The Collapse of Western Identity

To understand the magnitude of the rupture we are experiencing today, it is necessary to understand what we mean by “the West.” We are not talking about an absolute geographical core, but rather a set of traditions and values ​​adopted and revised by different societies throughout history. This identity has permeated our society subtly, but also forcefully, through colonization and cultural influence.

Professor Mathias Risse (2025) of Harvard suggests that Western identity is not a fixed essence, but a stance towards tradition that is based on three fundamental pillars.

1. Institutional Experimentation: A firm commitment to the right-wing state, democracy, and human rights.

2. Uncomfortable Universalism: The commitment to moral values ​​such as freedom, dignity, and equality, recognizing that other cultures may interpret them differently.

3. Reflective Pluralism: Accepting diversity (ethnic, religious, ideological) not as a problem, but as a necessary condition for navigating modernity.

The way in which Professor Mathias Risse synthesizes Western identity seems useful to me in order to analyze the current context and understand why we no longer live aligned with these traditions that were fostered for so many years.

The events that ushered in this tumultuous year of 2026 have dismantled the pillars that sustained Western identity. Professor Risse's definitions clash sharply with current reality, a new order that seems determined to break down the foundations that once guided society. It is paradoxical and surreal that the nation that once consolidated contemporary Western identity is now the very one leading its decline.

The commitment to peace, institutional order, and international law was recently undermined on January 3rd, when the United States' invasion of Venezuela, aimed at capturing Nicolás Maduro, disregarded all legal frameworks and established principles. This erosion of diplomacy and peace has been further exacerbated by President Donald Trump's threats regarding Greenland, fracturing relations with European allies, and making it clear that the peaceful path is no longer an option in this new context.

But “Universalism” preaches and advocates for human dignity, which has crumbled after the publication of the Epstein Files. The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) released nearly 3 million documents on January 30th (including emails, videos, and images) that have revealed links between the political and business elite, and European royalty in a network of systemic abuse against women and children.

Friends: Donald Trump, Melania Trump, Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwel. Photo by Donald Teel on Unsplash

These events invite us to make a profound reflection on the credibility of current Western leadership. It becomes inevitable to ask ourselves what criteria we are using to select those who guide our political and economic destinies, and whether it is possible to maintain trust in a system where the personal ethics of its leaders seem so detached from their public responsibilities. The question is: Can we allow the exercise of power to become separated from fundamental respect for life and social morality?

Meanwhile, on the US front, thoughtful pluralism has given way to a wave of discrimination, radicalism, and violence. Respect for diversity and security has been undermined by fear, persecution, and the arrest of migrants by ICE. ICE's violent practices have created a particularly violent and hostile environment in Minnesota, where they resulted in the deaths of two US citizens and the kidnapping of a journalist.

We are not just seeing a simple change. Instead, we are watching the end of an identity that, by turning against its own foundations, has become a society we barely recognize. This is a good moment to pause and think: the collapse of Western identity is happening from the inside, brought on by the same nations that once built it.

Was this identity ever as strong as we believed? Or should we admit that it always had weaknesses, and now, faced with the impossible, it has finally given way?

References

1. Carrington, D. (2025, August 4). ‘Self-termination is most likely’: The history and future of societal collapse. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/aug/02/self-termination-history-and-future-of-societal-collapse

2. Oreskes, N., & Conway, E. M. (2014). The collapse of Western civilization: A view from the future. Columbia University Press. https://www.pafa.org/sites/default/files/2020-11/Naomi%20Oreskes-The-Collapse-of-%20Western-Civilization-2014.pdf

3. Reclaiming Western identity: A human rights day response to America’s new national security strategy. (2025, December 8). Harvard Kennedy School. https://www.hks.harvard.edu/centers/carr-ryan/our-work/carr-ryan-commentary/reclaiming-western-identity-human-rights-day

Disclaimer

The opinions expressed herein belong solely to the columnist and do not represent the official position of our think-tank. Humanotions cannot be held liable for any consequences arising from this content. Content published on Humanotions may contain links to third-party sources. Humanotions is not responsible for the content of these external links. Please refer to our Legal Notices & Policies page for legal details and our Guidelines For Republishing page for republication terms.