This is undoubtedly one of the most important and challenging questions that the Western world will face in the coming decades. Will the West be able to uphold its social values without imposing them on others?
Hubert Védrine, former French Foreign Minister and Secretary General of the French Presidency under President Mitterrand expresses his concerns about the West, which he describes as a “descendant of Christianity” deeply rooted in a spirit of evangelism. He notes that St Paul’s instruction to “go and evangelise all nations” has been transformed into a mission to “spread human rights throughout the world”. According to Védrine, this inclination towards proselytism is deeply rooted in the Western psyche, extending even to those who are not religious at all.
Védrine considers this issue to be monumental, towering above the everyday issues of diplomatic life. He asks whether it is possible to envision a West that can uphold its social values without imposing them on others – a West that embraces diversity and accepts others for who they are.
In his view, this is not just a challenge for diplomatic institutions; it is a profound philosophical dilemma that requires introspection by thinkers, analysts, historians, and philosophers. It requires a fundamental cultural shift.
Despite his reservations, Védrine is not overly optimistic about the likelihood of this change taking place. He argues that only a small minority of elites or those engaged in public debate believe that the West’s primary mission is not to export its values globally through lectures, sanctions, and military action.
Nevertheless, he argues that there is no alternative, as the West cannot dictate the course of the world’s future. This makes it necessary to redefine the relationship between the Western world and the global South.
The key question remains: Can we coexist with others without trying to assimilate them into our own image? This is a deeply complex and critical inquiry.
If we fail to embrace this notion, Védrine warns that we will continue to be marginalized, increasingly isolated from the rest of the world, and subject to increasing contempt for our perceived sense of superiority.
