The Truth Is Whatever We Believe

You could tell a story in which the West is in decline, and China (and perhaps India, Africa, whoever) is rising to take its place. Similarly, you could take the post Cold War view that liberalism survives all attacks, and that the current backlash against liberalism will also run out of steam. Which of these is correct? Maybe whichever we believe it is. I thought of this while reading Jack Weatherford’s Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World. He talks about Kublai Khan’s conquest of China, and his assiduous use of propaganda. While the Mongols fought the Song in Southern China and tried to unite the country, they were able to change their public perception from that of foreign invaders to be cast out, to that of new rulers, graced by heaven, who gained legitimacy with every new victory. Many people defected to them and were treated fairly.

Probably the leaders of all the great powers today suspect that their narratives might not be true, and that destiny might not actually carry them forward. But they hope it to be the case, and try to convince others. Perhaps that is all that is necessary.