Right, so here’s something to ponder for the followers of the clash of civilisations theory: in the eyes of the vast majority of the world’s population, what justifies the fact that by and large, we in the West enjoy such disproportionately more pleasant lives than them? What exactly have we done to earn the right to benefit from this huge level of inequality? People have tried to argue in the past that it’s because we’re somehow cleverer (long-discounted racial nonsense), or because some of us are God’s chosen people (difficult one to prove), or because we’re broadly a Christian culture and therefore nicer (again, doesn’t hold water). Now really, a huge chunk of it is just down to luck and geography. But in terms of some sort of higher purpose, we claim to be a sort of shining beacon of liberty, democracy, the rule of law, solidarity, all things that in the end make life better for all individuals concerned. You can dress that up as a united Europe, or call it the American Dream if you like. It’s supposed to serve as an example for all humanity to aspire to a similar state. But the important word in that is ALL.
Because if in fact, we only want to extend these ideals as far as ourselves, and the only justification for our continued disproportionate prosperity and security is the perpetuation of the status-quo, then it becomes rather more problematic to argue against those who feel a keen sense of injustice. Feelings towards the West run the full spectrum from admiration and a desire to emulate (a positive force) to absolute hatred and rejection, coupled with a feeling of rejection, which can manifest itself like it did in Paris this weekend (thankfully very much a minority point of view). At the moment, we have millions of people fleeing Fascists With Beards or Fascists With Ties in Syria and coming here, heading for the safety of “Fortress Europe”. If we leave them at the foot of the Wall to fend for themselves, I wonder what the resulting shift in the spectrum of dispositions towards the West will look like? People have long memories….