Two Systems, One World — Joschka Fischer

Like the twentieth-century Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union, the new rivalry between China and the West is a contest between fundamentally incompatible political systems. And the idea that freedom and democracy will prevail can no longer be taken for granted.…

While this is an interesting read, I don't think he frames it quite right. Alexander Dugin has pointed out that there are three modern political theories, liberalism, communism, and fascism, and one ancient one, traditionalism. Communism and fascism are now visible only as remnants and the major dialectical opposition presently is that between liberalism and traditionalism. This is the case not only internationally and regionally, but also within countries, e.g., as "traditional values," religious traditions, and cultural traditions and customs.

Joschka Fischer is also mistaken in claiming that Enlightenment liberalism was founded on the principle of freedom based on all men being equal. History contradicts that. The actual meaning was "all white males that owned property" rather than all human beings. Current events reveal that this has not changed all that much, only the narrative and façade.

Let's be real and call a spade a spade. Confucius was big on rectification of names.

Project Syndicate
Two Systems, One World
Joschka Fischer | German Foreign Minister and Vice Chancellor from 1998-2005