Part 4/9:
In this view, John Locke’s emphasis on individual rights laid foundational groundwork for modern liberalism, often at the expense of collective obligations to community and the transcendent. The modern approach’s focus on economic self-interest, specific to Western societies, appears increasingly inadequate in addressing deeper existential inquiries about the nature of humanity.
Carl Schmitt's concept of the "friend-enemy" distinction prompts reevaluations of relationships between nations, signaling that conflict remains an inherent part of political life. The discussion echoes concerns that as global liberalism is challenged, the prevailing order may revert to more contentious and divisive paradigms, straying further from the liberal model that claimed victory in the 20th century.