Challenges to Western Civilization

1. Western Civilization has been opposed by various force-dynamics or barbarisms in the past. Some of these force-dynamics have been products of the outside world others were creations from within. All are problematic, some have been overcome but others remain as an epidemic that future generations will have to deal with.  These are:

·         Feudalism – Ended by the Renaissance, the Age of Exploration, early urbanization and the birth of the modern economy;

·         The Domination of the Totalitarian Church – Eventually Eclipsed by the Reformation, the Enlightenment and the Rise of  Reason and Science;

·         Powers of the Aristocracy – Ended by both the violent and non-violent bourgeoisie revolution, liberalism and nationalism;

·         Fascism – Defeated by the Western Democracies in World War II;

·         Communism – Defeated by the Economic Machine of the United States;

·         Islamism – A struggle that still continues;

·         Post Modernism – A challenge in progress – a consequence of intellectual nihilism and misguided cynicism;

·         Greed Capitalism – A dangerous but age old phenomenon that still survives