Pundits have been commenting on the Decline of the West since the German philosopher Oswald Spengler published a book by that title in 1918. The Western world may not be as dominant as it once was, but its decline has been exaggerated.
Seven weeks before a new administration enters the White House, the Hamilton Lugar School’s sixth conference on America’s Role in the World® brought together a diverse range of experts and activists under the theme “Foreign Policy Begins at Home.”
The United States and Europe led the world in pursuit of freedom and democracy in the post-World War II period. Relying on shared values, including a commitment to democratic governance and human rights, we shaped an international order that improved life for people around the world.