Edward Luce

The humbling of the Anglo-American world (AFR 12.7.20)

What separates the US and the UK from other democracies is extravagant self-belief.

It takes effort to recapture how Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s hastened the demise of the Soviet Union. Images of that triumphal moment are as fresh as yesterday. The atmospherics smell of another era. Yet it is worth the effort.

America and Britain’s poor responses to COVID-19 can be traced partly to post-cold war self-congratulation – the belief that neither had much to learn from the rest of the world. In a few short months a microbe has exposed the underside to Anglo-American hubris. It could take far longer to undo the pandemic’s damage to their brands.

This is an excerpt from an article ($) which was first published in the AFR on the 10th of July 2020.

The views expressed in this article may or may not reflect those of Pearls and Irritations.

Edward Luce

Edward Luce is the Washington columnist and commentator for the Financial Times. He writes about American politics and the economy.

Please support Pearls and Irritations with your tax deductible donation

This year, Pearls and Irritations has again proven that independent media has never been more essential.
The integrity of our media matters - please support Pearls and Irritations.
For the next month you can make a tax deductible donation through the Australian Cultural Fund. Please click here to donate.