Michael Sandel & Yuval Noah Harari: What becomes of democracy?

TL;DR

Nationalism is a human creation that, when used positively, fosters care and connection among diverse individuals within a nation. The rise of tribal leaders, like Trump and Bolsonaro, hinders the project of nationalism and promotes division instead.

Transcript

if the nation matters less and less if national identities matter less and less and if national governments are less and less effective at governing themselves in the face of a global economy then what becomes of democracy is it possible to conceive a democracy that can be that can be worked out on on a global scale so far we haven't achieved that ... Read More

Key Insights

• 😨 Nationalism, despite being an imagined concept, enables care and loyalty towards strangers on a large scale.
• 😚 Without a strong sense of nationalism, democratic elections lose their legitimacy as individuals do not feel connected to their country and its people.
• 🌍 Populist leaders like Trump, Bolsonaro, and Netanyahu promote tribalism and division within nations, undermining the project of nationalism.
• 🥰 Nationalism should not be equated with hating others; it should instead foster a sense of love and care for fellow citizens.
• 😨 Tribalism, promoted by certain leaders, worsens division and fear within a nation, hindering social cohesion.
• 😮 The rise of populism does not necessarily entail a rise in nationalism; often, populist leaders work against the project of nationalism.
• 😨 Americans today appear to fear and hate each other more than they fear foreign adversaries, indicating a lack of national unity.

Questions & Answers

Q: Does the fact that nations are human creations imply that they are not important or beneficial?

No, despite being a product of the human imagination, nations and nationalism are significant and potentially beneficial. They allow for care and loyalty towards complete strangers, benefitting millions of people's welfare, education, and health.

Q: Can democracy exist without a strong sense of nationalism?

No, without feeling connected to others in their country and having a shared fate, there is no reason to accept democratic elections' verdict. Democracy requires a belief that political rivals, though differing, are not evil and do not seek personal gain.

Q: How does tribalism differ from nationalism?

Tribalism, exhibited by leaders like Trump and Bolsonaro, aims to break nations into hostile tribes rather than fostering a sense of connection among diverse individuals. They promote division and fear within a nation, hindering the project of nationalism.

Q: What are the main challenges of nationalism?

The biggest challenge of nationalism is getting a large number of people with different languages, religions, and social classes to feel connected and unified. This project becomes even more difficult when tribal leaders work against this goal.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Nationalism is a human invention that enables loyalty and care for strangers on a large scale, allowing for the betterment of society.

• If people do not feel a sense of connection and shared fate with others in their country, democratic elections lose their legitimacy.

• Populist leaders like Trump, Bolsonaro, and Netanyahu promote division rather than fostering a sense of nationalism and unity.