Fourth Turning Clash of Inter-Civilization Cultures Thesis

Abstract

Why did classical liberalism fail to achieve the results its original proponents envisioned? Given the popularity of social liberalism modern liberalism and progressive causes and ideologies, as derivatives and permutations of classical liberalism, one might argue it has not failed in the first place, rather, perhaps it has not yet been fully realized and implemented. But the fact is classical liberalism has failed, as can be conclusively proven, it has failed because it ignored immutable metaphysical laws, the historic reality and an approach to human nature based upon realism. At the end of the road of classical liberalism the West arrived at social liberalism and progressive liberalism which beckon its adherents to seek greater authoritarianism to compel compliance and ultimately reduce individual liberty and increase governmental power. iii Abstract I propose a unified theory of sorts that combines The Strauss-Howe generational theory with a hybrid of Samuel Huntington's Clash of Civilization's hypothesis explains in part the observation that the West has not reached the End of History as some propose. Rather, classical liberalism, as expressed through derivative ideologies of progressivism, social liberalism, socialism, and communism, has failed to provide the social order and tranquility that early proponents envisioned. At its core, classical liberalism failed to acknowledge immutable metaphysical laws, the historic reality and an approach to human nature based upon realism. The overarching intent of this work is to provide an umbrella under which related research will reside that fleshes out specific and more detailed aspects of the larger hypothesis presented above.

Full text

Fourth Turning Clash of Inter-Civilization Cultures
by
Barry L. Clark
The Citadel, History; Excelsior College, Interdisciplinary Studies; US Army
Command and General Staff College; Liberty University, Public Policy
© Barry Clark 2019
The Calhoun Institute
Copyright in this work rests with the author. Please ensure that any reproduction
or re-use is done in accordance with the relevant national copyright legislation.

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Thesis Statement
Why did classical liberalism fail to achieve the results its original
proponents envisioned? Given the popularity of social liberalism modern
liberalism and progressive causes and ideologies, as derivatives and
permutations of classical liberalism, one might argue it has not failed in the first
place, rather, perhaps it has not yet been fully realized and implemented. But the
fact is classical liberalism has failed, as can be conclusively proven, it has failed
because it ignored immutable metaphysical laws, the historic reality and an
approach to human nature based upon realism. At the end of the road of
classical liberalism the West arrived at social liberalism and progressive
liberalism which beckon its adherents to seek greater authoritarianism to compel
compliance and ultimately reduce individual liberty and increase governmental
power.

iii
Abstract
I propose a unified theory of sorts that combines The Strauss–Howe generational theory
with a hybrid of Samuel Huntington’s Clash of Civilization’s hypothesis explains in part
the observation that the West has not reached the End of History as some propose.
Rather, classical liberalism, as expressed through derivative ideologies of progressivism,
social liberalism, socialism, and communism, has failed to provide the social order and
tranquility that early proponents envisioned. At its core, classical liberalism failed to
acknowledge immutable metaphysical laws, the historic reality and an approach to
human nature based upon realism.
The overarching intent of this work is to provide an umbrella under which related
research will reside that fleshes out specific and more detailed aspects of the larger
hypothesis presented above.
Keywords: Classical Liberalism; Generational Theory; Metaphysical Reality

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Contents
Thesis Statement ............................................................................................................ ii
Abstract .......................................................................................................................... iii
Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 1
Metaphysical Reality ....................................................................................................... 1
Classical Liberalism Flawed at Origin .............................................................................. 1
Strauss-Howe Generational theory/Huntington Clash of Civilizations hypothesis Fusion . 2
Classical Liberalism to Authoritarianism .......................................................................... 2
References ...................................................................................................................... 3

1
Introduction
The hypothesis of this thesis is supported by historical evidence and analysis,
which is revisionist by necessity, logical and theological analysis of political philosophy,
social-historical theories of generations, generation theory, that provide evidence of
trends in support of conclusions, philosophical and finally political theory analysis of
current ideologies and trends.
The following are placeholder elements of the elements mentioned above. The
general concepts of Fourth Turning Clash of Inter-Civilization Cultures were first
articulated in The Philosophy of Commonsense. (B. L. Clark, 2019b) The intent of the
thesis presented here is to focus further research and development of specific aspects of
the theory into a comprehensive explanation of why classical liberalism failed.
Metaphysical Reality
There exists a metaphysical reality that includes a divine entity that created and
ordered the cosmos and wrote rules, laws and knowledge of the realty into the hearts of
all creation according to their understanding. This metaphysical reality informs common-
sense and the natural moral law, from this reality flow the natural rights of life, liberty and
property. Through revelations, logic, experience, wisdom and empiricism humans can
know truths about both societal and transcendent order. (B. L. Clark, 2019b)
Classical Liberalism Flawed at Origin
Classical liberal theorist assumed, almost unanimously that man was basically
good. They acknowledged, for the most part, the existence of the natural moral. Without
natural moral law and the propensity of most men most of the time to follow the law of
conscience individual liberty cannot long exist in a society unchecked by civil law.
Enlightenment thinkers ignored historical evidence and metaphysical facts that indicate
that because man might know of the natural moral law they are under no compulsion to
obey it and in practical application they are inclined to ignore it more than adhere to it.
(B. L. Clark, 2019a)

2
Strauss-Howe Generational theory/Huntington Clash of
Civilizations hypothesis Fusion
The Strauss-Howe Fourth Turning Generational theory provides a workable
explanation of cycles and trends since the Glorious Revolution, the beginning of
classical liberal thought, that demonstrate a progressive shift from an acceptance of the
metaphysical reality and toward nominalism and relativism. (Strauss & Howe, 2009)
Samuel Huntington’s Clash of Civilizations hypothesis argues that humanity has
not reached the end of history, a time posited by some when nation-states, international
geopolitical arrangements and democratic principles would stabilize conflict and usher in
a new era of progress and tranquility. Huntington argued that conflicts in a post-Cold
War world would be centered on civilizations rather than ideology. (Huntington, 1993)
I contend that in the postmodern world, ideology, the progressivism of humanist
liberal ideology, has given rise to new culture within an existing civilization. (Cropsey,
Seth, Halem, 2018) These new cultures are competing for revolutionary change, rather
than reformation. The vast gulf between the traditional and progressive liberal
worldviews is so vast as to be irreconcilable without one replacing the other. (B. Clark,
2018) The Clash of Civilization Huntington foresaw is playing out amongst traditional
civilizations, West-Sino, West-Islamic and among Liberal and traditional cultures within
civilizations, conflicts that will potentially redefine the very nature of those civilizations.
Classical Liberalism to Authoritarianism
Since 1848 the trend in the West has been toward greater degrees of democracy
with notable examples of increases in totalitarianism and authoritarianism. However, this
trend will not hold. America’s own form of government radically changed in 1867. (B.
Clark, 2016) In the last half-century, democracies across the West have demonstrated
an increase in the role of government and an assault on the originally three accepted
natural rights, life, liberty and property in order to enforce new concepts of liberalism.
(Hoppe, 2018) These trends, must inevitably and logically end in authoritarianism.

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References
Clark, B. (2016). The First War of the New Order.
https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.1.5163.7528
Clark, B. (2018). America’s Great Cultural and Political Divide. The Calhoun Institute.
Retrieved from
https://www.calhouninstitute.com/review/Americas_Great_Cultural_Political_Divide.
pdf
Clark, B. L. (2019a). A Commonsense Case for Christianity. Retrieved from
https://books.google.com/books?id=gErBDwAAQBAJ
Clark, B. L. (2019b). The Philosophy of Commonsense: A Cultural War Primer.
Retrieved from https://books.google.com/books?id=CK6-DwAAQBAJ
Cropsey, Seth, Halem, H. (2018). Clash of Civilizations—or Clash Within Civilizations?
The American Interest, THE CLASH. Retrieved from https://www.the-american-
interest.com/2018/08/31/clash-of-civilizations-or-clash-within-civilizations/
Hoppe, H. H. (2018). Democracy -- The God That Failed: The Economics and Politics of
Monarchy, Democracy and Natural Order. Retrieved from
https://books.google.com/books?id=bvdKDwAAQBAJ
Huntington, S. P. (1993). The clash of civilizations? Foreign Affairs, (Summer). Retrieved
from https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/united-states/1993-06-01/clash-
civilizations?fa_anthology=1114000
Strauss, W., & Howe, N. (2009). The Fourth Turning: What the Cycles of History Tell Us
About America’s Next Rendezvous with Destiny. Retrieved from
https://books.google.com/books?id=d8bBFGJq79sC