The West’s Debt to Lithuania/Lithuania’s Challenge to the West
George Weigel
The present strategic disarray of the western democracies is both a by-product West’s failure to grasp moral-cultural dimension end-game Cold War and reflection crisis civilizational morale that has beset Europe in recent decades. Thus it important revisit distinctive character Revolution 1989/1991 central eastern former Soviet Union. That dramatic transition European politics was born from many factors, including re-armament West under leadership U.S. President Ronald Reagan. But political also result revolution conscience Europe, which reclamation national identity culture eventually gave rise “soft power” tools resistance hard power typically deployed by communist regimes face dissent could not match. Lithuania, embodied oft-ignored truth tenacious can, over time, produce democratic change, thus position remind freedom never free; dignity human person, rights, rule law must be affirmed culturally robust civil society if they are defended politically militarily; moral relativism an insecure foundation on build, sustain, or defend institutions self-governance.
Lithuanian Annual Strategic Review|DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals)