The Fate of the West: The Battle to Save the World's Most Successful Political Idea (Economist Books)

By: Bill Emmott and The Economist

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Synopsis: The West has long been a font of stability, prosperity, and security. Yet when faced with global instability and economic uncertainty, it is tempting for states to react by closing borders, hoarding wealth, and solidifying power. We have seen it in Japan, France, and Italy in the past, and today it is infecting all of Europe and also the United States. This rigidity, together with income inequality, is the enemy of the liberal democracy of the West-a force for good which is now needed more than ever.Fortunately, this fate is avoidable. States such as Sweden in the 1990s, California, or Britain under Thatcher all halted stagnation by clearing away the powers of interest groups and restoring their societies' ability to evolve. In this forward-thinking book, Emmott argues that in order to regain its strength, the West needs to be porous, open, and flexible. If liberal democracies are able to maintain confidence in their values and act on their core beliefs in policies like free trade and innovation, they will be able to avoid a rigid future with international consequences. From reinventing welfare systems to redefining the working age, and from reimagining education to embracing automation, Emmott lays out the changes the West must make to revive itself now and thrive in a better future.