In Our Time Politics in the 20th Century
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Oct 22, 1998 American writer Gore Vidal and historian Alan Clarke discuss the future of nation-states, the relationship between politics and morality, and the chaos of the 20th century. They touch on societal evolution, economic fears, chaos in warfare, pursuit of weapons of mass destruction, and the role of key figures in shaping history.
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Current State of Chaos
- Gore Vidal characterizes our time as chaotic, echoing Plato's and Vico's cyclical view of societies.
- He suggests the nation-state is declining, leading to a new phase of chaos and potential future arrangements.
Embracing Chaos and Self-Governance
- Gore Vidal argues for embracing chaos and letting countries govern themselves, even if it leads to smaller conflicts.
- He believes this is preferable to large-scale world wars and unnecessary U.S. interventionism.
Chaos Leading to Authoritarianism
- Alan Clark expresses concern that chaos, primarily in the West, may lead to a resurgence of authoritarianism.
- He highlights the threat of well-armed, disciplined, and aggressive 'barbarians' exploiting this chaos.