Nicolas Baverez: "The fall of the West"

The West dominated the world from the end of the 15th century to the beginning of the 20th century, exporting its modes of production, its institutions and its ideas to all continents through three major movements of globalization: the 16th century with the great discoveries; the 19th century with the convergence of colonization, the industrial revolution and free trade; the end of the 20th century with the collapse of the Soviet empire, the universalization and deregulation of capitalism, the changeover to the digital era. The success of the West rested on four principles: the invention of capitalism; the progress of science to know and value the universe; the construction of political freedom that allows individuals and nations to decide their fate; finally, the awareness of the unity and solidarity of free nations in the face of Old Regime societies and then of totalitarianisms.

The third globalization seemed to mark the triumph of the West, by bringing in

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