step with enlightened attitudes and sexual suchon matters as gender the generals In early 1993, orientation. themselvesin a nasty embroiled public - - -

Finally, the war seemed to have large large the war seemed to have Finally, election to a second term. crisis all but guaranteed his handling of the Persian Gulf that the president’s adept adept that the president’s al- implications for politics, domestic though whether those implications were cause of celebration or despondency de In partisan affiliation. one’s on pended believed Most experts believed political meddling, a predesignated “exit “exit a predesignated political meddling, strategy”—the of all these convergence decisive a brief, produced had factors to the norms fought according campaign, warfare and concluded of conventional - moralwithout and cost com modest at their way, If the generals got plications. Desert future to conduct standing ready Storms henceforth would the define military’s central purpose. U.S. that revealed the future of war and out of war and the future that revealed military U.S. of role the proper lined fellow and his generals Powell power. “lessons.” key rushed codify the war’s to Clearly to vital related objectives stated of the employment interests, national overwhelming and superior force tech insulated from commanders nology,

A LESS THAN SPLENDID LITTLE WAR

THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Bush’s expectation (and Powell’s hope) (and Powell’s expectation Bush’s The decade following The decade following Gulf became victory in the a period of unprecedented American military activism. that the United States rarely would The failed to materialize. force employ War—and, Gulf of the Persian outcome of the the outcome significantly, more more conditions War—created Cold and to order, than to disorder conducive successor both Bush and his confronted view each would that aswith situations un- Because would inaction intolerable. claimsglobal leadershipto dermine U.S. habits, isolationist to revive and threaten StatesUnited the that imperative was it the decade As a result, engaged. remain following victory in the Gulf became a booming economy: The privateThe sector economy: a booming was solution Their deal. a better offered to deploy benefits, and pay to improve and to recruiters, of platoons additional their efforts redouble their market to the burnish its drab image, To “product.” straitened the most of the Army, U.S. a new evenadopted headgear: services, each service also With less fanfare, beret. enlistment standards. its began to relax

- - - - - The real storyreal The militaryof policy in As the military became increasingly feminized, young American men American young men feminized, evinceda dwindling inclinationserve. to de two insisted that the The Pentagon Although unrelated. were velopments militarythe active in a third shrank by overall size duringdecadethe follow the services were War, ing the Gulf to keep the increasingly hard-pressed - Mil the end of the 1990s. ranks full by itary to attributed leaders the problem confrontation with their new with their commander confrontation gays of whether in chief question the over The should serve openly in the military. don’t ask, “don’t But top brass prevailed. Pyrrhic to be a prove would victory. tell” was the transformationthe 1990s the of armed services of mascu- bastions from linity increasingly (an suspect quality) accommo that were into institutions friendly.” “family and dating to women in the a major advance was The result se crusade equality, for absolute gender or simply dis watering down, by cured of military notions traditional carding, By decade’s cohesion. and unit culture Americans it as a matter of took end, pilots were course that female fighter and that flying strike Iraq, over missions American an attackterrorist a on war- ship left female the dead sailors among and wounded.

A LESS THAN SPLENDID LITTLE WAR

------THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY All those operations had one common common one All those operations had commitments. (President Clinton sent Clinton (President commitments. Bosnia in 1995 into peacekeepers U.S. to withdraw them in a year; promising when he left later, years than five more still garrisoning the Bal GIs were office, preference kans.) In contrast to Powell’s norm the foroverwhelmingusing force, became to expend military in dis power to signal punish, increments—to crete (Op or to influence behavior. resolve, the American-led eration Allied Force, on proceeded war for in 1999, Kosovo illusorythe or three- a that assumption of airpower four-day demonstration Slobodan persuade would Milosevic course. (In Somalia, the mission changed the mission (In Somalia, course. feeding starving the from to waging war against Somali often warlords.) More intervention led not to a prompt than not, but to open-ended outcome and decisive As the impeachment crisis impeachment As the at the loomed hos renewed the president 1998, end of the brief December Iraq; tilities against as Operation known 1998 air offensive but to a persistent way gave Desert Fox desultory campaign bombing that sput to the veryon tered end of his presidency. the terms Each violated of the feature: the Doctrine regarding so-called Powell sought by state” “end The use of force. military defined was seldom action clearly often and was at mid modified

------The motives for interventionThe motives varied a period of unprecedented American American a periodof unprecedented military activism. as widely as the particular circumstanc sent Bush In 1991, ground. the es on into northern to protect troops Iraq U.S. Saddam fleeing from refugees Kurdish his electoral defeat Following Hussein. he tasked the military with a in 1992, major humanitarian effort in Somalia: state and aid to to bring to a failed order to Not mass starvation. a people facing or Bill Clinton President be outdone, the militarydered of Haiti, occupation militarya remove to power from junta by Moved democracy. “restore” and to Clinton of ethnic cleansing, the horrors In Rwan Bosnia. and occupied bombed da he intervened after there the genocide Determined largelyhad run its course. Treaty North the Atlantic to prevent being dis from Organization (NATO) he fought war for a substantial credited, Slobodan and provided Kosovo Milos ethnic evic for renewed with a pretext military ac which NATO’s cleansing, In lesser actions, did little to arrest. tion cruise- missiles to re employed Clinton taliate (ineffectually) against Saddam for allegedly plotting to assassi Hussein, againstand Bush nate formerPresident forattacks terrorist Osama Bin Landen, Africain embassies 1998. in U.S. two on

A LESS THAN SPLENDID LITTLE WAR

------THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY In short, the eventsthe that short, In boat rendered a billion-dollar boat rendered hors destroyer Navy U.S. killed and de combat 17 that the notion Americans, of supe- possession the mere rior military technology and the United gave know-how States the ultimate trump card rang hollow. sought escape by proposing proposing escape sought by the principleto waive of immunity.) noncombatant Bush’s dashed President of a new worlddreams or Powell the der also rendered Doctrine- obsolete and de that molished expectations might War Gulf the Persian a template for the provide of planning and execution military oper U.S. future By the fall of 2000, ations. rubber bomb-laden a when UDGED IN TERMS OF THE PREDICTIONS UDGED IN TERMS OF THE PREDICTIONS in its imme voiced and expectations War Gulf the Persian diate aftermath, does seem destined to end up as little morelittle as up end to destined seem does But unbur than a historical afterthought. dening the war of those inflated expecta war of those inflated dening the perspec yieldstions different an altogether legacy the actual on of Desert Storm. tive J - to submit to NATO’s will.) Nor were were will.) Nor to NATO’s to submit American steer clear soldiers able to of the moral complications that went hand in hand with these untidy con THE GRANGER COLLECTION, NYC swift nation’s A noisy magazine-cover Uncle Sam celebrates the in 1898. victory in the Spanish-American War (The United States NATO and flicts. bringing the war by in Kosovo won to the Serbianhome population—an uncomfortable which some reality from

A LESS THAN SPLENDID LITTLE WAR

- - THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY The Spanish-American War propelled The Spanish-AmericanWar - a pattern of repeti the Philippines, pacify militarytive intervention in the Caribbe with tortured relationship America’s an, bloody Asian wars fought and three Cuba, or a greater to decades—all in three derive, in 1898. what occurred from lesser extent, of those events was even not one And William remotely visible when President Cubans from McKinley set out to free oppression. Spanish of the yoke powers. Notable events of the century Notable that powers. followed—including an ugly campaign to Miles “liberating” Puerto a Rico—was “liberating” Miles the war yet, And trivial military episode. history. a turning U.S. point in marked The brief with Spain conflict ended any that Americans have compunction may felt feasibility about the or propriety of norms values and their own imposing the nation With that war, others. on enthusiastically of its share shouldered to preside burden,” “white man’s the thereafter and client colonies over states The in the Caribbean Pacific. and the war saddled the American military with em that to govern new responsibilities nearly insoluble large, and with one pire, defend to the how strategic problem: of the Spanish the largest Philippines, to whichpossessions the United States laid claim.had the United States into the ranks of great - - - - - In retrospect, the Spanish-American In retrospect, To reach a fair evaluation of the war’s a fair evaluation of the war’s reach To Rather, the most appropriate comparison appropriate most the Rather, war,” little “splendid is with that other of 1898. the Spanish-AmericanWar SchwarzkopfNorman triumph over ’s the obsolete army of Saddam Hussein Dew George a par with Admiral is on ey’s fabled triumph over an antiquated fabled triumph an antiquated over ey’s Bay. Manila at Spanish naval squadron militaryBoth qualify as genuine victo true But the of each is not measure ries. and dispatch with which the economy their adversary vanquished forces U.S. large and but the entirely unforeseen, which to consequences ly problematic, each victory rise. gave just Dewey at Manila Bay, War—not the chargeRoosevelt leading Teddy but up San Juan Hill and General Nelson Though it lacks the resplendence that in it lacksThough resplendence the birthright, proper war’s seemed the 1991 import to be both the legacy promises ant and enduring. of first Americans must, significance, properlyit situate grandthe in nar- all, Desert military history. U.S. of rative Storm clearly rank does not with mili or tary enterprisesWar such Civil the as abbreviated does the Nor II. War World campaign in the desert bear comparison with other 20th-centurysuch conflicts and Vietnam. Korea, I, War as World

A LESS THAN SPLENDID LITTLE WAR

- - - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY With Operation Desert Storm, a cen With Operation Desert Storm, Gone, apparently, were the days of slug were apparently, Gone, tury of industrial warfare or more age came to an end and a new era of infor- the United States was uniquely attuned. the United States was uniquely attuned. airpowerprom informationthe In age, ised to be to warfare what acupuncture economical, clean, a to medicine: was nearlyand for array an remedy painless of complaints. mation age warfare beckoned—a style age mation of to which without saying, went it warfare, Gone, and bloodbaths. stalemates, fests, mis the days battlefield when were too, bombed, erroneously haps—a building life friendly lost to an American soldier’s inherent be ascribed to war’s fire—could Such now occurrences fog and friction. isolated, weakened, and demoralized and demoralized weakened, isolated, the actual army, Hussein’s Saddam hardly seemed of Kuwait liberation than an afterthought.more trivial the war However military was in a strictly birth sense, it is giving significant to a legacy as as that of and ambiguous War. the Spanish-American - - - - Ameri

HE LEGACY OF THE GULF WAR CONSISTS CONSISTS WAR HE LEGACY OF THE GULF of at least four distinct elements. the war transformed Amer First,

Operation Desert Storm seemingly - casesimilar A canre with made be cantechnology; the of other members partial (with the coalition exception Britain) far behind of Great lagged in technological forces capacity. U.S. technology meant Ameri all, Above it was the effectscan of the airpower; the brief campaignbombing preceding the that provided offensive ground After co War. the Gulf of “story” real had forces and bomber fighter alition icans’ views about armed conflict: about views about armed conflict: icans’ the determinants of of war, the nature of when and the expectations success, should intervene. forces U.S. and how of the principal one lessons reversed excessive that Vietnam—namely, of technology on reliance a is war in In the showdown for disaster. recipe technology crucial proved with Iraq, meant Technology to success.

gard to the Persian Gulf War. However War. Gulf Persian to the gard trivialwas in a strictly the war military it is giving birth to a legacy as sense, of the and ambiguous as that significant for that And, Spanish-AmericanWar. to footnote the war consign to reason, of the mark. status is to shoot wide T

A LESS THAN SPLENDID LITTLE WAR

- - - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Technological utopianism has also has also utopianism Technological The second element of the Gulf War’s War’s of the Gulf element The second national identity. In the aftermath In the aftermath identity. national ations now have a decisive effect on theeffect on a decisive have now ations How militaryoperations. of U.S. shape allegedly fought a war, else to explain in which the for humanitarianpurposes, in chief publiclycommander renounced and restricted troops ground the use of aircraftcombat at which altitudes to their efforts the victims of to protect necessarily were persecution ineffective? fundamentallyaltered the moral debate During of force. about war and the use that the decades following Hiroshima, moral assessing the on debate centered implicationsnuclear of nuclearand war moral that put agenda deterrence—an at the servicereasoning of averting Ar War, Gulf Since the Persian mageddon. openly once theologians and ethicists, skeptical in all of using force but the evolved have far a circumstances, direst and accommodating expansive more that the United They find now view: States to in obligation has a positive tan tervene any from remote in places American (the Balkans interests gible and for example). sub-Saharan Africa, a fewthan developed have doves More markedly hawkish tendencies. legacy is a new the relation on consensus ship between military power and America’s militaryship between and America’s power

- - - - Thus did the Persian Gulf War feed War Gulf Thus did the Persian in This technological has, utopianism demonstrated in 1999, such consider demonstrated in 1999, it seriously. But as the war for Kosovo it seriously. war can be—and ought to be—virtually As with an idea so stupid only bloodless. the impera an intellectual can believe it, tive of bloodlesstive war will strike as so some Washington bizarre that only fide a bona insider (or technogeek soldier) could take information uncertainshould eliminate They dictate that the greater availabilityTheythat the greater dictate of ty ability and enhance the to anticipate key if the piece Even events. and control only apparent of information becomes or someone—commander after the fact, known.” have pilot or analyst—“should The of no-fault operations. expectations itself encouraged such expec- Pentagon flights of own engaging in its by tations Doctrine the Joint developed by fancy. Chiefs Staffof in the 1990s publicly to harnessing forces U.S. committed technology “full achieveto called it what the capabilityspectrum to dominance”: and in any quickly and cheaply, prevail, all forms of conflict. The first perverse two had effects. turn, politicalhas been to persuade elites that became inexplicable errors, which none became inexplicable errors, and an an explanation required theless nostrumsThe inforthe of - accounting. equate information to power. age mation

A LESS THAN SPLENDID LITTLE WAR

- - on defense. on much too THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY The new the military on consensus role at a time when the actual threats to the threats at a time when the actual fewer in any than are well-being nation’s period since the 1920s—turns traditional American thinking about military power Although the Republic came its head. on a campaign into existence through of did not view the Founders the violence, experimentwhich em- they upon had in accruing military as an exercise barked was true. the reverse If anything, might. By insulating America (politically but of the United States—a forged consensus not commercially) from the Old World’s the OldWorld’s not commercially) from and militarism, wars with preoccupations World in the New they hoped to create quite different.something controversial, an expression of the way way of the an expression controversial, common by and, be, to meant are things theyto re way ought of the consent, campaign in the presidential Yet main. Democratic both the and the of 2000, Republican the that candidates agreed level of defense spending—ap current billion per year—is $300 proaching it was the Tellingly, entirely inadequate. the of the Democratic Party, nominee supposed seat of antimilitary sentiment, plan for generous the more who offered The budget. boosting the Pentagon’s campaign included voices no credible that the United Statessuggesting might be spending already

combined military spending That the U.S. military spending now That the U.S. consensus on the The new consensus on the United military role of States—a consensus forged at a time when the actual threats to the nation’s well-being are fewer than in any period since the 1920s—turns traditional American thinking about military power on its head. exceeds the exceeds of all the other leading powers, whether of all powers, the other leading is friendslong-standing or potential foes, so oftena fact has lost all noted that it - non become has It astonish. to power of Desert Storm, military preeminence of Desert Storm, an integral never as before, has become, The idea that the part identity. of that United Statesthe world’s as presides only superpower—an idea that the other than any more War Gulf Persian manifest—hassingle event found made majority the great with such favor of Americanscanmost that longer no an alternative. of conceive

A LESS THAN SPLENDID LITTLE WAR

- - - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY HE THIRD ELEMENT OF THE GULF HE THIRD ELEMENT OF THE GULF legacy fallslarge into the War’s ly misunderstood and almost ly and almost misunderstood American paratroopers jumping in Americanjumping in paratroopers the officer corps, Desert Storm served corps, the officer to cotic battalions in Colombia, and U.S. and U.S. in Colombia, cotic battalions warships stopping for fuel at the port all part are elaborate an of and Aden of ambitious effort others to persuade to power. preeminent world’s the “be with” and directed in the Pentagon Conceived that military commanders, senior U.S. by the par effort quite openly, proceeds Few dulyticulars reportedpress. the in Their Americans attention. it much pay that the general suggests lack of interest tacitlyleast at has public the endorsed measure and is one strategy, Pentagon’s comfortable of how Americans have Gulf a decade after the Persian become, military power. with wielding U.S. War, Kazakhstan, U.S. Special Forces training Special Forces U.S. Kazakhstan, and counternar in Nigeria peacekeepers opinions about us in ways that are favor us in ways about that are opinions events shape that will affect To us. able to we And security. and our our livelihood they see can people see us, do that when theyprofessionalism, our see our power, and they say they patriotism, see our a country that’s be with.”to want that we completely neglected province of completely of neglected province the bulk of To civil-military relations. T

- Indeed, in some quarters, America’s America’s quarters, in some Indeed, Even during the Cold War, the notion War, duringEven the Cold Address. But victory in the Gulf, which But victory in the Gulf, Address. that militaryseemed to demonstrate nipped any was ineffablypower good, such inclination in the bud. When it came such inclination in the bud. what was not to like? to Desert Storm, Saddameasy win over Hussein inspired the belief that the armed could forces henceforthmore much simplydo than To wars.” and win the nation’s “fight relevance in demonstrate its continuing plausible adversary, the absence of any an in the 1990s embraced the Pentagon and implemented a new agenda activist U.S. whereby “strategy of engagement” “shaping devote their energies to forces The the international environment.” to Secretary according of Defense idea, “to shape people’s is William Cohen, prominent among them—could be heard among prominent cautioningfellow their citizens wary to be The fall of the of inadvertent militarism. - an oppor offered might have BerlinWall Farewell tunity Eisenhower’s on reflect to be different. The U.S. government classi government The U.S. be different. if as “emergency,” as an War Cold the fied to imply that the level of mobilization it onlywas entailed a temporary expedient. warriorscold impeccablewith so, Even Eisenhower credentials—Dwight D. lingered that, when it came to military that, lingered America intended to was indeed matters,

A LESS THAN SPLENDID LITTLE WAR - - - - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY The consequences of this erosion of this erosion of consequences The even as civilians dismiss the mil Yet itary’s accumulated wisdom on matters matters on itary’s wisdom accumulated cohesion, unit and combat to relating they thrustsoldiers a wider re upon sponsibility for of the formulation The four-star officers policy. foreign in Europe, commands over presiding and Latin America, the Middle East, the State displaced have the Pacific Department ultimate arbiters as the of policy in those regions. civil-military well extend distinctions One ef sphere. the operational beyond fect to undermine has been the military insistence on traditional profession’s latitude to framehaving wide pol the At the armedgovern icies that forces. unrelated quite in areas the same time, of combat conduct to the planning and policymakers conferred have operations, Thus, authorityever greater soldiers. on elevated War Gulf although the Persian military credibility to its highest point to policy when it comes in memory, matters even remotely touching on choice no have officers senior gender, but to embrace the politically correct as in all position—which is that in war, is irrel gender other human endeavors, a contrary express conviction To evant. few something career, is to imperil one’s disposed to do. generals and admirals are

- - - - diers diers the result ing militarying Operation Allied Force in the Balkans Operation Allied Force States and its NATO partners given had States and its NATO prioritygreater of the lives to protecting soldiers than to professional their own aiding the victims of ethnic cleansing casualties. noncombatant or to avoiding it did ultimately prevailed, When NATO Yugoslavian the making war not on so by army the Serbian but on people. progress did not really constitute a war. As did not really a war. constitute progress it be of Serbiathe bombing intensified, came unmistakably clear that the United ever to discern. In some instances, those instances, In some ever to discern. boundaries all disappeared. but have to date in 1999 was the fullest expression During of that blurring phenomenon. the Clin campaign, 11-week the entire from never budged administration ton militarythe that insistence its in action decisive conventional war, conducted conducted war, conventional decisive self-govern autonomous, by validate the Powell Doctrine. It affirmed Doctrine. the Powell validate the military taken root had nostalgia that in the aftermathVietnamthe of yearning of self-contained, the concept to restore and civilians, combatants and noncom combatants and civilians, and the military and political batants, than difficult more become have spheres of Desert Storm has been to seal the In the aftermath demise of that concept. boundar the War, Gulf of the Persian ies between war and peace, sol and peace, war ies between elites. And yet, paradoxically, paradoxically, yet, And elites.

A LESS THAN SPLENDID LITTLE WAR - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Some critics have warned that no Some critics warned that no have Thus, when he stepped down as CINCas down stepped he when Thus, sponse: When General Zinni sponse: endorses and when General Schwarzkopf Bush, stumps the state of Florida and de nounces Democrats for allegedly disal- they are militarylowing absentee ballots, their constitutionally merely exercising - The ero rights protected as citizens. of civil-militarysion boundaries since emboldened has War Gulf Persian the near the end of the 2000 presidential 2000 presidential near the end of the Zinni felt no compunction campaign, about immediately entering the partisan He announced that the policies of fray. served he had the administration had With a clutch all been defective. along senior officers, of other recently retired W. he threw his support behind George the intended to convey an action Bush, that Bush was the military’simpression candidate. preferred engaging in cangood of soldiers’ come is the re Nonsense, partisan politics. tains order, enforces norms of behavior, normsof behavior, enforces order, tains He has Americanand guards interests. than plainly more something become He straddles worlds the soldier. a mere military and af- diplomacy, politics, of In easily and moves them. among fairs, the from himself has freed he so doing, of the limits defined strictures that once soldierly prerogatives.

- - - - - toCole in pursuit of (in his Cole Before his retirement, Zinni openly, Zinni openly, his retirement, Before The ill-fatedThe of the USS visit al Anthony Zinni, the highly regarded the highly regarded Zinni, al Anthony Marine then serving in as commander Central Com chief (CINC) U.S. of Gulf. for the Persian responsible mand, Zinni reservationsHad expressed about warship in his having a mixed-gender of course, would, he of operations, area - been denounced for comment have purview. his beyond matters on ing that to say presume would But no one Zinni beyond was venturing into areas dis- by competence his professional patching the engagement”—part“more of a words) effortmisguided to befriend the larger, government. Yemeni CINCs to the regional referred and aptly, a boundary-blurring It’s “proconsuls.” as an imperial fill man- Proconsuls term: Americans though them assure date, selves that they neither possess nor wish Zinni is honest an empire. to acquire in the that, enough to acknowledge func the CINC’s world, War post-Cold of is quasi-imperial—liketion the role General Douglas MacArthur presiding The CINC/pro occupied Japan. over main- American projects consul power, Aden last October, for example, came for example, October, last Aden diplomatic behest of some not at the functionary of Gener order the but on

A LESS THAN SPLENDID LITTLE WAR

- -

THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY his retirement, retirement, his Bill has declared Clinton the United America; we are the indispensable nation. nation. indispensable the are we America; lation, and tragedy, but as a march of but as a march and tragedy, lation, that And ever upward. its arc progress, odds at much perspective—however with the postmodernism that pervades intellectualfashionable circles—fuels the grand that Americans expectations carriedhave into the new millennium. Ac “the indispensable nation.” States America Albright, to Madeleine cording principal” “organizing the has become use to “Ifhave we order. global the of “it is because are we said Albright, force,” values were the central themes of the values were In the collective century close. then at its Gulf the Persian public consciousness, conclusion and the favorable of the War two despite evidence that, were War Cold - episodes of geno multiple world wars, and the mind-boggling criminality cide, the 20th century had of totalitarianism, The war turned out basically all right. let Americans see contemporary history miscalcu not as a chronicle of hubris, Before Before Zinni openly General to the regional referred ” “proconsuls. CINCs as - - - - But perhaps the most important aspect ence on how Americans how ence on view now both the immediate past and the immediate When near the tail it occurred future. just as the Cold end of the 20th century, the chapter was unfolding, final War’s victory in the desert seemed to confirm since the United Statesthat the years world to the bounded on in 1898 stage after Century” “American had been the Operation Desert Storm was inter all. as an indisputable demonstration preted of American superiority it and made the again that plausible to believe once rise the United States of to global dom inance and the triumph of American of the legacy is the war’s powerful influ powerful legacythe of is the war’s diers assuming the mantle of imperial diers assuming the the earlier by went tradition proconsuls, partis the of too, that, And board. the legacy. Gulf War’s in 1952—his party came as a affiliation In afterthought. and almost an surprise, civilians with agenda-driven the 1990s, intrudingmilitary into and sol affairs the ring—as Dwight D. Eisenhower did Eisenhower the ring—as Dwight D. officers to engage in such activities, in such activities, engage to officers an increasingly reflects change and the overt corps. politicization officer of the tradition, to a time-honored According to be an American military professional the in the past, If, apolitical. was to be occasionalhat into general tossed his

A LESS THAN SPLENDID LITTLE WAR

- n is a professor of of is a professor

THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY ANDREW J. BACEVICH international relations and historyinternational relations at Bos- He is the author of several University. ton including most recently Breach of books, Their Soldiers Americans How Failed Trust: and Their Country (2013). As Operation DesertOperation As Storm recedes and Arabs—suggest that large com that large and Arabs—suggest plications again. will ensue once But its splendor fades. into the distance, its true into view. significance comes of American values. A decadeafter the of American values. Gulf and eventsthe Persian in fact, Iraqi of resurgence its environs—the under Saddam and the Hussein power Israelis between never-ending conflict

- - final triumph final rising tide of glo In 1898, a brief, one-sided war war one-sided a brief, In 1898, balization will bring the thought they had deciphered the secrets the thought they deciphered had that the of history, We stand tall. We see further than other We tall. stand We Such senti countriesinto the future.” derision in sophisticated ments invite in Peoria, they well But play precincts. preciselywith what most accord and Americans believe. want to with who Spain Americans, persuaded benign, knew were their intentions a to shoulder that it was their destiny “little and upliftunique responsibility Large complications brother.” brown war one-sided a brief, In 1991, ensued. who Americans, persuaded with Iraq

A LESS THAN SPLENDID LITTLE WAR CONDE NAST ARCHIVE / CORBIS Albert Camus was an exemplary public intellectual, one of the relatively few who eschewed ideo- logical certainties and embraced debate and compromise in politics. He is shown here in 1946. WHY PUBLIC INTELLECTUALS?

In an age of ceaseless technological change, the need for historical and ethical perspective on public questions is greater than ever.

BY JEAN BETHKE ELSHTAIN

THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014

------THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Perhaps, I reflected, America’s pecu- America’s I reflected, Perhaps, they were prepared to live, at least mostleast at live, to prepared theywere of with the give-and-take of the time, practical and they favored political life, systems. over results systematic and, from the viewpoint the from of systematic and, unsophisticated as this lofty ideology, might be—was a better combination and a guarantor of constitutionalism intellec civil societyhealthy than were interlocutor tualssortthe of French my public intellectuals Historically, favored. members of in fact, in America were, with other They shared a wider public. Americans and civic to religious access the moral ques that pressed idioms in political embedded tions debate; sisted, the ideologue’s vision effectively vision the ideologue’s sisted, politics. destroys pragma - liar blend of rough-and-ready tendencyand a the tism about to fret moral of public life—un dimensions than Jean-Paul Sartre the many and than Jean-Paul the mantle kind who wore others of his When Camus intellectual. of the public as a he spoke a political in spoke voice, citizen be politics to who understood com debate and that involves a process not as an ideologue seeking promise, to make politics conform to an over in Camus end, In the vision. arching

- - - OME TIME AGO I SPENT A YEAR AT AT AGO I SPENT A YEAR OME TIME Study forInstitute the Advanced where New Jersey, in Princeton,

JEANBETHKE ELSHTAIN

The moment passed rather quickly, rather passed The moment quickly, political been have life would French opinions. I remember being somewhat I remember opinions. the and joined her comments, stung by at the lack others in shaking my head - luster state of our public intellectual Americans be more Why couldn’t life. tualism in the United States—thistualism in the United by and par France, contrast to her native with its dizzying clashof ticularly Paris, like Parisians? I recalled just how at least in my case. intellectual thoroughly the French class—except dissenters, for the rare and lonely brave, such as the estimable, capitAlbert (1913-60)—had - Camus totalitarianof seductions the to ulated opposing fascism only become to logic, “the calledapologists for what Camus socialism of the gallows.” embraced France healthier had much and his fewCamus compatriots rather discussion group I had joined began to I had group discussion lament the sorrystate of public intellec By one of the pleasures is the opportunity is pleasures of the one ideas with scholars from to exchange a partic One evening, other countries.

ularly animated member of an informal S

WHY PUBLIC INTELLECTUALS? - THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY The American temperament temperament American The wariness toward invites intellectuals. The 20th century is littered everything. of consequences with the disastrous spear them of many suchseductions, intellectuals by and defined headed - The American temperament invites AmericanThe temperament invites BETTMANN / CORBIS in 1916, was one of the and agitator Emma Goldman, shown here in New York Anarchist, writer, intellectual as antibourgeois radical. figures who created a new image of the public wariness toward intellectuals. Because intellectuals. warinesstoward generallythey are at living in better their feet than at keeping their heads more intellectuals are ground, the on vulnerable others to the seductions than a with possessing that come of power worldview to ex whose logic promises in some and perhaps, plain everything, and manage control glorious future,

WHY PUBLIC INTELLECTUALS?

- - The THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY But even Menand pays too little But even Menand pays too little Menand shows in his recent book, book, recent in his shows Menand American intellectu - Club. Metaphysical of modes and in a number come als have intellectualAmerican public if one life is unintelligible ignores the extraordinary by the role once played and similarProtestant clergy thinkers. wards in the 18th century in wards through The en in the 20th. Reinhold Niebuhr its from Socialtire Gospel movement, late-19th-century its origins through War World about the time of heyday the intellectuals was an attempt by I, clergy and seminaries to in America’s and an American define religion civil to bring akin of something a vision to fruition Kingdom to the Peaceable or at least in North America. earth, on attention to an importantattention part of the American public American ferment. intellectuallife is unintelligible if one the extraordinaryignores once role clergy the Protestant by and played Ed Jonathan from similar thinkers, have embraced a variety of approaches. embraced a varietyhave of approaches.

- - - - - political utopianism that political that utopianism . But such distort accounts Reds. The definitive crackup since crackup since The definitive

tions too narrowly. Every country’s too narrowly. tions critics Many history is different. ET US NOT UNDERSTAND THESE QUES ET US NOT UNDERSTAND apologists, provocateurs, and pub provocateurs, apologists,

who bemoan the paucity public in of tellectualsAmerica in a have today constricted view of a group of them—as nonetheless, independent thinkers who, In most alike. seem to think remarkably the seek left-wing, they are accounts, and convention, of bourgeois overthrow spend endless hours (or at least did so talking late into the once-upon-a-time) caféssmoke-filled in night and Green licists. licists. lectual life. There was a life of the mindThere lectual life. as Louis too, River, of the Hudson west wich Village lofts. We owe this vision not this vision owe We Villagewich lofts. of members only to the self-promotion Warren such as but to films of the group Beatty’s our understanding of American intel the public intellectuals in contemporary America? if we them? And need Do we be their job description? what should do, action once they were no longer needed no longer they once were action as 1989 of the 1989 of the who found themselves superseded, foundwho themselves superseded, ruthless by men of or even destroyed,

enthralled 20th-century so many public several prompts West intellectuals in the are exactly, Who, important questions: L

WHY PUBLIC INTELLECTUALS?

, - THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Addams, for example, insisted that insisted that for example, Addams, neered in Chicago remain open, flexible open, in Chicago remain neered the settlement house movement she pi she the settlement house movement o century and early decades of the 20th, extraordinary such arose there figures and Randolph Bourne. as Jane Addams These thinkers and social activists moralcombined urgency and political traf - None work. their in engagement ideologytotalizing a in ficked the on Marxist European of so many model intellectuals.

- - becameAs universities promi A rooted intellectual: Jane Addams reads to children at Hull-House in the 1930s. A rooted intellectual: Jane Addams reads to children George Herbert Mead, and John Dewey, Dewey, John and HerbertGeorge Mead, to separate was no way intellectualthere moral larger and political issues from Outside the university prop concerns. They did so as generalists rather than as In the minds forspokesmen a discipline. Williamof thinkers such as James, this already-established public discourse. public discourse. this already-established er during the last decadesof the 19th WALLACE KIRKLAND PAPERS (JAMC NEG. 613), UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO LIBRARY (JAMC NEG. 613), UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT KIRKLAND PAPERS WALLACE nent homes for intellectual life, fornent homes intellectual life, university-based intellectuals entered

WHY PUBLIC INTELLECTUALS?

- - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY The consequence, for better and for The consequence, Addams, James, Dewey, and, later, later, and, Dewey, James, Addams, in favor of a therapeutic ethos. of a therapeutic ethos. in favor a unified is no longer is that there worse, secular, consumerist worldview, and with consumerist worldview, secular, abandonment mainline Protestantism’s intellectual tradition of its own of much toothaches would disappear from the face disappear from toothaches would knew of course, Addams, of the earth. to their point of view point of to their because was she In coils of capitalism.” in the “caught once Addams to her critics, responding of the described in one an exchange weekly dis Hull-House drawing room proclaimed socialist ardent An cussions. the toothache.” will cure “socialism that in fellow the ante by A second upped everysisting that when teeth child’s systematically were birth, cared for from always would toothaches. that we have sense of living a strong shared Niebuhr civic culture. in a distinctly Protestant one whether assumed, was That culture and from believer or not, was a religious the through daysthe of abolitionism suffrage and down struggle for women’s rightscivil the to the of movement public intellectuals could appeal 1960s, civic culture But Protestant to its values. thinned out with the rise that of groups the consensus been excludedhad from Evangelical Chris Jews, (Catholics, with the triumph of a generally tians),

- - - Addams saw in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Hawthorne’s saw in Nathaniel Addams Ethan Brand in replying to the socialists who claimed to convert that she refused stract model. Addams used the lesson of used the lesson Addams stract model. short story “Ethan Brand” an object an object short story“Ethan Brand” Ethan Brand is forlesson intellectuals. to his village a lime burner who leaves And Sin.” “Unpardonable forsearch the “intellect that triumphed an it: he finds with man the sense of brotherhood over and sacrificed for God, and reverence This everythingmightyits to claims!” operating in public life, pride of intellect, tries lifeto force to conform to an ab and experimental—a communal homeand experimental—a communal for what might be called in organic An ardent socialist socialist An ardent that “socialism proclaimed the toothache.” will cure the clashto Responding tellectuallife. of the social classes that dominated of she spoke the public life of her day, the need for the classes in to engage and for this interpretation,” “mutual Addams to person. person to be done of ideology—stoutly the lure resisted storiesshe told droll about the uto in voiced pianism that was sometimes Social Science Man’s Working the Club at Hull-House.

WHY PUBLIC INTELLECTUALS?

- - - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Y POINT IS NOT THAT THE ISSUES THE ISSUES Y POINT IS NOT THAT raise face no now Americans major ethical or conceptu seems to have some part some seems to have of the sides often so compelling, that each sides often so compelling, historical profile of the public intellecof the public historicalprofile generalist. tual as omnicompetent a grand intellectual argument around a grand intellectual argument around structure to reform welfare, best how the environment. or protect a tax cut, ery issue within the narrative as if it fit side and ve one of moral on goodness nality and inequity the other become on whether or Most of us, wearying. so part wag rather are of what one not we chattering “the uncharitably dubbed not so realize that matters are classes,” truth. That is why those who treat ev those who treat That is why truth. al these concerns are rather, concerns; and the arguments from complex, so all simple. That is one reason we often we turn reason one is That simple. the who do not fit to expert researchers, Even many of our broader civic problemscivic our broader of many Even do not lend themselves to the sorts of thematic and cultural generalizations historicallythat have been the stuff unambiguous position was position unambiguous possible— and war—have segregation all, above and complex are to matters that way given rather of gray see in shades now We murky. to build is difficult It than black white. and of most public intellectual discourse. side M

- - - The specter of Old Salem is in voked in part because it provides, at at in partvoked because it provides, clear a for target temporarily, least television’s counterargument and gives issue that seems to an talking heads But the truth is justify their existence. clear-cut is no grand, are that there which public intellectuals, sues around whether self-described media hounds of out break to scholarsor yearning university-defined disciplinary bound- The overriding of issues rally. now aries, which fouror an on decades ago three intellectual culture to address—or to to address—or to intellectual culture Pundits sort of one or against. rebel suchanother often to recreate attempt rhetoricallya culture old and to stoke theocratsin fighting were as if we fears, all over Colony Bay the Massachusetts Raising in this way the stakes again. a sense of self-importance by promotes ostensibly is one what exaggerating up During the Clinton-Lewinskyagainst. those who were for example, scandal, critical of the president’s dubious use of dubious critical of the president’s the Oval often of were accused Office trying the morality of Old to resurrect click A simple television of your Salem. the lie to all such gives talk of remote is The screen a Puritan restoration: with popular soft-core por crowded talk packaged as confessional nography programs. or self-help shows

WHY PUBLIC INTELLECTUALS?

- - - historical THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Genetic “enhancement,” as it is eu “enhancement,” Genetic understanding sounds merely alarmist. sounds merelyunderstanding alarmist. phemistically called, will eventually will eventually phemistically called, to meant project, a eugenics become the of perfect composition genetic the But our public life is so human race. short-term by - dominated consider bringswho the to someone that ations debate such genetic a current It would be a mistake simply to let the experts take over. that suchthat harvesting to- step a first is that irresponsible and cloning, ward already are and companies individuals because But moving direction. in that in highly is conducted the debate tech it is very for the difficult nical terms, a to find nonspecialist, or any generalist, to not prepared are If you point of entry. state an authoritative view whether on “pluripotent” the stem cells adult have you potential of embryonic stem cells, The mouth shut. keep your as well may technical debate excludes most citizens of nonsci and limits the involvement the long-range about who think entists political that implications of projects cast.bear a distinct eugenics

- - - - - For example, well before today’s today’s before well example, For Yet it would be a mistake simply simply mistake a be would it Yet mountains of empiricalmountains evidence came writintellectuals a number of were in, to be Ameri what appeared ing about public from disaffection powerful cans’ society. of civil the work life and from theorists speak like me could Political but it was discontents, to widespread finallyempirical the evidence present political scientist others, among ed by, Robert Putman in his famous 1995 these won that essay “Bowling Alone” In this public hearing. concerns a broad put to the service intellec of a public instance, one finds disciplinary finds one expertise instance, cuts against the That tual enterprise. grain of the culturally enshrined view lone of the public intellectual as a bold, in Empirical work researchers intellect. They often of assis hordes have teams. and must complex Their data are tants. be translated for public consumption. is veryTheir work the task of much not of the think tanks, and universities dissenter. public intellectual as heroic A case in to let the expertstake over. stem debate over point is the current and embryonic cellresearch cloning for stem cells. “harvesting” the purpose of of the history aware of tech Anyone - of an nological and the power advance understands for profit insatiable desire

WHY PUBLIC INTELLECTUALS?

- THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Whenever of the the wonders I heard tion of the ironies of our own history. By history. of our own of the ironies tion at who, to those do not refer I naysayers issue a pre-fabricated of a hat, the drop anything of more-or-less condemnation in American on going pop politics and those who recognize I mean ular culture. always are there when losers there that it has never and that been winners, are the case in the history societyof any that a change or innovation of the benefits fall evenly all on groups. extolled “information superhighway” of high-tech in- years during America’s my mind turned to the people fatuation, inevitably would who found be sitting breakdown in the jalopies antiquated in Americans get easy to to It isn’t lane. One evening, think about such things. I debated a a nightlyon news show, proclaimed who millionaire dot.com and expertisethat the enormous wealth richbeing amassed by techno-whiz kids for allow us to realize a cure soon would and the end of urban gridlock, cancer, follow would peace World world peace. globalization. naturally market from Having the right your designer label on the glue that held people be jeans would When I to Beijing. here from together, was pretty that this suggested thin civic looked in question the gentleman glue, a member of some at me as if I were

- - that sort of expert—but MERICANS PREFER CHEERLEADERS MERICANS PREFER CHEERLEADERS - concen to tend We naysayers. to the of side positive the trateon

It has never been the case in the history of any society that the benefits of a change or innovation fall evenly on all groups. ledger and refuse to conjure with the with the to conjure and refuse ledger or actual features—whether negative potential—of social reform or techno Americans notori - logical innovation. as or even, ously lack a sense of tragedy, - a recogni insisted, Reinhold Niebuhr This kind of understanding does not not does kind of understanding This - Amer upbeat the can-do, with sit well Americans are ican temperament. generally moral and to have relieved political techni urgency by swamped During the This is hardly new. calities. at their who had debators War, Cold missile on data latest the fingertips could trump the person throw-weights who was not destruction. assured who wasn’t a naif either, who had read read who had a naif either, who wasn’t and who thought Thucydides, her to mutually alternatives were there A

WHY PUBLIC INTELLECTUALS?

- First , and that re remember, THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY The relativization of all moral of all moral The relativization the the crisis of authority, norms, of lifepursuit of to the reduction materialimmediate without gain - for its general consequenc regard de- es—the veryWestern things mocracy is most criticized for—do not originate in democracy but in his that which modern lost: man has and along transcendental anchor, of with it the only source genuine self-respect. his responsibility and Given its fatal incorrigibility, its fatal incorrigibility, Given humanity probably go to will have Rwandas and more many through it understands Chernobyls before unbelievablyhow short-sighted a human being can be who has forgotten that he is not God. forgotten that he is not God. If there Our era of forgetting. is one membering is a moral requiring the act have achieved lonely) a significant (and have see now to the extent that we Yet success. historicala as genocide anomaly unique or, to a particular or people, regime greatest intellectual and moral clarity. In intellectual and moral greatest clarity. we the Holocaust, learning to remember a lecture reprinted in the journal in reprinted a lecture 1995): (March Things is a role for the public intellectual, it is for intellectual, the public is a role to insist that we

- The dot.com millionaire’s attitude attitude millionaire’s The dot.com The moral voices—the Jane AddamsesThe moral voices—the ings, in his words, forget that they are forget that they are in his words, ings, in is Havel, Here not God or godlike. and Reinhold Niebuhrs—that once once Niebuhrs—that Reinhold and public clout real had and that warned us against our tendency cultural toward pridetriumphalismand longer no seem or at least to claim an audience to exist, near the sizeanywhere they did. once a few are in our era, suchThere voices I think but they tend not to be American. of the Czech Havel Václav of President who has written unabashedly Republic, against what happens when human be extinct species. It was clear It was he found that species. extinct but not only such opinions retrograde nearly unintelligible. American a larger problem: exemplified not of pride, of an excess the dangers just for but for individuals the culture easy in our public It isn’t as a whole. life, or in our church intellectual life, Americans get to to for that matter, anythingsin, about with think do to public intellectual the focus of much Edwards discourse in America from comfortable are with We to Niebuhr. has a soothing, The word “syndromes.” But the sin of pride, therapeutic sound. in the form of a triumphalist stance that recognizes no limits to human striving, is another matter.

WHY PUBLIC INTELLECTUALS?

- - - - may editorimay - THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Commonwealth O THIS IS OUR SITUATION. MANY OF MANY OF O THIS IS OUR SITUATION. contemporaryour pressing is not often sues—issues that are can bring authority the almost automatic construed as intrinsically political but on bearing—raise which politics has great concernsThe daunting moral concerns. cannot be dealt with adequately without a historical ethical framework, a strong of human and an awareness sensibility, But such qualities limits and tragedies. in shortare supplyera in an of special ization and technological triumphalism. and Those who seize the microphone magazine magazine alize our newfangled against of modes what human flesh—against trading in “world car persons - a amounts to where cash the value and where ry a price tag, than that is far greater persons of some to arguments seem But the of others.” per already only those who are reach Critics the environmental on suaded. left and the social-conservative right techno-triumphalism who question of being seen as Instead no better. fare an early warning system—speaking un truths us whatwelcome and reminding equated with are happens when people potential—the doubters their genetic standing guard dismissed as a rear are of progress. in the way S

- -

they have SAT SAT they have if . Where techno-enthusiasm and utopia tragedy no longer enjoy. The lay CatholicThe lay enjoy. tragedy no longer per ads offering huge financial rewards rewards offeringper ads financial huge egg donors to young stand of at least 1400 or above, scores The athletic. are and tall, at least 5’10” talked are of the future genes” “designer Runaway tones. about in matter-of-fact becauseit technological utopianism, itself to us with the imprimaturpresents authorityhas an automatic in of science, American that ethical thinkers, culture and the clergy, intellectual generalists, and historicof sense with a those irony of forgetting. One already sees newspa One already of forgetting. are concerned, we are far gone on the path on far gone are we concerned, are alternatively, as a historical as common alternatively, that allows us to brand every place instance of political killing a holocaust, The failed to achieve clarity. have we truth between. lies somewhere moral clarity s a role for the the role for e is a If ther is intellectual, it public , that we remember to insist is remembering and that the a moral act requiring and greatest intellectual

WHY PUBLIC INTELLECTUALS?

THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Whenever I speak about the quality who warned about the decline of warnedwho decline the about of American concerned society civil were effective not just more about finding desirable in public ends ways to reach policy waysstem to finding but about of the rushing tide of consumerism, privatization civic withdrawal, and and disengagement. of public apathy will not stem that tide without We that social structures and institutions a fuller public conversation promote us. that confront about the questions civic groups, of our public life before - for plac public hunger real a find I Americans yearn es like Hull-House. for forumsthey can where and engage interpret of our the public questions a life of the mind can where and time, free communally, and grow emerge of the fetters of overspecialization. can there Without public, an engaged and be no true conversations, public Hull- At no true public intellectuals. in a civic spoke Addams Jane House, and ethical shaped and shared idiom of The voices her fellow citizens. by the Hull-House public served as a and specialized, check narrow, on It was from of view. points monolithic launched this rich that Addams venue herself into the public debates of her Where for the institutions are time.

- - - - do it. We We it. do must that is not narrowly that is not narrowly do it, we we it, do but who speak to politics but who speak to politics can arena concerns that derive that derive concerns arena baneful effects and consequences baneful effects and consequences e are so easily dazzled. We are so so are We so easilye are dazzled. Y. And that seems un-American. that seems un-American. And Y. W The role for public intellectuals under for intellectuals public The role under is to step back such and circumstances But where issue thoughtful warnings. for discourse? of kind this venue the is Where for is the training what ground politicalWalzer theorist Michael thinkers who critics,” “connected calls culture, with their identify strongly denunci in facile who do not traffic of the sortations hear every we night with equally televisionon (along facile cheerleading), must be first in all things—and if we in all if we things—and be first must seriousbecome about bringing ethical certain on bear to technologies, restraint fall may behind countrywe or coun X try who warn about this new order’s pos who warn this new about order’s sible from religion. from proud. If we we If proud. of science to their side are mostly side are to their of science apol Those new forogists the coming order. in a moral voice in a moral voice can be marginalized as people who can be marginalized as people who time, in to march stubbornly, refuse, or who illegitimately to import seek to the public moralizing? That question underlies That question moralizing? of state the about the debate of much civil society during the that occurred The writers and thinkers past decade.

WHY PUBLIC INTELLECTUALS?

n (1941–2013) was (2001). THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY am of Jane Addams and the Dream of including American Democracy AN BETHKE ELSHTAIN JEAN BETHKE ELSHTAIN She books, was the author of many of Chicago. the Laura Spelman of Rockefeller Professor at the University Ethics Social and Political that is always doing, the responsibility responsibility the is alwaysthat doing, Things often is too to think evaded. for publicThe role too fast. much move quiet the bestir to is intellectualstoday of ethicallyvoice reason. engaged - - think think Intellectuals in and others who speak such discussion today? How might we we might such How today? discussion iro many of the It is one them? create contempo that vocation nies of their rary intellectuals public can no longer a public. presume carry do not a public moral voice a card Talk.” Will “Have Ideology, that says they Arendt’s embrace Hannah Instead, description of the task of the political theorist who helps us to as one culture a In doing. are we what about

WHY PUBLIC INTELLECTUALS? Joseph Brodsky GIORGIA FIORIO / CONTRASTO / REDUX THE POETRY OF JOSEPH BRODSKY During the 1990s, the WQ published a regular poetry feature edited by a series of distinguished poets, who selected and introduced the works of other writers past and present. After the death of our first poetry editor, the Nobel laureate Joseph Brodsky, Anthony Hecht, one of his successors, published this tribute in our Summer 1996 issue. Brodsky’s own appreciation of Zbigniew Herbert, the inaugural piece in the poetry series, can be seen here.

BY ANTHONY HECHT THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY —And if —And we’ll call boy the make a child, we Andrei, so that our Russian the girl, Anna speech, imprintedwrinkledits on face, little shall never be forgot. (as everyoneJoseph who ever knew and im spacious more The larger, portant embodied in a ma- prophecy is Cry in Autumn” “The Hawk’s jor poem, Tolstaya of which (printed in full), here “He has a in the same tribute: remarks in the hills of . . poem about a hawk . Massachusetts who flies so high that the that high so flies who Massachusetts let him descend rush of rising air won’t and the hawk perishes back to earth, are there at those heights where there, other large and visionary. The first is The first and visionary. other large Proph “A a poem actually titled from an unnamed beloved, to addressed ecy,” these lines: and containing affectionatelyhim was allowed to call children, him) was the father of two from still there, born in Russia, a boy involuntary he was separatedwhom by born in America a daughter, and exile, The Maria. to his Russian-Italian wife, and Anna. named Andrei are children -

ANTHONY HECHT

N AN ELOQUENT TRIBUTE TO JOSEPH JOSEPH TRIBUTE TO N AN ELOQUENT almost exactly published a Brodsky, wide and aftermonth his premature

Without any desire to sound mystical, Without mystical, to sound desire any She goes on to conjecture: “I think She to conjecture: on goes In the dark I won’t find your deep your find I won’t In the dark blue façade I’ll the between asphalt fall the on lines crossed that the reason he didn’t want to return want to return he didn’t that the reason Russiato this evenso that was for day a incautious not come prophecy would others— A student of—among be. to (he knew Tsvetaeva Akhmatova and he knew their poetic superstitiousness), during they had their the conversation ‘How could you and onlyone meeting. that a know you Don’t . . . write that. of one always true?’ words come poet’s could you how ‘And them reproached. other was amazed. the ?’ . . write that . did indeed come what theyAnd foretold to pass.” can be prophetic I do think something least at or poetry, claimedfor Brodsky’s the of them small, one for details, two ly lamented death, Tatyana Tolstaya, in Tolstaya, Tatyana ly death, lamented quotes Review , of Books York New The early the poet’s lines from some work:

By I

THE POETRY OF JOSEPH BRODSKY - - and Less Than Than Less THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY In his collection of essays, of essays, In his collection es that the boy quit schoolafter es that the boy ninth He grade to help support the family. including a dozen than held more jobs, helper in a milling-machine operator, thought he might wish morgue (he once (his photographer a doctor), become to particiand - time), one at work father’s Despite pant in geological expeditions. of his love his limited formal schooling, English, poetry led him to learn Polish, and French, Italian, Spanish, German, in a determination to as Latin, as well with all himself acquaint the world’s began writing He his own poetry. great and earned money by poems in his teens, translating Serbo-Croatian and Spanish He also translated poetryRussian. into and other Donne the poems of John plays, and two Metaphysical poets, and Rosencrantz The Quare Fellow was he 1964 In Guildenstern Are Dead. and hospital” “psychiatric a into forced charged trial, arraignedthen show a at the only child of adoring and adored the only child of adoring and adored so straitened of circumstanc parents whollyartto all with and val wishes his ues can highest goal.” the never reach biographical only meager most the here He was born Iosif Alexandrovich details. in Leningrad, 1940, 24, May on Brodsky , Brodsky has writtenhas Brodsky movinglyso One, earlyabout his life that I will present

------. The The . for himself. And can And that it be for himself. To this brief comment I would like brief this would I comment To falcon, Thomas Hardy’s darkling thrush darkling Hardy’s Thomas falcon, de must each reader or his blinded bird, termine neither birds nor people, nor any air air any nor nor people, birds neither to breathe.” wind with The of my own. some to add which of begins is the wind the poem spiritthe (inspi of as well as 3:8) John the necessary (and destructive) ration, element in which the poet tries to dwell. at the pinnacle of his flight, The bird, the end guesses the truth it’s of it: invoked, themselvesare (Furies) Erínyes heights to great as though the aspiration necessarilymust pun entail retributive - trage in Greek as exemplified ishment, echoing another ancient tradi And, dy. bird/ of the sacrifice and the agony tion, the a thing of beauty, poet precipitates poems of the of winter, snowflakes first a soul that has sustained the punishing brilThe climate Russia. Archangelic of liance that delights earthbound children at the pricehas been purchased of un Whether endurable suffering and death. anything to Percy wind owes Brodsky’s “West Bysshe Shelley’s annihilating Russian hawk whether the poet’s wind,” Manley Hopkins’s kin to Gerard is any this assertion of Rainer Maria Rilke’s this assertionRainerof Maria Rilke’s thought?: part some in Brodsky’s played “Whoever himself does not consecrate

THE POETRY OF JOSEPH BRODSKY - - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY His poems are not easy; nor are they not easy; nor are His poems are emptinesses, the whole range of human human range of the whole emptinesses, with task poetic his about set history, industry. and undiscourageable fierce he of onlyIn the course a few years, audience international an acquired them the among of admiring readers, of the Swedishmembers Academy. was accompanied This recognition marriage a blissful beautiful to a by and half-Italian, half-Russian, woman, named Anna, the birth of a daughter, “dis Brodsky’s to probably in homage Akhma poetic heroine, and coverer” of a pledge. in fulfillment and tova, the briefest of were But these blessings cut short at the his death by duration, of 55. age say, in the familiar manner of, difficult In their William or Donne John Empson. they observe demand original Russian, ing formal patterns at times combined with an informality that can of diction usually and are be witty and irreverent, almost balletic with unexpected, filled RussianThe imagination. the of leaps a playfulnessalso evokes that no English So can quite as gracefullyversion convey. richly the rueful furnished are the and his irony his work, aspects of comedic will that a willing reader and bravado, gifts, enviable enormous delights, find life that have spans of imaginative large

, - - - “A work of art, of art, work “A ti-Soviet poetry cor would that The condition of exile is rarely easy, of exile is rarely easy, The condition under the watchful care of Carl and Ellendea Proffer. a temper fortified by but Brodsky, ament both cheerful mordantly and domain his as now taking sardonic, the cold galactic the global landscape, rupt the young.” What actually this rupt young.” the absolute state disapproval meant was expressed Brodsky credo of a poetic Lecture: Nobel in his made his way to his first teaching job in job in teaching to his first his way made at the University of Michigan America, with “parasitism” and with writing writing and with “parasitism” with “an of literature especially, and a poem in a poem in and especially, of literature tête-à-tête, a man addresses particular, of enteringdirect—free with him into What any go-betweens—relations.” only is not of course, means, Brodsky the necessary of censors but absence disbur- also the need for a literature po dened of ulterior (which is to say, to sentenced was He litical)motives. but labor, hard of degrading years five after unambig- the sentence provoked uously condemnatory all outcries from the worldover as within Soviet well as “commuted” it was intellectual circles, left He everything behind he to exile. home, son, language, parents, loved: Auden H. W. with the help of and, of Americanand the Academy Poets,

THE POETRY OF JOSEPH BRODSKY THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY ; verrucht poets of all periods, to feel at home (if, (if, to feelhome at of allpoets periods, in their else) at least nowhere exile, as an to sustain and able company, demanding in best work with their companionship as a widely be thought of what must anthologymultilingual comprehensive almost exactly apt to have that he was heart.by

- itizen, enemy, mama’s boy, sucker, utter sucker, boy, mama’s enemy, itizen, LETTER TO AN ARCHAEOLOGIST C refujew, swine, panhandler, garbage, a scalp so often scalded with boiling water brainthat the puny feels completely cooked. wooden brick, in this concrete, here: dwelt have we Yes, rubble arrive to sift. now which you or interwoven. tangled, barbed, crossed, were All our wires but they conceived. our women, love didn’t we Also: Sharp of the pickax is the sound that hurts iron; dead said ourselves. been told or have than what we’ve gentler it’s still, Stranger! carefully move our carrion: through to our cells. what seems carrion is freedom to you those vowels, reconstruct Don’t Leave our names alone. larks resemble they won’t and so forth: consonants, devoursbut a demented bloodhound whose maw and barks. and barks, feces, traces, its own not been lost in translation. In the time In translation. lost in not been cut short addictive by allotted to him, a heart already that endangered smoking badlyservitude penal by damaged (and by two for undergone whichhad he and was scheduledpass operations for a to acquaint somehow he managed third), with the greatest himself as an intimate

THE POETRY OF JOSEPH BRODSKY THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY ON LOVE to and wandered tonight up I woke Twice the street, on the lights down And the window. tried to complete points, like pale omission through the fragment of a sentence spoken too. into darkness, but diminished sleep, and in spite pregnant, were that you dreamt I’d apart years so many of having lived I still felt guilty and my heartened palm the bedside, by bellycaressed your as, and the light- it fumbled for my trousers the bulb turned with And on switch the wall. on alone I knew that I was leaving you calmly where the dream, in in the darkness, there, waited till I might return, you not trying or scold me to reproach For for the unnatural hiatus. what light cannot repair. restores darkness more once make we blest, married, are we There the fair are the two-backed beast and children naked for. of what we’re excuse will appear again. Some night you future after out and thin now, worn to me, come You’ll and I’ll or daughter see son things in between, This time I will restrain not named as yet. afraid forswitch, the groping my hand from

THE POETRY OF JOSEPH BRODSKY THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY The Trojan War Trojan The

My dear Telemachus, it. recall who won I don’t now; is over for only leave they would no doubt, The Greeks, homeland. own their far from so dead so many too long. has proved way my homeward But still, old Poseidon, While time there, wasting were we and extended space. stretched it almost seems, I am or what this place where know I don’t island, filthy appear some It would can be. grunting and great pigs. buildings, with bushes, queen or other. some choked with weeds; A garden my son! Telemachus, . . . Grass stones and huge all of the faces islands a wanderer To the mind And another. one resemble sea horizons, from sore eyes, numbering waves; trips, and the flesh of water stuffs the ears. run; came the war how out; remember I can’t remember. can’t are—I old you even how ODYSSEUS TO TELEMACHUS and feeling that I have no rightand feeling have that I that sever- by both like shadows you to leave sight, ing fencedays of that bar your light the real negated by voiceless, me unattainable forever. that keeps

THE POETRY OF JOSEPH BRODSKY THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY THE HAWK’S CRY IN AUTUMN CRY THE HAWK’S Wind the northwestern quarter from lifting is high above him brown umber, crimson, the dove-gray, beneath, Far Valley. Connecticut chickens daintily pause and move of the tumbledown unseen in the yard blend with the heath. chipmunks farmstead; alone, unfurled, adriftNow the airflow, on ragged lofty, all that he glimpses—the hills’ that threads the silver stream ridges, quivering like a living bone badly notched with rapids, of steel, strings like the townships of beads to nil Having slid down New England. strewn across in niches— thermometers—those household gods inhibiting thus the fire freeze, Still, spires. churches’ and of leaves Grow up, then, my Telemachus, grow strong. grow Telemachus, my then, up, Grow Only if we’ll know gods the other see each be that babe since ceased to long You’ve again. bullocks. in the plowing I reined whom before trick been for it not Palamedes’ Had household. still be living in one would two we me from away But maybe was right; he all Oedipal passions, quite safe from are you blameless. are Telemachus, my dreams, and your

THE POETRY OF JOSEPH BRODSKY THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY no churches for him. In the windy reaches, the windy In forno churches him. the most righteous choir, of by undreamt clamped his beak shut, a cobalt-blue ocean, he soars in clutchedhis talons into his belly tight —claws balled a sunken fist— up like the thrust of down sensing in each wisp glinting back the berry below, from south-southeast heading of his eyeball, and farther the beech groves still: the Delta, to the Rio Grande, mightyto a nest hidden in the groundswell trust, no fingers of grass whose edges filled odors, sunk amid forest’s eggshell,with splinters of red-speckled ghost. or a sister’s with a brother wing, feather, down, flesh, with The heart overgrown nonstopping, pulsing at feverish rate, internal heat and sense, by propelled slashing and scissoring goes the bird the same swift by token, yet the autumnal blue, enlarging it at the expense the eye, barely on registering speck, of its brownish the lofty sliding far above a dot, of the empty at the expense look pine tree; up at the sky, arching of that child, that couple that left the car and lifted stoop. the on that woman their heads,

THE POETRY OF JOSEPH BRODSKY THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY But the uprushBut the of air is still lifting him His belly feathers higher. higher and gaze, Casting a downward feel cold. the nibbling horizonhe sees the dim, growing the features as it were, he sees, thirteen whose of the first colonies their total within his sight it’s Yet chimneys all puff out smoke. of his elevation, that tells the bird trip. this reached of what altitude he’s What at such am I doing a height? of trepidation He senses a mixture a tip Heeling over and pride. air But the resilient he plummets down. of wing, winging up to glory, bounces him back, to the colorless icy plane. pupil dartsHis yellow a sudden glare mix of fury a is, that of rage, So again once and terror. But as walls return he turns down. and plunges or near, as sins send a sinner to faith, rubber balls, this time as well! driven upward he’s still so warm! are He! whose innards Still ionosphere! blasted higher! Into some That astronomically hell objective

THE POETRY OF JOSEPH BRODSKY THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY

them into their burrows. And only And hounds them into their burrows. high-pitched squeal, A piercing, lift up their muzzles. nightmarish more than the D-sharp grinding glass, cutting of the diamond world the And seems to reel slashes the whole sky across. this rending. shuddering from for an instant, the warmthas burns in the highest space For of birds that lacks oxygen, and where the milling stars and where lacks that oxygen, of birds millet servedplay or a crescent. a plate from has always meant for the bipeds, What, is the reverse. for the feathered height, brain with shriveled his puny but with air sacs Not the end. it’s he guesses the truth of it: beak the hooklike From at this point he screams. And of him and flies adluminem tears free there make to rend the sound Erínyes intolerable shriek, a mechanical, souls: the shriek of steel that devours aluminum; meant for it’s “mechanical,” for no living ears: for nobody, foxes’, not yelping not man’s, hurrying to the ground not squirrels’ mice whose tears not for field tiny branches; from which forces this way, be avenged can’t

THE POETRY OF JOSEPH BRODSKY THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY badly here fence down iron as some brands incautious fingers. gloveless exclaim are, we standing where We, the tear far above and see “There!” lingers hear the sound that and that is a hawk, a spider skein in wavelets, blue vault of space the ripples notes in swelling across especially in October, whose lack of echo spells, sound. an apotheosis of pure caughtAnd in this heavenly patterned lace, spangled with hoarfrost powder, starlike, crystal-bound, silver-clad, high to the dark-blue sails to the zenith, the bird foretoken binoculars we Through of azure. a pearl. a glittering dot, him, ring hear something out in the sky, We familylike some crockery being broken, slowly fallingaswirl, hurt don’t our palms, as they reach its shards, yet twinkling, in a And but melt when handled. strings, eyelets, makes out curls, one more once blurred multicolored, rainbowlike, linking spirals, ellipses, commas, concentric rings— of barley, heads

THE POETRY OF JOSEPH BRODSKY n THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY (1923-2004) was a poet, critic, and university critic, (1923-2004) was a poet,

professor. The author of many books of prose and poetry, he won won he and poetry, of prose books of many The author professor. and served including as Poet a Pulitzer Prize, honors, numerous to the LibraryLaureate Consultant 1982 from of Congress He was a poetry editor of The Wilson Quarterlyto 1984. from 1994 to 1999. ANTHONY HECHT All poems reprinted by permission of Farrar, Straus & Giroux, Inc. “On Inc. & Giroux, Straus permission of Farrar, reprinted by All poems “Odysseus to and with the author, Weisbort Daniel by translated Love,” are from of Kline, Speech, A Part L. George by translated Telemachus,” & Straus Farrar, copyright ©1980 by Translation Brodsky. Joseph by Alan and Myers Cry by translated in Autumn,” “The Inc. Hawk’s Giroux, Joseph by Urania, an Archaeologist” “Letter to are fromTo and the author, Brodsky. Joseph Copyright ©1988 by Brodsky. the bright doodling pattern possessed, feather the once heap of flying a mere now a map, slope appear that make a green pale flakes laughing and brightly dressed, the children, And white. crying swarm doors to catch out of them, “Winter’s here!” English, with a loud shout in

THE POETRY OF JOSEPH BRODSKY The Wedding Dance (1566), by Pieter Brueghel the Elder DETROIT INSTITUTE OF ARTS A HISTORY OF THE PAST: LIFE REEKED WITH JOY

One of the most popular WQ essays ever (and by far the funniest) was Anders Henriksson’s brief history of Europe as told through the peculiar observations he had culled from papers written by college freshmen he had taught in Canada. As we wrote in introducing the piece in the Spring 1983 issue, paraphrasing George Santayana, “Those who forget history are condemned to mangle it.”

COMPILED BY ANDERS HENRIKSSON THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 - THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY The Middle Ages slimpared to a The Middle to a slimpared Ages Middle Evil society was Middle Evil society lords, made up of monks, and surfs. the bolted in from The renasence halt. Italy became with joy. Life reeked blue. individuals felt the and more robust, of Italy, value of their human being. closer much was of to the rest course, thanks to northern Europe. the world, Man was determined to civilise himself to had even if heads and his brothers, It becameroll! sheik to be educated. level. associated Art a more was on churches was full incredable of Europe art doors. their great out with bulging beautiful were Renaissance merchants and almost lifelike. social disease in the sense that it can it can in the sense that social disease oth and intercourse be transmitted by port from spread It was er etceteras. Victims of to port rats. inflected by their the Black grew boobs on Death the The plague also helped necks. English language emergance of the of England, language as the national and Italy. France

- - - ANDERS HENRIKSSON

because beings have human

to be studied by other human other human by to be studied ISTORY, AS WE KNOW, IS ALWAYS IS ALWAYS KNOW, AS WE ISTORY, bias,

During the Middle Ages, everbody everbody During the Middle Ages, most English- In the 1400 hundreds beings, not by independent observers independent not by of beings, another species. state and Church was middle aged. Middle Evil soci- co-operatic. were and lords, ety up of monks, made was It is unfortunate do not that we surfs. laid out on European a medivel have for dissection. ready us, a table before After a revival of infantile commerce merchants into Europe, slowly creeped sitters and some Some were appeared. town from They roamed drifters. were themselvesexposing or- and town to ganized big fairies in the countryside. Murder violent. Mideval people were Every during this period was nothing. England fought body killed someone. and numerously for land in France The Cru ended up wining and losing. a series of military were sades expadi Christians to seeking by made tions Town” “Home the holyfree land (the Islams. the of Christ) from A class- of ye perpendicular. men were caught Europe the Finally, arose. owls plague is a The bubonic Black Death.

Compiled by H

A HISTORY OF THE PAST: LIFE REEKED WITH JOY

- - Candy Candy THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Louis XIV became King of the Louis XIV became of the King The enlightenment was a reasonable France. The German Emperor’s lower lower The German Emperor’s France. for the French blocked was passage by and years. years the people food and He gave Sun. he someone, like didn’t If he artillery. for row to the gallows to sent them was the Vauban lives. of their the rest In Russia minister of flirtation. royal the 17th century the as was known of the serfs. time of the bounding clothesRussian nobles wore only to filled Peter the Great. humour Peter peo with accidental his government ple and built a new capital near the Orthodox priests boarder. European became antennae. government calleda book wrote Voltare time. - Freder with trouble into him got that un Philosophers were ick Great. the known yet, and the fundamental stake and the fundamental stake yet, known toleration slightly of religious was one was France with defeatism. confused was a Taxation in a veryserious state. The drain the state budget. on great was accomplished revolution French The revolution it happened. before republican evolved monarchial, through and tolarian until it catapulted phases illwas with Napoleon Napolean. into verywas and problems bladder tense and unrestrained. - -

After the refirmation were wars both After were the refirmation The Reformnation happened when ReformnationThe when happened lower passage was lower passage was blocked by the French for years and years. The German Emperor’s The German Emperor’s foreign and infernal. If the Spanish If the Spanish and infernal. foreign could gain the Netherlands they would north throughout a stronghold have include whichern would Europe their central Burgangy, in Italy, posetions and India thus serrounding Europe German nobles resented the idea that the idea German nobles resented or the France to Papal going tithes were thus enriching Catholic coiffures. Pope so oppressive become had Traditions crushedthey in the wake of too were the above for quest ressurection man’s An become. had he beast not-just-social angry Martin Luther nailed 95 theocrats Luthar Theologically, door. a church to Cal- mutation. was into reorientation religion most convenient the was vinism Anabap since the days of the ancients. The tist services tended to be migratory. usually were Catholic. of course, Popes, right seeing themselves went on Monks The last Jesuit priest died in as worms. the 19th century.

A HISTORY OF THE PAST: LIFE REEKED WITH JOY - tion tion

THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY World War I broke out around out around I broke War World afterGermany was displaced WWI. Culture fomented from Europe’s tip to tip Europe’s from fomented Culture 1912–1914. Germany was on one side one on was Germany 1912–1914. and Russia the oth on was of France then and killed, get people war At er. but friends. more, people any they aren’t which Versigh, was proclaimed at Peace Primal Loid, George was attended by Wilson President Minister of England. In 1937 Lenin arrived with 14 pointers. raged Communism Russia. revolted the civil war and the peasants, among and white. red were “team colours” was Germany riseThis gave to Hitler. morbidlyunbalanced. and overexcited and abortion. Music reeked with reality. with reality. Music reeked and abortion. people and master of music, was Wagner When did not forget his contribution. “historical.” he died they labeled his seat Other artists. countries their own had Chekhov. had France its top. Richard Strauss, who was violent who Strauss, Richard its top. methodicalbut him, wife his like made into vicious and perverseplunged plays. in seduc Dramatized adventures were Founder of the new Italy new Italy Founder of the an intelligent was Cavour, the north. Sardine from

- - - - A new time zone unifica of national History, a record of things left of behind a record History, and other the USA Brittian, Great tion roared over the horizon. Founder of Founder the horizon. over roared tion intelligent an newthe Italy Cavour, was Nationalism the north. Sardine from aided Itally because is the nationalism can see that na We of an army. growth for succeeded tionalism Itally because III-IV Napoleon big army. of France’s One thinks thrown. French the mounted III of extension of Napoleon as a live Here Napoleon. great, but late, the bold, too was the new Germany: loud, vulgar and full of reality. European countrys European demicratic had the lid holding down newthe lid holding down ideas begin the of the goals Among shake. to ning suferage an and chartistsuniversal were be done was to Voting anal parliment. ballad. by by past generations, started in 1815. started1815. in past generations, by the comparatively radicalThroughout European the western 1815–1870 years a Rampant was undergoing continent In- modification. period of economic dustrializationin En precipitating was so complexicated were Problems gland. out of a city population that in Paris, million able two million people, of one the loose. on bodies were leanings. The middleclass and was tired leanings. see could The old order a rest. needed

A HISTORY OF THE PAST: LIFE REEKED WITH JOY . -

is a professor ofis a professor

n THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY ANDERS HENRIKSSON (2010). in a Nutskull (2001) and College history at Shepherd University, in Shepherd- history at Shepherd University, to scholarly In addition Virginia. West stown, Germans (1983), Loyal Tsar’s such as The works Mentis: Campus he is the author of Non Students College History According to World According to Fromm, individuation individuation to Fromm, According The last stage is us. is us. The last stage cence experiences its life development had been wipe out in two world wars, world two out in been wipe had wars, forlorneand their left were families to pick up the peaces. began historically in medieval times. a periodThis was of small childhood. experience as adoles is increasing There

- - Berlin became the decadent capital, Berlin became decadent the capital, all formswhere sexual deprivations of anti-semantic A huge practised. were slogans Attractive arose. movement used by were to all Jews” “death like remilita Hitler groups. governmental rized a squirmish the Rineland over The and France. Germany between the great blinded by appeasers were Moosealini rest Soviets. the of red eight million on ed his foundations Hi Lee and invaded Salasy. bayonets France Poland, Germany invaded and Russia invaded invaded Belgium, end to an screeched War everybody. was dropped when a nukuleer explosion A whole generation Heroshima. on

A HISTORY OF THE PAST: LIFE REEKED WITH JOY

THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY THE WILSON QUARTERLY History & Memory Democracy The Hedgehog ReviewHedgehog The The Middle East Journal SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY OTHER NA SOCIETY RELIGION & PHILOSOPHY From TECH’S BLIND SPOTS From MISSING SIGNAL TIONS AGAIN YOU CAN GO HOME From TOURING AUSCHWITZ From

Raritan Journal of Economic Perspectives National AffairsNational The Independent ReviewThe Independent Foreign Affairs Foreign Foreign Policy Foreign AR POLITICS & GOVERNMENT FOREIGN POLICY & DEFENSE FOREIGN POLICY ART IMITATES ART ART IMITATES From TS &LETTERS WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT? WHAT’S From From ECONOMICS, LABOR & BUSINESS A RUBE GOLDBERG GOVERNMENT From DON’T WORRY, BE HAPPY DON’T WORRY, From CASE AGAINST WAR THE CONSERVATIVE SAVE THE NUKES! THE NUKES! SAVE From

OUR SURVEY OF NOTABLE ARTICLES FROM OTHER JOURNALS AND MAGAZINES OTHER JOURNALS ARTICLES FROM OF NOTABLE OUR SURVEY IN ESSENCE IN

IN ESSENCE FOREIGN POLICY & DEFENSE - - , he says , Policy Foreign THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Bad idea, argues Matthew Kroenig, a argues Matthew Kroenig, idea, Bad ons.” President Barack Obama President has pro ons.” nuclear arsenal the U.S. posed reducing the smallest number to 1,000 warheads, since 1953. Uni- political scientist at Georgetown in Writing versity. left-wing cause. In 2007, a bipartisan 2007, In left-wing cause. of foreign-policy establishment group including former secretary of figures, calledfor a push state Henry Kissinger, world of nuclear free weap “a toward that the illusion that nuclearthat the illusion that no weapons theby been fostered matter has longer “Think Again: American Nuclear Disarmament” by Nuclear Disarmament” by “Think Again: American

FOREIGN POLICY & DEFENSE POLICY FOREIGN Matthew Kroenig, in Foreign Policy, Sept.–Oct. 2013. Matthew Kroenig, KARPOV SERGEI ITAR-TASS PHOTOS / NEWSCOM KARPOV SERGEI ITAR-TASS NOW THAT THE COLD WAR IS OVER, IT MAY BE BE IS OVER, IT MAY COLD WAR THE NOW THAT the United States to see why needs hard it’s excessive; It’s nucleara large arsenal. and it’s irresponsible; it’s provocative; critics say—especially at a expensive, time when the country unparal enjoys - militaryleled conventional superiority. an exclusivelyDisarmament is no longer THE SOURCE: SAVE THE NUKES! parade. Russia still has 1,800 deployed nuclear weapons and another 2,700 in storage, a total that weapons and another 2,700 in storage, a total that parade. Russia still has 1,800 deployed nuclear deployed weapons on each side is slated to decline exceeds the U.S. arsenal by 800. The number of possess an estimated 1,125 nuclear weapons. to 1,550 by 2017. Seven other nations together Last May, Topol-M missile launchers rumbled through Moscow’s Red Square in preparation for a military missile launchers rumbled through Moscow’s Topol-M Last May,

IN ESSENCE FOREIGN POLICY & DEFENSE

-

THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Some arsenal strategists argue that a large ton’s nuclear advantage kept Soviet nuclear Soviet kept advantage ton’s supporting Arab from alliesforces in in However, wars against Israel. their nuclear when the narrowed, gap 1979, Statesthe United back failed to roll the Soviet of Afghanistan. invasion in 1967 and again in 1973, Washing in 1973, and again in 1967 Russia, China, India, India, Russia, China, KoreaPakistan, and North or expand- are modernizing their nuclear arsenals. ing the likelihood of increasing is provocative, another nuclear attack from a preemptive The Obama has administration power. “strategic identifying embraced this view, a new and proposing as a goal stability” with Russia agreement further reducing treaty of 1,550 warheads limit the current sees tortured logic behind Kroenig in 2017. provocative: are that arsenals the notion the United States possesses a all, “After against the world’s first-strike advantage and it doesn’t 184 nonnuclear states, Why fret wring its hands about that.” about nuclear superiority Russia over and U.S. any evenBeijing might China? regard less as a reassuring gesture arms reduction than as a prime opportunity to catch up.

f - - History repeats this lesson. When History this lesson. repeats Yale political scientist Paul Bracken politicalPaul scientist Yale Some critics maintain that it would with more warheads was only one-third onlywarheads was one-third more with as likely challenged to be militarily by other countries than 10 times and more likelymore to prevail in a crisis.” the United States demonstrate could clear nuclear superiority the So over - favorable more it enjoyed viet Union, only did Not foreign-policy outcomes. from Moscow prevent Washington but building submarine bases in Cuba, reaching the United States, looks likely looks States, United the reaching struggle. the great-power to revive of argues that the world the verge is on nuclear and that nuclearage” “second a vital ele “a as re-emerging are weapons ment of statecraft politics.” and power only a small nuclearrequire arsenal to deter these rising powers, but Kroenig’s but Kroenig’s deter these rising powers, “In supportsview. the opposite research statisticala analysis allof nuclear-armed the state . . . 1945 to 2001 countriesfrom - is vigor Iran and their nuclear arsenals, ously nuclear pursuing its own capability,” has which now China, And says. Kroenig only 50 warheads capable an estimated o muting of great-power rivalrygreat-power of muting since the other But collapse of the Soviet Union. “Rus things that way: see don’t nations North and Pakistan, India, China, sia, modernizing or expanding are Korea

IN ESSENCE FOREIGN POLICY & DEFENSE

- - - - - Foreign Foreign Foreign n

THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY “Defense on a Diet” by Melvyn P. Leffler, in Leffler, “Defense on a Diet” by Melvyn P.

What mistakes? asks Melvyn P. Lef- What mistakes? asks Melvyn P. devastating that adversaries find the the devastating find that adversaries likelyless the nuclearof prospect war, He thinks they willstart be to trouble.” the Obama ought to administration its talk of furtherabandon reducing “follow the nuclear count and weapons to fully its promise modern on through ize U.S. nuclear infrastructure.” nuclear infrastructure.” ize U.S. ington. “We have to remember the les to remember have “We ington. Barack ObamaPresident history,” of sons to re afford can’t “We declared in 2012. been made peat the mistakes that have after II, War in the past—afterWorld Vietnam—when our military policy was left for the future.” ill prepared Virginia a University of historian. fler, “History us that austerity shows can help, he writes in rather than hurt,” Reduced defense spending usually Affairs. mak concentrates the minds of decision creatively more them to think forcing ers, the For realisticallyand strategy. about of past cuts the consequences most part, DON’T WORRY, THE SOURCE: OF AUSTERITY IN A LOOMING NEW AGE defense is causing anxietyWash great in BE HAPPY BE , Nov.–Dec. 2013. Affairs, Nov.–Dec.

- - - - There is a simple principle There at the bot- Still for argument another reducing even cost Shrinking arsenal isn’t the effective, Kroenig contends. Most of the contends. Kroenig effective, not the weap cost is in the infrastructure, and nuclear programs themselves, ons de make up only of the U.S. four percent fense budget. Demilitarizing and bombs fense budget. cost would facilities weapon-building true It’s that the United States billions. $3.9 billion an approximately could save nually delaying the modernization by of but missiles and other delivery vehicles, compared short of trivial” “nothing that’s defense to the $600 billion spent on rationale the compelling And each year. nuclear buildup U.S. the that fostered in the 1950s still Nuclear applies today: cheaper form much a are weapons armies. than conventional of deterrence “The more argument: of Kroenig’s tom the American nuclear that in arsenal is would Washington example, by leading Kroe global nonproliferation. promote “Keep dreaming.” short answer: nig’s StatesThe United has been cutting and its nuclear since the 1960s, forces no evidence that these efforts there’s worldwide reduced proliferation. have pathbreaking the notes, Kroenig Indeed, of the Non-Proliferation on Treaty 1968 peak at a was ratified Weapons Nuclear nuclear capacity. of U.S. moment

IN ESSENCE FOREIGN POLICY & DEFENSE

- - - - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY The emphasis shifted The emphasis again after Leffler concedes that austerity hasn’t Leffler that austerity concedes hasn’t That was not the only period in which were united in their eagerness to balance their eagerness united in were this rare inflation; fight and the budget another ensured of interests confluence and Truman of deep defense cuts. round that the So reckoned his top advisers a war but to fight too weak viets were means in other by inroads could make war-ravaged countries the many around they decided, assistance, Foreign world. “was important more than rearmament.” Their strategy to the Marshall led Plan of Europe. and the reconstruction U.S. military rapidly. spending increased U.S. North Korea’s surprise of 1950 invasion North Korea’s defense outlays U.S. and South Korea, a tiny “only But tripled years. in only three of that money was needed percentage” to according forSouthin war the Korea, Leffler. Most of it was devoted to pre Leffler. military for confronta paring the U.S. with the Sovietstion the world. around Presi always led to the best outcomes. was deter Eisenhower Dwightdent D. spending Pentagon mined to restrain but also embraced a wide range of U.S. the alliances around and commitments second During Eisenhower’s world. means the gap between term (1957–61), result, a as and wider, grew ends and America’s commitments and ambitions commitments America’s

- - The classicThe cautionary aus- about tale As the likelihood of war rose in 1940, in 1940, As the likelihood of war rose Harry President S. After the war, in Pentagon spending were good. good. were spending in Pentagon deep defense cutbacks terity is America’s when military spend I, War afterWorld Nixon’s opening to China to China opening Nixon’s of austerity was a product in defense. of 17 percent ing suddenly from dropped percent, to two product domestic gross But 96 percent. and the Army shrank by scholarship” of dispassionate “generations have Leffler writes, Harbor, since Pearl - compro “neither that austerityshown security thwartednor - signifi U.S. mised Rather, canttechnological innovation.” “whatleft United Statesthe unprepared for the gathering storm was a flawed and inept diplomacy.” perception threat policymakers scrambled to devise a U.S. strategy suited to their scant resources until America could fully mobilize. prevent They came one: up with a good - domi Britain, invading Germany from and in sea lanes, nating the Atlantic corporating northwestern Europe’s war machine. into the Nazi resources Everything else was secondary. Republican and his opponents Truman

IN ESSENCE FOREIGN POLICY & DEFENSE

- - n National ReviewNational THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY are State to Welfare State” by Ivan Eland, in State” are State to Welfare “Warf

grow more slowly than before. slowly than before. more grow formed the Right. Combating the Combating formed the Right. But the Cold War, and President and President War, But the Cold onCenter the of director Ivan Eland, Leffler notes, is not all that great. U.S. U.S. is not all great. that Lefflernotes, In any case, the United States will still case, any In militaryits on spendall than its “more combined.” geopolitical competitors servatives. Before the attack on Pearl Pearl the attackon Before servatives. Republicans- fre for example, Harbor, quently Franklin criticized President support Roosevelt’s for Britain’s D. war effort. - commit Eisenhower’s Dwight D. Sovietthe Union, “contain” to ment trans by led conservatives, policy foreign even an aggressive oned as they smaller advocated government. and Liberty at the Independent Peace THE CONSERVATIVE CONSERVATIVE THE CASE AGAINST WAR THE SOURCE: STREAK RUNS ANTIWAR AN ISOLATIONIST, and its political history, U.S. through often have con been standard-bearers champi Buckley, Williamfounder F. defense spending will not be slashed defense will spending slashed not be or it might slightly, but only reduced simply communist menace in the international menace communist and most became arena a bipartisan affair, The Independent Review, Fall 2013. - - - - 1, The key to prospering in a time of The key to prospering in a time of Overall, Leffler concludes, “the nega “the Leffler concludes, Overall, tive consequences of defense austerity consequences tive The significant been exaggerated.” have that did arise problems under tighter the only or partly, “wererarely, budgets The country’s . . . of austerityresult itself. militaryworst of the post– problems interven II era—China’s War World the quagmire War, in the Korean tion the morass in Iraq—had Vietnam, in nothing to do with tight budgets.” artful- combina defense“an austerity is allies and to reassure of initiatives tion the challenge, And adversaries.” engage however, the administration of George of George the administration however, H. W. Bush called but for retrenchment W. H. ambitious foreign-policyalso insisted on that the level of with the result goals, military high. spending remained liances. After the Gulf War of 1990–9 AfterWar the Gulf liances. initiation of relations with China, and a with China, of relations initiation al of covert and regional welter actions abroad outweighed the resources it it resources the outweighed abroad even but was willing devoteto them, to such can favorable imbalances produce - Presi AfterVietnamWar, the results. Secretary and Nixon of M. dent Richard State Henry with faced were Kissinger mili reduced insistent upon a Congress they so devised creative tary spending, to check Sovietresponses expansion, the including détente with Moscow,

IN ESSENCE FOREIGN POLICY & DEFENSE - - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY In 1913, the Sixteenth Amendment In 1913, transformational I was in War “World ued seven years after the war. President President afterued seven years war. the Clevelandbriefly itGrover resurrected when an economic dozentwo later, years imports and lessened U.S. depression but the Supreme Court tariff revenues, Con “The U.S. quickly struck it down. clearlystitution tax to direct any required to states according be allocated the across taxing “and Eland explains, population,” did to their incomes people according not meet that requirement.” tax constitutional, the income made Woodrow when President 1917, and by Wilson led the United StatesWorld into supplanted tariffs the tax had I, War federal as the and excises government’s After the war, of revenue. source largest and, the tax remained, but rates dropped the federal government view, in Eland’s began to crawl further into the private of citizens.lives ‘bigbringing about permanent- govern was a dramatic There he says. ment,’” for upswing in American manufacturing, War, when federal spending went from federal when from went spending War, to product national of gross percent two discontin tax was income the 15 percent, instance, but there wasn’t enough housing wasn’t there but instance, for factoryseparate three workers—until federal stepped in with the gov agencies public-housing programs. first ernment’s

- - - kland, Calif., believes believes Calif., kland, Such lavish spending, as well as the as well Such lavish spending, The Founding Fathers were wary were of Fathers The Founding By 1910, forty-five after years the end By 1910, of Ameri 28 percent about of the war, and older were of age can 65 years men Eland writes. federal receiving benefits,” first industrial demands of America’s necessitated a new source modern war, Instituted as tax. the income of revenue: an emergency during measure the Civil sions, along with powerful interest groups interest with powerful along sions, “Manypeople corruption. widespread and War the Civil from who derived pensions or poverty. war wounds suffer from didn’t Institute, in Oa Institute, that and at odds, are these goals that leery be more should “conservatives of he argues in War, wars.” jumping into inevitably leads ReviewThe Independent , new requiring government, to a larger are that vastlyand taxes powers expanded only partially back peacetime. rolled in bridled and many entanglements, foreign of a standing army. at even the notion said James of armies,” is the parent “War debts andproceed these “From Madison. as an induce offered pensions Yet taxes.” ment to soldiers during- Revolution the nose camel’s proverbial the were aryWar under the tent and eventually led to the 20th century’s federal massive retirement system pension War Civil The programs. a newlybred of Pen expanded Bureau

IN ESSENCE FOREIGN POLICY & DEFENSE

- n THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY The lesson, Eland argues, is plain. plain. is Eland argues, The lesson, Eland has a long list of other list long a has Eland Decades later, the Vietnam War directly VietnamWar the Decades later, war-related expansions of government, of government, expansions war-related of includingWar bank bailouts (the government price controls; 1812); “Traditional conservatives recognized “Traditional in the past that war is the primary cause so in human history, of big government That important . . . peace. they promoted relearned.” needs to be lesson Time (World War I); and subsidizedand I); TimeWar (World II). War child care (World Washington used the Washington to intrude into Great War Americans’ bedrooms. and treatment of disease in poor children. of and treatment of industry;takeovers Daylight Savings contributed to the expansion of Medicaid. of Medicaid. contributedexpansion to the allof half draft early years, war’s the In medicalees failed or mental aptitude report administration A Johnson tests. - physi “mental, on problem pinned the many conditions, and developmental cal, and diagnosed been whichof have could in childhood and adolescence.” treated President in reportfactor The was a major expanding legislation Johnson’s Lyndon Medicaid early the to cover diagnosis

- - - - Washington also used the Great War War used the Great also Washington The WilsonThe es also administration tablished the first federalthe first bureaucracytablished theaters and began sending “purifiers” “purifiers” theaters and began sending to military soldiers bases to badger and their girlfriends off to who went spots.” “secluded fied with fighting prostitution, the War War the prostitution, fighting with fied Department against burlesque protested initiation of a public campaign of a public initiation warning The disease. venereal of of the dangers was the closingultimate result of every satis Not district red-light in America. world.” But more troops prompted more more prompted troops more But world.” and morality crusaders won regulation, putting certainan order American cit- ies off limits to military and personnel designed to find jobs for people, the U.S. the U.S. jobs for people, find designed to It fell apart after Service. Employment even but the idea reappeared the war, federal the New Deal in many before work. to efforts to put the unemployed bedrooms. to intrude into Americans’ a per had once armed forces The U.S. The largest of these, the Department of these, largest The Corporation, Housing U.S. of Labor’s for almost homes building up ended 170,000 individuals. servicemembers’ toward attitude missive “During the guerilla off-duty pursuits. to according war in the Philippines,” Army] ran the big “[the U.S. Eland, in the of ill licensed house gest repute

IN ESSENCE FOREIGN POLICY & DEFENSE

- - THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Teles has a name for the problem: has a name for the problem: Teles also come incoherence,” undermining undermining incoherence,” come also the policy liberals of both ves objecti ultimately, and conservatives—and, complexity Together, democracy itself. make it diffi “often and incoherence . . cult for . understand just what us to the among and is doing, government practices it most frequentlyhides from tendencyview of public is the growing upward.” policy redistribute resources to com the derived from “kludgeocracy,” “kludge,” term puter programming

TALKS ABOUT THE SIZE OF TALKS “Kludgeocracy in America” by Steven M. Teles, in Teles, M. Steven by America” in “Kludgeocracy

POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT POLITICS government, but the real issue is its issue is its real but the government, a political Teles, Steven complexity. University, Hopkins scientist at Johns “with that complexity has argues that ANTHONY BEHAR / SIPA USA / NEWSCOM ANTHONY BEHAR / SIPA in ensnarled year a hours billion six spend individuals and businesses American it Kludge Day. Call

EVERYBODY EVERYBODY GOVERNMENT THESOURCE: A RUBE GOLDBERG National Affairs, Fall 2013. tax-related paperwork.

IN ESSENCE POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

- - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Because who is get it obscures ting what, complexity is ultimately complexity is ultimately ting what, to the quality significant threat “a It allows special of our democracy.” and the affluent to quietly interests Cor largesse.” the state’s from “profit benefit for instance, porate interests, tax innumerable tax loopholes, from and other forms of corpo- credits, in the concealed that are rate welfare and cranniesnooks of government. left crucial and maintenance inspections aid to education is also Federal undone. “Instead a classic case of kludgeocracy. big checks over of just handing school to federal “the gov- says, Teles districts,” with doz the states ernment showers ens of small programs.” Each program Each program ens of small programs.” creating groups, interest own its breeds determined to keep coalitions powerful the federal gravy though flowing—even little to improve that money has done the schools. The most insidious feature feature The most insidious is the of kludgeocracy hidden, indirect, and fre- quently corrupt distribution of its costs.

- - - - The OxfordThe Dictionary English Kludgeocracy- also ties the govern “The of kludg- most insidious feature quently corrupt distribution of its costs,” quently corrupt distribution of its costs,” Or the maze take of incentivized- als. such savings programs as 401(k) plans, and state-run college savings 529 IRAs, Unlike Social Security—a system plans. and pen of simple payroll deductions force payments—these programs sion participants their time and en- to pour ergy their investments, into managing fewsomething willing or able to do. are for Hurricane Katrina, ment in knots. overwhelmed New Orleans’s example, system thanks in partflood protection Senator Susan tangles. to administrative Collins (R.–Maine) found that there about the basic question “confusion was which of who is in charge of the levees,” eocracy is the hidden, indirect, and fre indirect, eocracy is the hidden, Some of these costs fall in- on he says. most painfully in the form of dividuals, which cost requirements, tax compliance and billion each year $163 the economy a staggeringof six billion hours create paperwork for businesses and individu assembled to fulfill a particular purpose . . . . . a particularto fulfill assembled purpose . clumsya temporarily but so effective defined bydefined ill-assorted parts of collection “an as Windows, of Microsoft (Users lution.” “will immediately grasp quips, Teles the concept.”)

IN ESSENCE POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

- - - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY n “The complexity is of government about un is not optimistic Teles - The sheer com kludging America. plexityrise has given of government of lobbyists, “kludge industry” to a and private contractors consultants, the system and, whose job it is to work same. of the more recommend often, byzantine pro legislative Congress’s each a kind “veto points,” cess is full of of of tollbooth that extracts its share as the pricekludge of passing a bill. incoherence the against fight the But and inefficiency of the American po litical system has to start somewhere, than naming no better place and there’s the enemy. often feeds the public perception of often of feedspublic perception the as corruptgovernment ineffective and and deprives liberals of clear policy suc for momentum build would cesses that “The willingness of government. active citizens to contribute goods public to are that others the perception on rests writes. Teles doing their share,” The he says. for not good our politics,” distributed machinerystatethe of vast, for citizensmakes it hard who’s to know wrong. goes at fault when something vague cynicism is a The result toward attitude certain to the state—“an undermine citizenship.” good - - Well-off households likewise reap likewise households reap Well-off - politicalBoth cre partieseager are insisted that the Medicare prescription insisted that the Medicare prescription in 2003 be admin drug created benefit But such the private sector. by istered stratagems only the true conceal size fatigued Democrats, of government. to additional public opposition by resorted to have spending programs, kludgeocracy as a backdoor method of But that implementing new initiatives. might increase supportincrease might for government GOP the why reason one That’s action. “That much so invests business why is “To explains. Teles in politics,” money off the agenda.” keep issues They derive stealth dividends. massive the biggest of almost all benefits the of kludgeocracy:tax-favored products and college savings programs retirement created “housing-welfare state” and the organizations government-sponsored by and the massive Mae such as Fannie federal on deduction mortgage interest even most beneficia Yet taxes. income receiving that they are ries unaware are benefits. government believes, Teles ators of kludgeocracy, priceheavy a pay both though for it. Republicans like it because it conceals citizens that they from the fact are that public programs from benefiting

IN ESSENCE POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT - - - Journal of Economic THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY That would be a pretty funny idea, idea, be a prettyfunny That would , if Waldfogel’s kind of eco Waldfogel’s if , Perspectives chael J. Sandel in chael J. penetrating thinking weren’t nomic and of personal areas and more more and others now Economists civic life. make the case for such market-based hu- in markets establishing as policies creating man kidneys and other organs, to control permits” “procreation tradable allowing con and growth, population to swap money for sex. senting adults to the store. It would make more sense, sense, more make It would store. to the friends loved and hand your to he said, cash. some ones writes Harvard political Mi scientist - - “Market Reasoning as Moral Reasoning: Why Econo Why Reasoning: as Moral Reasoning “Market

ECONOMICS, LABOR & BUSINESS LABOR ECONOMICS, mists Should Re-engage with Political Philosophy” by Michael J. with Political Philosophy” mists Should Re-engage , Fall 2013. Sandel, in Journal of Economic Perspectives In Ukraine, Renat Abduliu displays the scar left after he sold one of his kidneys on the international after he sold one of his kidneys on the international In Ukraine, Renat Abduliu displays the scar left black market in 2011 for $10,000. DIANA MARKOSIAN / REDUX sity at the time, Waldfogel argued that it Waldfogel sity time, at the rationality economic for people todefies wind may that each other presents give up stuffed in a closet or guiltily returned JOEL WALDFOGEL PROBABLY KNEW BETTER KNEW BETTER PROBABLY JOEL WALDFOGEL hearthis in articlean published he when loss of Christmas” “the deadweight on Univer Yale at economist An in 1993. THESOURCE: WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO WITH DO IT?

IN ESSENCE ECONOMICS, LABOR & BUSINESS

------THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY The problem doesn’t end there, Sandel there, end doesn’t The problem ac don’t sometimes Economists knowledge that buying and selling that buying knowledge and selling things can diminish the value of what a Suppose were there is being traded. degrade It would in children: market LineStanding.com charges customers customers charges LineStanding.com to queue up for$50 an hour surrogates D.C., for example, a company called called a company for example, D.C., customers are lobbyists. On efficiency efficiency On lobbyists. are customers this is perfectly reasonable; grounds, to obtain (free) tickets to importantto obtain (free) con gressional and Supreme Court sessions. daysticket of waiting can require hot A and the chief of dollars, and cost thousands it obviously isn’t. equityon grounds, could solve the in Congress points out. subsidies providing equality by problem some to all those who wanted to pay but that idea only points body for a seat, issue: profound to a subtler and more into a prod to Congress access “Turning the uct for sale demeans and degrades” principle a broader There’s institution. “Some of the most corrosive work: at moral on and civic markets of effects practices of efficien neither failures are nor matters sense, cy in the economist’s the they involve Instead, of inequality. degradation that can turn occur when we into transactions all human relationships all things in life as if they good and treat commodities.” were

- - Then there is the question of inequal is the question Then there Some of these proposals may have have may Somethese proposals of There’s the caseConsider of kidneys. ity. A free market in body parts market would A free ity. many are and there clearly the rich, favor in which and small, large other cases, Washington, In inequalityissue. an is of what is being traded. can diminish the value buying and selling things don’t acknowledge that Economists sometimes theoretical merittheoretical utility-maximizing as but in the name Sandel allows, measures, their au- science, social “value-free” of thors often try the moral and ignore to ethical implications of their designs. kind of market that some no question but lives, in kidneys many save would in these organs traffic regulating before view we the how on agree first must we Is it simply our property, human body. wish? to do with as we free are which we trans any rendering Is it sanctified, Orviolation? a plant onlyis buyingthe and selling of body parts the problem? gifts would or in-kind exchanges If so, be permissible?

IN ESSENCE ECONOMICS, LABOR & BUSINESS

- - - n THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY That kind of thinking “ignores the That kind of thinking Beneath many economists’ calcula economists’ Beneath many tions is a “strange” hidden assumption assumption hidden “strange” a is tions love, that qualities such as civic spirit, that resources scarce “are and generosity while In 2003, use.” depleted with are of Harvardhe was president - Univer “We Lawrence Summers declared, sity, onlyallaltruism have so much in us. like me think of altruismEconomists that needs good as a valuable and rare better to conserve it by Far conserving. designing a system in which people’s individuals by willwants be satisfied and saving that altruism being selfish, and the our friends, for our families, in this world social problems that many cannotmarkets solve.” possibility that our capacity for and love benevolence is not depleted with use Sandel con practice,” with but enlarged civic virtue and public Indeed, cludes. with disuse.” “atrophy spirit may Sandel writes. But it’s important it’s But to fully Sandel writes. the designing ends when the understand Capitol to the solution The best means. might for example, Hill ticket crush, be a lottery nontransfer- that awarded open and fair making access able tickets, while preserving the majesty of govern mental institutions.

- - - - - The same principle can be seen at of this means that market None and objectify children and violate all all violate and children objectify and ob But that’s love. of parental notions the effects viously example; an extreme into can reach of commercialization corners. or unexpected mundane many of Israeli a group study, famous In one child-care tried centers to discour arriving late to pick from parents age a fine imposing by up their children Late pickups promptly for tardiness. who parents “Before, Why? increased. came late felt guilty; impos they were the teachers,” on ing an inconvenience consid parents “Now, Sandelexplains. a late pickup a serviceered as for which willing to pay.” they were 51 percent where in Switzerland, work Wolfen of the village of of the residents a survey in schiessen agreed a to accept nuclear waste facility in their community if the Swiss parliament found it to be What the safest location in the country. offered were residents the in addition, if, payment?annual an Only percent 25 The public-spirited villagers agreed. willing for to sacrifice the greater were the entered money but once good, their calculus changed. equation, mechanisms should never be used,

IN ESSENCE ECONOMICS, LABOR & BUSINESS

- THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY According to critic Lionel Trilling, Trilling, to critic Lionel According literature, particularly the novel, particularlynovel, the literature, foilto a much-needed provided the social engineering ethos of the which an oversimplified, took 1930s, only ones. “Critics and sociologists of “Critics of sociologists and only ones. the with preoccupied the fifties were commercial and effectsculture mass of entertainment culture,” traditional on of professor writes Morris Dickstein, theater at the CityEnglish and Uni Center, Graduate York versityNew of this concern parallels the current “and of newalarm about the impact media literaryon culture.”

- - “The Moment of the Novel and the Rise of Film the Novel and the Rise of Film “The Moment of

AR Culture” by Morris Dickstein, in Raritan, Summer 2013. Culture” by Morris BETTMANN / CORBIS in the golden age of modern film, with the actress Director Federico Fellaini, who helped usher Magali Noel during the shooting of Amarcord in 1973. IN TODAY’S POPULAR IMAGINATION, POST– POPULAR IMAGINATION, IN TODAY’S II America was conser War World THE SOURCE: LETTERS TS & ART IMITATES ART repressed and consumerist, vative rise it gave to a Yet and isolationist. an intellectu slew of literary greats, ally fractious bunch who nonetheless the importance on to agree managed if They also wondered of the novel. the and they weren’t survive, it would

IN ESSENCE ARTS & LETTERS

------THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY (1952), and Mailer’s planned Mailer’s and (1952), Novelists struggled weightthe under Novelists Writers were also anxious to resist anxious to resist also were Writers When liter turned from away readers ature, some authors blamed the distrac- authors blamed some ature, media—particu mass by offered tions Vidal Gore “Reading skills,” larly radio. to decline “continue sniffed in 1967, with each new generation.” another literaryanother that struggled generation Dick openlymore its predecessors?” with While writersEnglish simply stein asks. dreamed “Americans to publish, strove would that work definitive some of consciousness.” national light up the Great of the pursuit” “grail-like of this Ellison never produced American Novel. after novel a second his acclaimed Invis- Man ible eight-volume opus splintered into shorter opus splintered eight-volume and autobiographical miscellany. works for demand easy con culture’s mass sumption. Some of the modernist Some of the modernist sumption. Prac this worry. stems from aesthetic William and suchtitioners as Joyce famously produced inscru Faulkner onlytable novels—ones the strongest to the endurance had to read readers (“Whilethe end. all art sense is in some Dickstein drollyobserves, demanding,” the legacy of modernism makes “only - the precon of engagement this degree after all, which, fordition major art, can ingratiating be as exacting.”) as well

- - The novel, in in novel, The With fidelity on to their insistence The novel had not always enjoyed such not always had The novel enjoyed the irrational depths of the psyche, of the psyche, the irrational depths which luridly the war had exposed.” turned to James, Ralph Ellison to James turned to James, Mailer to Ernest and Hemingway Joyce, “Is there others. among Steinbeck, John be considered high art. high art. be considered of 19th- the works experience, lived century Gustave Flaubert realists and Henry James pushed critics to concede Post could indeed be art. that novels war writers and other to these looked James Baldwin forforebears direction. Daniel Defoe’s Moll Flanders- unrepen Daniel Defoe’s Charles Dickens’ tantly misbehaved. too entertaining to page-turners were lofty status. “With lofty its catchall content, status. characters, piquant serviceable prose, hap- what on emphasis relentless and it was the upstart of the arts, pens next, undisciplined, rowdy, the wild child, Dickstein writes. pleasing,” and crowd form celebrated the individual while also as Dickstein it in Raritan puts , examining, “ was an answer to the anonymous mass mass to the anonymous was an answer - con II—the Nazi War World death of The bomb. the atomic centration camps, plexity of experience. For other intellec For plexity of experience. abstract, and mechanistic approach to to mechanistic and approach abstract, needs . human meeting novel the Mailer, such as Norman tuals, contrast, faithfully- the com reflected contrast,

IN ESSENCE ARTS & LETTERS

- n THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY overvaluation of art is theis art of overvaluation “The and of both fiction contraction But Dickstein isn’t writing a eulogy But Dickstein isn’t high—and losing audience in the process. losing audience in the high—and The end of art. beginning of the film, the decline of their popular appeal, the decline appeal, of their popular film, was in part of the extrava an outgrowth gant hopes that had been invested in been invested gant hopes that had Trilling citing Dickstein writes, them,” “the overvaluation who noted that again, of art of the end of art.” is the beginning Anxieties for or films. either novels of the digital age about the distractions “we still need stories notwithstanding, however to illuminate our condition, way.” our they come may Martin Scorsese. Perhaps inevitably, inevitably, Perhaps Martin Scorsese. following trajectory the movieswere to lowbrow from going of the novel,

- - - - — The Grapes of Wrath of The Grapes Meanwhile, movie audiences were movie were audiences Meanwhile, such Modernist as Ingmar directors finding the pleasures they’d once en once they’d pleasures the finding the novel—the parent, in film’s joyed formstwo sharing in terms of much storytelling rich“the elaboration and 1950s, the By characters.” individual of the arts, pleaser of the crowd was film became allies both and fiction and film Fictioneasily—andwas often rivals. and as in wonderfully, Movies in to the silveradapted screen. fluenced writers and to focus action on psychological from and away dialog, Baldwin and Philip sold Roth analysis. when theyabout wrote books more who directors with toe to toe sex—going also learnedhad to push the envelope. and Luis Fellini, Federico Bergman, artof age golden a in ushered Buñuel sub a inspired in turn, They, cinema. of grittysequent generation filmmak them Robert among Altman and ers,

IN ESSENCE ARTS & LETTERS

- , have have , never never Habits of Habits THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Actually, the time was only 1985, and onlywas time the 1985, Actually, , by Robert Bellah and others. Robert by Bellah and others. , the Heart writes Carl Desportes parents, Today’s Review in The Hedgehog Bowman deep reflecting very feelings, different not some changes in American culture, temporaryof exigencies the to response job market. today’s ally frightening thing for both would child of the be the prospect leaving home.” classic was the now the book and for children,” a team of sociologists of sociologists a team and forchildren,” re “the observed time, in that distant

“Holding Them Closer” by Carl Desportes Bowman, Closer” by Carl Desportes “Holding Them

SOCIETY NADINE DILLY / CORBIS NADINE DILLY still be playing the same game 20 years from now? they Will one-room schoolhouse, but there was a a was but there schoolhouse, one-room time when American fervently parents up, grow would hoped their children independent, and establish home, leave “However the painful lives. self-reliant for parents leaving home, of process THESOURCE: AS ANTIQUE AS A THE NOTION NOW SEEMS YOU CAN AGAIN HOME GO , Fall 2013. in The Hedgehog Review

IN ESSENCE SOCIETY

------THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY , in which the Harvard professor , That’s not to say that parents have have that parents say not to That’s - Bow changed, what’s understand To are equipped with cell phones, charge charge with cell equipped phones, are Bow Internet and connections. cards, up in “grow man says adolescents that immersed in bubble,” a peer-dominated ac and peer-centered studies, “gadgets, children bubble-bred But these tivities.” poorlyare with such equipped to deal clothes tasks as ironing and applyadult has home the race to leave ing for a job; “leisurely a become stroll.” Seventy of percent total softies. become survey said institute’s the in parents the their chil “direct” it was their job to with them. “negotiate” rather than dren themselves strictThose who considered permis self-identified outnumbered and 81 percent to one, two parents sive said they spanked a child had at least this a (though fewonce considered practice). standard backman goes to sociologist David 1950 classic The Lonely Riesman’s Crowd industri- famously described an affluent, alized America was in whose populace “inner-directed” being transition from In the old world of “other-directed.” to people were values and social roles, fixed “gyro generally an internal guided by But Riesman set in their youth. scope” with its society, argued that consumer ------of autono self-perception Such changes reflect the fact that Such that the fact changes reflect According to Bowman, who is director director who is to Bowman, According my and freedom that matters.” And it’s it’s And that matters.” my and freedom people to develop that easy for young children when in an age self-perception become a “leisurely stroll.” The race to leave home has “adulthood has become a subjective cat a subjective has become “adulthood of survey University at the of research Stud Institute forAdvanced Virginia’s almost three-quarters ies in Culture, an in children school-age of parents of surveyinstitute they said hoped they be best friendswould with their chil of Two-thirds afterdren they grew up. gladly they said would respondents the support child financially a 25-year-old encourage their and would if necessary, offspring back if afford to move home The word find. to hard able digs were com now it’s itself has evolved; “home” for and their twenties mon people in thirties to use it to describe the place live. their parents where do longer No writes. Bowman egory,” classic such life as a landing a landmarks and starting setting up a household, job, a family the entry mark into adulthood; “ one’s it’s now,

IN ESSENCE SOCIETY - - - - - n THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Ultimately, Bowman writes, the return the return writes, Bowman Ultimately, The parent-child relationship is for relationship parent-child The ever a work in progress, like a transac like a progress, in ever a work eventual“the of the value in which tion uncertain remains and the fullpurchase cast Having aside unknown.” costs are left are to parents the old certainties, chart val course in defining their own ues during often child rearing—and are “for left children to their own looking doing.” feedback they how are on anchor of emotional “an seek is parents not being assurance they are connection, their irrelevant by set aside or rendered theybe in the same way might children or in other sociallyat work limited re and ‘Father’ when In an age lationships. carry no longer the intrinsic ‘Mother’ authority in a by accorded and respect be parents’ may ‘best friends’ age, gone best attempt at sustaining something meaningful and enduring.” have lost their luster.” lost have - - - - Nothing is more unsettled in the new unsettled is more Nothing generation. world Riesman described than human friendship to mar from relationships, are, in effect, the first full other-directed full other-directed the first in effect, are, many entertainmentsmany and shifting so a new of kind was breeding cial roles, behav who tended to take one person, parents Today’s others. ioral cues from which on tend to be based less riage, social by defined commitments fixed on and more forces, and other roles The British sociologist choice. personal Giddens calls modernAnthony rela by surrounded “free-floating,” tionships Zygmunt sociologist, Another anxiety. in observes that parenting, Bauman, “is not just an activity words, Bowman’s of loving care for a dependent being, emotional own of meeting one’s but and identity needs in a world where - proj commitments, institutional larger for many, of identity, and sources ects,

IN ESSENCE SOCIETY

- The Wizard of THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY “those slippers that save you.” you.” slippers that save “those Once Chernoff arrived in Poland, her Once Chernoff arrived in Poland, view, would be like the ruby-encrusted would view, in donned shoes Dorothy Oz, She found fell aloof apart. plan to remain Tim Cole, professor of social historyof social professor TimCole, England, at the University of Bristol, but simply as an American sightseer on destination checking more off one She her imagined tour. a European said in an inter she American sneakers, go not as a victim or even as a Jew, writes or evennot as a victim as a Jew, go “Crematoria, Barracks, Gateway” by Tim Cole, in Gateway” by Tim “Crematoria, Barracks,

RELIGION & PHILOSOPHY RELIGION , Fall/Winter 2013. History & Memory REUTERS / PETER ANDREWS / CORBIS the museum at Auschwitz, a place that once had no For concentration camp survivors, freely leaving exit for Jews, can be an enormously symbolic experience. children wanted to see it, however, so in however, wanted to see it, children She decided to with them. 1992 she went RENA CHERNOFF SURVIVED AUSCHWITZ, AUSCHWITZ, SURVIVED RENA CHERNOFF - to the con returning and she dreaded centration camp even in its present Her adult incarnation as a museum. THE SOURCE: TOURING AUSCHWITZ

IN ESSENCE RELIGION & PHILOSOPHY - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY As mourners, the survivors visit who As mourners, nesses, telling family members, fellow telling familymembers, nesses, and even tour guides what tourgoers, “Conflict the experience was really like. - and re guides museum official between is a recurring theme turning survivors” This observes. Cole accounts, visitors’ of “particularly in the 1980s was the case when the stories told at and 1990s, victim- emphasized Auschwitz Polish of Jews despite the predominance hood” those imprisonedamong and murdered the bunks they’d among Walking there. survivors pre who had actually slept in, viously determined to silently take in the tour felt compelled to set the record others to envision straight or to implore “I showed with people. filled the place one them everything Auschwitz,” in tend to seek solitude in the crematoria, in the crematoria, tend to seek solitude they often movingbut barracks, the to themselves expert becoming find wit a man who visited in 1946, a year after a year in 1946, who visited a man collected camps, the of liberation the secretly flask of them keeping a ashes, for 50 years. “Look, we are back,” one we are back,” “Look, saying survivor imagined to the Nazis.

- - - - History & Memory that While survivors returning already are bers and crematoria for the first time. time. bers and crematoria for the first lake a nearby with along These sites, dumped, were ashes of the dead where serve“cemetery in lieu of the family as a They simplythat graves exist.” not do can one symbolically where places are familythe - friendsand rest to lay mur “the act where places in the camp, dered interpreted as a . . of mourning can be . Survivorsposthumous victory of sorts.” the Jewish prayer often Kaddish, say One Some candles. light mourning. of the crematoria; from stones took woman chwitz, most encounter the gas cham chwitz, horribly of Aus areas familiar with some Chernoff of that to similar was visit ’s they As make other survivors. many “micro-sites” various through their way in the compound—notably the cre a guide for her husband and children, a guide forher husband and children, Jew about concerned “American and an the contemporary of memory” politics a that after to find she was dismayed the grounds on been erected had cross Christianto commemorate victims. about sur- a book on Cole is working “holocaust to landscapes,” returns vivors’ and he notes in herself shiftingherself of a wom the roles between an mourning family died there, had who and gateway—their barracks, matoria, change. roles

IN ESSENCE RELIGION & PHILOSOPHY

- - n THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Others to make the journey refuse been transformed—or, as some see it, it, see some as transformed—or, been sanitized. Summer grass grows over Summer over grass grows sanitized. liam Lowenberg insisted. “I’m afraid to afraid to “I’m liam Lowenberg insisted. I’m since And really wake up. wake up, and I having a very normal good life, I be- think I can quite well, function maybe not everyone with agrees lieve, that issue, with me on agree but I me, . . . want potential interference. I don’t very it’s very deeply It’s deeply buried, for the way that it leave and let’s buried, time being at least.” this other geography, sensing blood and this other geography, in the grass burningbones and flesh in the landscape finding of memory the air, the than viscerally even more felt, truer, them. material before one “I will back never to go to Auschwitz. survivorWil I can’t,” and camp, any places once covered in mud. “Believe you in mud. covered once places of grass you blade one was if there me, you happened, have would what know ex woman one it,” eaten have would bitter In wintertime, her son. plained to a measure restore cold and biting wind but the air is silent, of verisimilitude, scrubbed of the cries and the of children Some visitors conjure stench of smoke. and an exit.” , is to defy that , For many visitors, however, the visit however, visitors, many For There are good arguments against arguments against good are There is not as satisfying as they had hoped, satisfyingas not is hoped, theyas had for the very has that Auschwitz reason - The Na the gateway is hugely symbolic. dragged were at Auschwitz victims zis’ and gateway, its campthe into through those who survived out marched were passive American in 1945, by troops participants liberation. own in their pulsed barbed that once wire Touching in watchtow- standing with electricity, to is a way stood, guards Nazi ers where are we “Look, tormentors. past confront survivor one imagined saying to back,” families.” our own got “We’ve the Nazis. demonic logic, to put ‘Auschwitz’ back ‘Auschwitz’ to put logic, demonic with an entrance in a place that for survivors, remains But the fact being able to walk freelyand out of in said. “We find my name scraped in . . . in . . scraped my name in . find “We said. wall.” in the the wall, using Holocaust tourism to achieve clo- Art has historianGriselda Pollock sure. the that cautioneddenies so doing that camp concentration was anything but which from a place “factoryof death, a that and return,” to intended was none leave to tour and to “to go,

IN ESSENCE RELIGION & PHILOSOPHY - - Where Good Here Comes (2011), Steve Johnson (2011), THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY (2009), Clay Shirky explores Shirky Clay explores (2009), Today’s public intellectuals are ani intellectuals public are Today’s mated by one big issue, writes Henry big issue, one mated by a political at George scientist Farrell, University: the reshaping Washington of society tech new- communication by in example, For nologies. Everybody us new give digital communications how to organize everythingfreedom from In flash mobs to businesses. Ideas Come From From Come Ideas War to sex. But eventually was their kind to sex. War absorbed universi into the expanding in campus insularityties and smothered and obscurantism. Democracy, Mad Men “The Tech Intellectuals” by Henry Farrell, in Intellectuals” “The Tech

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY SCIENCE EPA / JEON HEON-KYUN / CORBIS EPA a critic of at business conferences. Nicholas Carr, The new tech intellectuals thrive on speakers’ fees in 2011. Forum some technology trends, spoke at the Seoul Technology RTINIS, EAMES CHAIRS, AND OTHER AND OTHER EAMES CHAIRS, LIKE MARTINIS, public of midcenturyicons America, days In the when back. intellectuals are charactersthe portrayedin THE SOURCE: SPOTS BLIND TECH’S freelance York, of New the streets strode Wilson thinkers such as Edmund and Maryin public large McCarthyloomed drawing the world on of ideas debates, to illuminate everythingCold the from Fall 2013.

IN ESSENCE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

- -

Jeff Jeff

What Would What Would THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY , for brass the their successors , Dissent This insular ecosystem encourages writers question Few writers question comfortable Silicon Valley’s assumptions about the con- nection between technology and economic inequality. Jarvis, author most recently of Jarvis, and cyberpessimist Do? (2011), Google fully polished surface, which all too which all too fully polished surface, [their] often reflect than more no does back at them.” preconceptions audience’s particularly is Farrell critical of tech intellectuals to “buff the rough “bufftech intellectuals to the rough again [their] presentation patches from to a beauti sanding it down and again, which an au pays but provides nothing The dience potentiallymillions. in the tech into intellectuals attention convert fel winning - writingdollars by books, most and, grants, and research lowships the business on speaking lucratively, fees can where range circuit, conference And more. $45,000 or $5,000 to from the tech industryit’s and its employees who write of the checks many make that allthese things possible. and talk, TED a to give ringinvitation is an

- - - - Partisan Review Partisan Farrell finds much to applaud in the in applaud to much finds Farrell of the tech intel The narrowness lectuals’ vision isn’t an accident, Farrell Farrell an accident, isn’t vision lectuals’ As their midcentury forebears believes. able to sustain them- they are were, but their selves outside the universities, The vital cur world limits. has its own is public attention. rency of their realm While earlier public intellectuals such Dwightas and Daniel Bell Macdonald held forth in issues of the day the big on little magazines such as celebrates what he sees as the collective, celebrates collective, sees as the what he Other creativity. of tech-enabled future include Re- “technology intellectuals” Zuckerman, Ethan beccaMacKinnon, Carr. and Nicholas to much but writingsuchof thinkers, Theirs is an ideologically criticize as well. spectrum with a running world, narrow “hard libertarianism [to] moder from radical “few are There liberalism.” ate and fewer conservatives.” left-wingers, open “an The tech intellectuals share prone are but friendlyand pragmatism,” “flavor a unreality, to a kind of digital diversity.” less celebration of superficial They faithfullyValley’s Silicon reflect Their government. skepticism toward a worldof possi- “depicts oftenwork bilities that seems starkly at odds with the American reality of skyrocketing political inequality.” and economic

IN ESSENCE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

- n THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Valley’s comfortable about assumptions Valley’s technology between connection the While the inequality. and economic denizens see their world as an Valley’s egalitarian for paradise achievers and of empowerment tools as products their lavish stock their options for the masses, making the worldand capital gains are a Farrell measurably unequal place. more that he sees a cryingadds need to take “burgeoning relation at the look a hard technologyship between and companies not likelyThat’s government.” the U.S. debate is joined to happen until the to the tech look who don’t thinkers by industry for their daily bread.

- he There are “smart and wonderful” and wonderful” “smart are There regards as cynical attention seekers. as cynicalregards seekers. attention is a for example, book, Google Jarvis’s to the wonders paean name-dropping “not Internetthe giant, by wrought meant to introduce new so much insight meant to introduce as certify the that the author occupies guru.” of the published role the tech intellectuals—thinkers among program singles out Canadian Farrell Evgeny Morozov, both of whom whom of both Morozov, Evgeny Slee as a serious Tom mer and writer tech of the some thinker who punctures there fondest illusions—but world’s For intellectual diversity. is not much few writers Silicon question thing, one

IN ESSENCE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

- THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Since its victory in the Six-Day War in Since victory its War in the Six-Day Israel Defense Forces (IDF) were sent sent (IDF) were DefenseIsrael Forces theyThough eventually beat reeling. success came at the back the offensive, casualties, than 8,000 Israeli cost of more that assumption as the confident as well countrythe still-young was prepared for anything. been waiting for such Israel had an 1967, military and and political leaders, attack, including Golda Meir, Minister Prime they could anticipate such a sure were Af strike of time. at least 48 hours ahead citizens alike and politicians ter the war, what happened? leftwere wondering, - “The ‘Special Means of Collection’” by Uri Bar-Joseph, of Collection’” by Uri Bar-Joseph, “The ‘Special Means

OTHER NA OTHER A battle-smudged Syrian soldier pauses during the Yom Kippur War of 1973. Syria and Egypt of 1973. Syria and Egypt Kippur War the Yom A battle-smudged Syrian soldier pauses during ignored warnings that an attack was imminent. made great gains at first because Israeli leaders MANUEL LITRAN / PARIS MATCH VIA GETTY IMAGES MATCH MANUEL LITRAN / PARIS ON OCTOBER 6, 1973—YOM KIPPUR, THE THE 6, 1973—YOM KIPPUR, ON OCTOBER “DayAtonement”—Egyptian of Jewish and Syrian launched surprise forces at THE SOURCE: MISSINGSIGNAL TIONS in the Sinaitacks Israeli positions on Heights, Golan the along and Peninsula with Syria. border contested Israel’s on With Israeli soldiers observing many the their posts, the holy from away day The vaunted quick made gains. invaders The Middle East Journal, Autumn 2013. in The Middle East

IN ESSENCE OTHER NATIONS - - - did warn THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY But most intelligence officers dismiss officers But most intelligence Why? that they contends Bar-Joseph In 1993, Zeira ac his own published In 1993, count, blaming the Mossad, the Israeli the Israeli the Mossad, blaming count, agency espionage. in charge of foreign He claimed the agency by was duped in Egypt—aits top spy close adviser to Egyptian Sadat, Anwar president who was actually a Ashraf Marwan, double agent. saying Marwan this account, was classified, which remains lection,” of battery-operated “series devices at a cableand connections phone to tached buried deep in the sand outside Cairo.” Theyreportedly onlynot Israel allowed the Mossad. Bar-Joseph writes that “the writes Bar-Joseph that the Mossad. of information that has become wealth makes it plain years” available in recent Minister Meir and other top that Prime of a strike, warnings” “ample had leaders the evidence from but chose to disregard sources. and other Mossad a false sense of securityhad based on technological of a top-secret possession means of col- “special the trump card: cited by to a source According lection.” means of col “special the Bar-Joseph, an Israeli strike deep into Egypt. The The strikean Israeli into Egypt. deep conclusions led Agranat Commission’s of the IDF’sto the dismissal chief of of the head and David Elazar, staff, General Major Eli Zeira. Aman,

- - -

The Middle The Agranat Commission, convened convened The Agranat Commission, “Forty years after it was first asked, after asked, years “Forty it was first s.” s.” special mean chief never informed informed chief never activate “the failed to ry intelligence milita ry intelligence The that he his superiors the question still haunts the Israeli stillhaunts the Israeli the question a profes says Uri Bar-Joseph, public,” Haifa at relations sor of international in Writing Israel. University, he argues that Israel’s East Journal, their faith by betrayed were leaders in the form of a still- in technology, means “special calledtool secret the of collection.” after the fail the war to investigate blame at the most of the placed ure, military intel Israel’s feetof Aman, which was then department, ligence intelligence of only source the nation’s to the commission, According analysis. analystsAman and higher-ups clung to their adherence” “persistent with a to go Egypt that assumption wouldn’t fighter war until it gained long-range Israeli the planes capable of destroying and Scud missiles to deter Air Force,

IN ESSENCE OTHER NATIONS - - - - - n THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Zeira never informed his superiors “Why Zeiradid is he the way acted morning of October 6. But by then it then it But by morning 6. of October late. was too “the special to activate that he failed deceived even have and may means,” them. Dayan and IDF and Dayan chief of staff Ela them. zar believed they been switched on had actionable no merely produced had and until the Agranat It wasn’t intelligence. that the investigation Commission’s of the testi but much truth came out, has only recently been released. mony a mystery which is not likely to be fully psycholog A writes Bar-Joseph. solved,” ical that the intelligence study suggests tolerancelittle for had ambiguity head and a very in of confidence high degree which may military superiority, Israel’s the him not to activate convinced have But neither the study means.” “special nor the new the Agranat material from canCommission offer anything but re for Zeira’s explanations incomplete up Is ace the to play failure markable to prepare sleeve—and his failure rael’s fora nation war. - - - Unbeknownst to Meir and Dayan, to Meir and Dayan, Unbeknownst to eavesdrop on telephone and cable and cable telephone on to eavesdrop conversations in on to listen but traffic, “where- the tele occurring in rooms located.” were and telex consoles phones Minister of DefenseMeir and Moshe means “special certain the were Dayan alert would them to any of collection” Arab moves. devices were the eavesdropping however, few the out before months “A turned off. explains, Bar-Joseph of the war,” break accidentally means’ ‘special of the “one about Worried fell into Egypt’s hands.” de officials “means,” other exposing the the use and placed cided to limit their authorizationsole in them to activate the hands of military intelligence chief When the EgyptianZeira. army began many a military 1, October on exercise in the Israeli military and intelligence worry—the began to agencies Egyp Soviet backers used the same had tians’ of to launchcover their 1968 invasion Though these officers Czechoslovakia. repeatedly Zeira begged the to activate the until refused, he means,” “special

IN ESSENCE OTHER NATIONS CURRENT BOOKS NEW AND NOTEWORTHY NONFICTION

Saturday Morning—Georgina 1999 by Gillian Furlong PRIVATE COLLECTION / THE BRIDGEMAN ART LIBRARY THE OBSESSIONS OF A MAGPIE

BY SARAH L. COURTEAU THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014

- - - know about, even if about, know THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY should . We’ve proudly adopted an “eat “eat proudly an adopted We’ve . WQ The process of helping these amateur of helping these The process important in selecting A final factor these ideas may not make for not these ideas may a headline to grab that will the mag spur someone azine off a shelf or coffee table. Some azine off a shelf or coffee table. even of paternalism, detect a whiff may in our spirit of standard-bearing. elitism, who know their materialwho know out inside and written even or never, rarely, but have for audience. a general critics translate thicket their of knowl others can- into something appre edge tremendously is learnand ciate from can a piece with be result The satisfying. - insight than a profes depth and more criticsional might be able to bring to ignorance own my Often, subject. the since has actually an advantage, proved a fewsometimes help questions dumb mind to the clodspin a rarefied of earth in the pursuit tread of us must the rest both writer and edi For of meaning. at the of accomplishment the glow tor, end of this back-and-forth is generally frustration—and by perhaps preceded all part It’s of the a dash of irritation. glorious process. messy, forparticular review books more is to the some are There ethos: spinach” your ideas people

” - - - tral to my existence (well, at at tralexistence (well, to my ILL PEOPLE FIND THIS INTERESTING? ILL cen the question This has been

’s literary editor. Coincidentally, Coincidentally, literary editor. ’s SARAH L. COURTEAU

My next question typically has been, typicallyMy next question has been, ers big and small. But so has personal But so has personal ers big and small. taste—shorthand for the collection of and facts, half-remembered prejudices, a idiosyncratic that prompt obsessions literary one editor to pluck from book a to topple of the stacks that threaten the floor. onto “Which this potential reviewer will find or useful or amusing fascinating book review Book editors or aggravating?” often characterize a reviewassigning as and extol the a matchmaking process, of engineering pleasures an ideal pairing. While when the perfect wonderful it’s accomplished matchan is for book a found particular in work I’ve joy critic, ing with scholars and other specialists have been those I’ve found intriguing been those I’ve have culturalof and knowledge Yes, myself. a big has played intellectual currents sifted as I’ve the relentless role through offices, our into coming books of stream every on from and subject conceivable and academic publish popular presses the ideas I’ve thought would grab others thought would the ideas I’ve By least to my job) during my years as the as duringjob) my to least years my WQ

W ‘‘ THE OBSESSIONS OF A MAGPIE

- - - - - , one for each year I for year each one , . There are plenty are of There . THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY WQ WQ editor has lacked the Olym WQ When straight job out my first I got James All novel That In his recent Is, of the of books is a collection Below of college, at a Saint at a Louis that paper of college, local legal newscovered and announce time you’re “Any told me, my dad ments, you’ve with words, living making your up to a point. was right, He it made.” got we the joy create don’t alone But words theythe ideas describe. it’s feelthem; in com is of that joy chief a source And to others. municating those ideas World a Salter describesprotagonist, his II a debonair who becomes veteran War life superior to “a having as editor, book architec a viewwith history, of its tasks, the Perhaps and human behavior.” ture, life of a globetrotting, the drinking, bouts of pic speak for myselfand (I suppose I must sexual escapades of the numerous here) struck how by But I’m character. Salter’s perfectly describes that passage my own at the years in putting tasks involved unglamorous the days but even on out a magazine, I spent physically moving several hun I was conscious pounds of books, dred in the worldof the privilege of working of ideas. embodied the have for me, kind that, spiritthe of edited the magazine’s reviews. edited the magazine’s

- - ’s WQ ’s dedication to highlighting dedication to highlighting ’s WQ To judge from the number of peo from judge To While the books section was my baby, Whilebaby, was my section books the books like these. The lives of the maga The lives like these. books ple who’ve told me that the magazine ple who’ve they turned to a book never them on about otherwise, known have would The our magpie has succeeded. mission world without of letters will be poorer the too. editors will be poorer, zine’s editor, Steve Lagerfeld. That we didn’t didn’t That we Steve Lagerfeld. editor, always the only strengthened agree and our readers, us, It forced magazine. to grapple with viewpoints which with plain or sometimes unfamiliar, were we those around batting Plus, like. didn’t reviewers and on testing books ideas, whicheach other and arguing over one memory the poorer of us had when we up the name of some dredge couldn’t scholar who specialized in medieval was a lot of such, or some mapmaking I’ll very miss those sessions fun. much. But it incorporatesBut it of duty a sense to but what popular what is not present or surprisingis valuable to people who exper- lack academic might or time the their own. on those ideas tise to explore undertake its care and feeding I didn’t Everyone staff contributed on alone. but in and reviewer suggestions, book particular hours discussing I spent many with the the choices to be made

THE OBSESSIONS OF A MAGPIE

THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY

By George E. Vaillant Press Harvard Univ. 457 pp. $27.95 chronicling books theThe last of three of Harvard and fates lives men who they the time tracked were from were ’40s. 1930s and earlythe late students in evidence the is that Overwhelmingly, - life relation our is happy a to secret the health, not wealth, ships with others, or intelligence. TRIUMPHS TRIUMPHS OF EXPERIENCE: THE MEN OF THE HARVARD GRANT STUDY 2012

is to motivate people to dim the lights the dim people to motivate to is a time even remember don’t when many when they could see the stars at night. This search for dark skies in a world forThis search dark of it difficult how 24/7 illumination shows By Paul Bogard Little, Brown 325 pp. $27 SEARCHING FOR NATURAL DARKNESS DARKNESS SEARCHING FOR NATURAL LIGHT IN AN AGE OF ARTIFICIAL THE END OF NIGHT: NIGHT: THE END OF 2013

THE OBSESSIONS OF A MAGPIE

THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY

CULTURE AND CHARACTER CULTURE that despite 400 A sociologist finds and cultural, of enormous social, years the American national political change, surprisingly characterhas remained consistent. MADE IN AMERICA: OF AMERICAN A SOCIAL HISTORY By Claude S. Fischer of Chicago Press Univ. 511 pp. $35 2010 -

book is that the authors’ argument that is that the authors’ book to have faith and intellectual rigor don’t within the from made is be inconsistent fold—they’re both evangelical Christians. The authors of this group profile of pop profile The authors of this group ular evangelical who claim leaders to be experts history on and science conclude either “you’re and a glib that conviction often message with us or against us” academic than more churchgoers sway What distinguishes this credentials. Belknap/Harvard 356 pp. $29.95 EVANGELICAL TRUTH IN A SECULAR AGE EVANGELICAL Giberson and Karl W. By Randall J. Stephens THE ANOINTED: 2011

THE OBSESSIONS OF A MAGPIE - per

THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY

This account of humans and horses in of humans This account the 19th century world a lost evokes not nearlythat’s as distant as it feels. and Chica York New As late as 1900, nearly each averaged go 500 horses square mile. HORSES AT WORK: WORK: HORSES AT IN HARNESSING POWER By Ann Norton Greene Press Harvard Univ. 322 pp. $29.95 2008 INDUSTRIAL AMERICA - -

Husband-and-wife sociologists move Husband-and-wife sociologists move to interviewto a small town Iowa hun to in an attempt of its residents, dreds people young so many understand why never to leaving, are country” “flyover in Their portrait of unequal oppor return. of far-off urbantunities and the allure centers offers a snapshot of a vanishing of life. way By Patrick J. Carr and Maria J. Kefalas Beacon 239 pp. $26.95 THE MIDDLE: THE MIDDLE: AND THE RURAL BRAIN DRAIN HOLLOWING OUT OUT HOLLOWING FOR AMERICA IT MEANS WHAT 2009

THE OBSESSIONS OF A MAGPIE

n

THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY

is literary editor of The Wilson Quarterly. A young historian at CornellA young University illustrates the internal many battles Southernerswhite experienced during the civil rights struggle as a new reality was forcibly long-cherished imposed on Relying research, impressive on beliefs. often using he tells this story eloquently, of his subjects themselves. the words By Jason Sokol Knopf 433 pp. $27.95 THERE GOES THERE GOES MY EVERYTHING: IN THE AGE WHITE SOUTHERNERS OF CIVIL RIGHTS, 1945–1975 2006 SARAH L. COURTEAU

Attention, helicopter parents: A history helicopter parents: Attention, has play children’s argues that professor forthe last adults been colonized by to the detriment of kids’ several decades, independence and imagination. AN AMERICAN HISTORY Chudacoff By Howard P. Press Univ. New York 269 pp. $27.95 CHILDREN AT PLAY: PLAY: AT CHILDREN 2007

THE OBSESSIONS OF A MAGPIE WQ THE WILSON QUARTERLY

EDITOR Steven Lagerfeld

LITERARY EDITOR Sarah L. Courteau

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Darcy Courteau

ASSISTANT EDITOR Jacob Locke

EDITORIAL INTERNS Kevin A. Flanagan

EDITORS AT LARGE Ann Hulbert, James Morris, Jay Tolson

COPY EDITOR Vincent Ercolano

PHOTO RESEARCHER Madeline Kelty

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Daniel Akst, Stephen Bates, Martha Bayles, Max Byrd, Linda Colley, Denis Donoghue, Max Holland, Walter Reich, Alan Ryan, Amy E. Schwartz, Edward Tenner, Charles Townshend, Alan Wolfe BOARD OF EDITORIAL ADVISORS K. Anthony Appiah, Cynthia Arnson, Amy Chua, Tyler Cowen, Harry Harding, Robert Hathaway, Elizabeth Johns, Jackson Lears, Robert Litwak, Wilfred M. McClay, Blair Ruble, Peter Skerry, S. Frederick Starr, Martin Walker, Samuel Wells

FOUNDING EDITOR Peter Braestrup (1929–1997)

BUSINESS DIRECTOR Suzanne Napper

APP DEVELOPMENT AND DESIGN iAuthorscape

CONTINUES

THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014 THE WILSON QUARTERLY is a window on the world of ideas for general readers. Historical perspective and a commitment to consider all sides are the hallmarks of its articles on foreign affairs, politics, culture, science, and other subjects. By making new knowledge accessible to all, it aims to foster more informed public debate.

The Wilson Quarterly (ISSN-0363-3276) is published in January (Winter), April (Spring), July (Summer), and October (Autumn) by the Woodrow Wilson Inter- national Center for Scholars at One Woodrow Wilson Plaza, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20004-3027. Complete article index available online at www.wilsonquarterly.com

Please direct all editorial correspondence to [email protected]. Microfilm copies are available from Bell & Howell Information and Learning, 300 N. Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48106

ADVERTISING Suzanne Napper, Business Director, Tel.: (202) 691-4021 / Fax: (202) 691-4036 E-mail: [email protected]

THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2014