PRESS RELEASE: Suicide of the West: How the Rebirth of Tribalism, Populism, Nationalism, and Identity Politics Is Destroying American Democracy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Washington, DC (April 24, 2018) — With his trademark blend of political history, social science, economics, and pop culture, Jonah Goldberg — who holds the American Enterprise Institute’s Asness Chair in Applied Liberty in addition to being a syndicated columnist and senior editor at National Review — exposes the threats to democracy in the Western world in his new book “Suicide of the West: How the Rebirth of Tribalism, Populism, Nationalism, and Identity Politics Is Destroying American Democracy” (Crown Forum, 2018). Goldberg makes the case that America and other democracies are losing the will to defend the values and institutions that sustain freedom and prosperity and, as a result, are in peril. Instead, Americans and others are surrendering to populism, nationalism and other forms of tribalism that rot democracy from within.

In “Suicide of the West,” Goldberg charts a course that begins in 18th century England when humans accidentally stumbled upon liberal democratic capitalism, the miraculous combination of a democratic political system and a capitalist economy. This “Miracle” has lifted many, including Americans, out of the endless cycle of poverty, hunger, and war that previously defined most of humanity’s existence. Americans are doubly blessed that the principles of that glorious accident were written into the Constitution, laying the groundwork for a uniquely prosperous society.

In the last few decades, however, these political virtues have been turned into vices. We are increasingly taught to view our highest principles and traditions as tools of oppression, exploitation and “white privilege,” and the principles of liberty and the rule of law are under attack from both the left and the right.

Americans stumbled into prosperity only once in human history, and can just as easily stumble out it. There is an undercurrent of corruption that appeals to baser instincts flourishing in society today. This can be seen in movies, in the movements people rally behind, and in elected politicians. This undercurrent is threatening to overpower the institutions that make prosperity possible. In “Suicide of the West,” Goldberg urges Americans to renew a sense of gratitude for what civilization has given us and rediscover the ideals that led us out of the bloody muck of the past, or back to the muck we will go.

For interview requests, or for a copy of the book, please contact Madeline James at [email protected] or 202.862.4870.

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