R R Reno Books

Return of the Strong Gods: Nationalism, Populism, and the Future of the West

After the staggering losses of back-to-back world wars, the West embraced the ideal of the “open society.” The promise was that by freeing ourselves from the old attachments to nation, clan, and religion, which had fueled centuries of violence, we could build a prosperous, borderless world managed by experts and liberated from dogmas.

However, the rise of populism and nationalism in America and Europe signals that, after three generations, the postwar consensus is crumbling. With compelling insight, R. R. Reno argues that we are witnessing the resurgence of the “strong gods”—the powerful loyalties that bind people to their homeland and to each other.

In reaction to the catastrophic first half of the twentieth century, political, cultural, and financial elites promoted open borders, open markets, and open minds. Yet, this relentless pursuit of openness has solidified into a new set of anti-dogmatic dogmas, eroding the social solidarity rooted in family, faith, and nation. While these elites worry about the resurgence of fascism, our societies are slowly dissolving.

Human beings, however, will not tolerate social disintegration indefinitely. They yearn to be part of a “we”—the result of shared loves—that gives their lives meaning. Reno warns that the strong gods will return, in one form or another. Our task is to embrace those that, appealing to both our reason and our hearts, inspire the best of our traditions. Otherwise, we risk inviting the darker forces whose return the open society was meant to prevent.