The Decline of the West

The “decline of the West” is a theme exploited by those who use it to express resentment, longing for revenge or blatant hostility. This is the case in Russia, even though Russian art and culture are considered to be an integral part of the Western patrimony; in China, which is awaiting its historic moment with barely concealed impatience; and in Iran, the self-proclaimed bearer of a mission to spread Islam throughout the world. Whatever the merit of an otherwise weak argument, those who propagate this theme deserve at least one concession: It is built on the growing aversion of the Western world to continue playing a major role in history.