If I remember correctly, Yuval Noah Harari’s books like Homo Sapiens and Homo Deus were released around the 2010s. In a way, both books seemed optimistic, similar to Ray Kurzweil’s book, Singularity Is Near. In short, we humans had almost reached the “end of history,” overcoming sufferings like starvation, wars, and diseases.
The question then was: what’s next? Optimistically, it even included ideas like extended longevity. However, Harari’s next book, Nexus, seems somewhat pessimistic, representing the very atmosphere from the 2020s onward, after the pandemic.
There is definitely a clear change between pre- and post-pandemic times regarding how people see the world. Reading Nexus, I was a bit surprised by the author’s pessimistic tone—quite different from the hopeful dreams about the future of humankind described in his previous book, Homo Deus.
Information: Power and Pitfalls
In Nexus, the focus shifted to “information.” While democratization of information has provided us great benefits throughout human history, we also need to acknowledge its downside.
For example, the invention of the printing press accelerated the progress of science and technology. But on the other hand, it also triggered conspiracy theories such as witch-hunting. Due to the power of information, people became easily affected and fell into collective hysteria.
The same applies to the latest invention in human history—the internet and social media. While we enjoy unprecedented convenience in terms of information sharing, we are now overwhelmed by countless conspiracy theories.
We often laugh at premodern people for being superstitious; however, from the perspective of influence by the power of information, we are essentially the same. We, too, are “superstitious,” easily influenced by various conspiracy theories.
Human Beings and the Power of Storytelling
From this perspective, however, we must be careful about defining what qualifies as conspiracy or not. It is not that we are easily influenced by conspiracy theories, but that we are inherently influenced by “stories.”
Storytelling is one of the key devices enabling humans to thrive globally. As I often mention, Viktor Frankl, a survivor of concentration camps, said: “People can endure suffering if they find meaning in their lives.” What is meaning? It is the power of understanding stories.
When we juxtapose a series of past events, it may be mere “history.” But when we add meaning or specific interpretations connecting the dots, suddenly we can understand them as one story. History becomes a story that can move us one way or another.
Any type of story—religious, ideological, or any others—has such power. We live strongly when we can see and believe our lives as one important story in which we are the main character. Otherwise, life has no meaning.
Religious faith, secular values, ideologies, scientific views, and so-called conspiracy theories are just different aspects of the act of stoytelling, whether it sounds truthful or controversial.
Liberal Democracy as the Big Story
From the late twentieth century up until the 2020s, we have believed in the power of one big story, almost collectively, assuming all people in the world accept it: liberal democracy. It is one of the most important human values we have “finally” achieved, or so we believed.
Because of this story, we understand the utmost importance of fundamental human rights. Because of this story, we grasp concepts like justice, equality, and fairness. Because of this story, we value diversity, equality, and inclusion Because of this story, we collectively recognize definitions of crimes against humanity.
All international organizations after World War Two share these values under the framework of liberal democracy. Because of this story, we were supposed to overcome past cruelties, including colonization and exploitation.
The Flaws and Limits of Liberal Democracy
Yet, there is another “meta” story we might be beginning to realize beyond liberal democracy itself. If liberal democracy is merely one among many other stories—not so different from past stories, tribal myths, superstitions, religions, or historical narratives—then the story of liberal democracy is neither universal nor perfect.
In recent decades, we simply had a strong belief in this story. We thought liberal democracy was the best—it had won and could solve all the world’s issues. As evident in the optimistic tone of books such as Homo Sapiens, Homo Deus, and in technocratic globalization initiatives like the SDGs, we were optimistic and perhaps naïve in addressing humanity’s next problems.
But we’ve realized liberal democracy is just one of many stories. Perhaps it’s one of the “best” stories humanity has achieved thus far, yet it’s still far from perfect and contains many flaws.
Globalization and Cultural Backlash
We assumed this story could embrace all people globally without exception, based on diversity and inclusion. However, in reality, the globalization inspired by liberal democracy has created serious divisions and cultural wars.
Perhaps the top 1% of wealthy and elite individuals enjoy a globalized world and advanced technologies, believing this borderless world was achieved through the very value of liberal democracy, which supposedly addresses issues faced by underprivileged minorities through diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Yet, those who felt left behind—or believed that core family and community values, often associated with conservative values, have been undermined—have grown angry against the current very story of liberal democracy. Many even believe there must be conspiracies around it.
From their viewpoint, liberal democracy is no longer true liberal democracy that we are supposed to pusue, but rather a deceptive, minor story for the top 1%, the wealthy and elite who benefit from globalization and advanced technologies.
Voices of the Unheard
Indeed, liberal democracy has made significant contributions—such as ending colonialism and imperialism, and promoting human rights. There’s no doubt about these positive effects we now enjoy. Yet it remains an imperfect story.
Many conservative people now feel traditional family and community values have been destroyed due to an excessive focus on liberal democracy, even starting to suspect conspiracies around it. I don’t think there are bad intentions on either side. One commonality we might acknowledge is that regardless of the type of stories one believes, everyone’s intention is good.
However, misunderstanding arises precisely because the top 1% of elites believed democracy had won and would eventually resolve all past issues in the optimistic atmosphere of the 2010s. Then, the angry reaction from traditional values exploded globally, giving rise to “traditional” leaders who represent the voice of those unheard family and community values.
In this sense, J.D. Vance’s movement seems symbolic. Born in Middletown, Ohio, Vance faced a difficult childhood shaped by poverty and family struggles. His bestselling memoir, Hillbilly Elegy, brought attention to the overlooked challenges facing working-class Americans, particularly those in rural and Appalachian communities.
Initially critical of Donald Trump, Vance gradually became disillusioned with the promises of liberal democracy. During the pandemic, he came to feel that contemporary liberal democracy was deceptive—not genuinely embracing diversity, equality, and inclusion, especially when it involved people drawn to conspiracy theories. In his view, it seems to me, “current” liberal democracy itself seemed responsible for driving people toward these conspiracies.
His shift in perspective eventually led him to support Trump, seeing him as representing those communities that felt abandoned or unheard. Vance’s journey highlights the complexity of American politics, especially in understanding those who feel alienated by liberal democracy’s current form.
Toward a New Understanding
The tragedy is that many people have become disillusioned with liberal democracy, which should be one of the best ideological stories thus far to make everyone happier without exception. Sadly, many now create unnecessary—even antagonistic—conspiracy theories around it.
At the same time, those who still believe in “current” liberal democracy look down upon conspiracy theory believers as ill-informed, uneducated, or foolish. The more mainstream media look down (not necessarily criticize) Trump-like leaders around the world with personal attacks, the worse the division and cultural wars become.
I’m not suggesting we cease criticism, but we must be mindful of refraining from personal attacks and disrespect from both sides.
Let’s remember liberal democracy remains one of the best (though not perfect) stories humanity could possibly share globally. Yet we’ve misused it to create divisions and cultural wars. We must find a better way to share this story, or perhaps even upgrade it if necessary, which must be the role of philosophers and thinkers.
Crucially, liberal democracy should not deny traditional conservative values but should include and transcend them. It is not a story meant to make its believers feel superior over those who don’t accept it.
Indeed, excessive information sharing has generated unnecessary collective hysteria, resulting in divisions, polarization, and cultural wars. History repeats itself, as Harari described in his latest book, Nexus.
Image by Leonhard Niederwimmer
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