Pearls and Irritations

An exemplary Christian and an exceptional American, President Jimmy Carter, who passed on last month, embodied the moral conscience of the world. His enduring legacy will continue to inspire generations to come.

Though his presidency lasted only one term, Carter achieved notable foreign policy milestones, including the historic normalisation of diplomatic relations between the United States and China. After leaving the White House, Carter continued to champion closer ties between the two nations, earning him recognition as an “old friend” of China — a term of deep respect — by former Chinese President Jiang Zemin.

Indeed, during the four decades following his presidency, Carter achieved some of his most remarkable accomplishments. As a global ambassador for Habitat for Humanity, he dedicated himself to building homes for low-income families, embodying his commitment to service. Through The Carter Centre, he spearheaded pioneering efforts to combat neglected tropical diseases, including the near-eradication of Guinea worm disease. In 2007, at the invitation of Nelson Mandela, Carter became a founding member of The Elders, a group of global leaders committed to advancing conflict resolution, global health, and social justice, further cementing his legacy as a tireless advocate for humanity.

A defining feature of Carter’s private and public life was his deep Christian faith. Following a series of scandals, including the Nixon-era Watergate crisis, Carter entered the White House with a vow to restore moral integrity to the presidency, famously pledging to his fellow Americans, “I will not lie to you”.

Carter was an outlier within the Democratic Party, that grew more secular and humanistic, which at times aligned him more closely with the conservative Republican ethos. However, Carter did not fully belong to the evangelical base of the Republican Party either.

He personally opposed abortion, but upheld the separation of church and state, defending a woman’s legal right to choose. In later years, Carter also expressed support for gay rights and same-sex marriage, which drew criticism from evangelical circles questioning his Christian faith and accusing him of compromising for political expediency. Ironically, these same evangelicals backed Donald Trump — far from a paragon of piety — for Republican political advantage, revealing contradictions in their moral calculus.

Carter exemplifies a form of progressive Christianity grounded in a worldview that rejects the idea of exclusivity in salvation. For progressive Christians, moral truths exist, but they acknowledge that the Christian church does not hold a monopoly on such wisdom. This inclusive theology fosters a spirit of coexistence and collaboration with those of other faiths and belief systems, promoting mutual understanding and shared purpose.

This progressive ethos is evident in Carter’s work to promote human rights. Like many Americans, Carter believed that the US could be a force for good and that liberal democracy had the potential to advance liberty and justice.

However, Carter was also acutely aware of America’s failure to consistently live up to its own ideals. Unlike Francis Fukuyama’s thesis of the “end of history,” Carter’s worldview is neither deterministic nor triumphalist. He acknowledges that good governance can take diverse forms and firmly believes that democracy cannot be imposed. Carter was critical of US hubris and strongly condemned American militarism, such as the Iraqi War, carried out under the pretext of spreading democracy.

In 2002, Carter was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of his lifetime dedication to promoting peace, democracy, and human rights globally. The award was also widely viewed as a critique of US foreign policy under President George W. Bush, particularly its unilateralism and the Iraq War, implicitly highlighting Carter’s emphasis on multilateral diplomacy.

Although not explicitly tied to the 2002 prize, Carter’s other landmark foreign policy achievement as president was brokering the 1978 Camp David Accord between Egypt and Israel, leading to the first peace treaty between Israel and an Arab country.

In 2006, Carter published his book Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid, in which he criticised Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians. The book sparked widespread controversy, with Carter facing harsh criticism and accusations of antisemitism. Even his own political party distanced itself, with Nancy Pelosi asserting that Carter “does not speak for the Democratic Party on Israel”.

Nearly two decades later, Carter’s book appears prescient, as major human rights organisations and the United Nations now accuse Israel of imposing a system of apartheid on Palestinians, in violation of international law.

At a time when religion often serves as a source of division, Carter stood as an exemplary Christian, embodying compassion, humility, and tolerance. A man of unwavering faith, he lived a life remarkably free of self-righteousness, inspiring those around him through his actions rather than mere words.

Similarly, at a time when the notion of American exceptionalism has become a contentious force, Carter was an exceptional American who transcended narrow nationalism. In his tireless defence of human rights and pursuit of justice, he represented the best of America’s enlightened ideals of freedom and equality.

Most importantly, he was a voice of moral conscience, speaking out even when his own country remained silent in the face of horrific tragedies, such as the ongoing crisis in Gaza. Though rejected by some at home, Carter’s legacy will continue to inspire generations to come, particularly in the Global South, where his commitment to fairness and dignity resonated deeply.

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