Edward Luce: Western Democracy Under Siege

In 'The Retreat of Western Liberalism', Edward Luce argues that the erosion of middle-class incomes has undermined the liberal democratic consensus, leading to a crisis in Western societies. He attributes this crisis to ignorance of what it took to build the West, arrogance towards society’s economic losers, and complacency about the system’s durability. Luce combines on-the-ground reporting with economic analysis and synthesis of literature to highlight the weakening of Western hegemony and the need for those who believe in enlightenment values to defend them against internal and external threats. The book examines global ideas, situations, and data from various countries, including the US, UK, Hungary, Turkey, China, and India, and discusses topics such as Western Exceptionalism, international diplomacy, social and cultural ideas, and immigration and identity politics.