The West sees itself as a model for the whole world. What makes it so attractive, for migrants as well, is its high level of material prosperity. This offends many a Western mind, being particularly proud of their supposedly immaterial values. ‘Make the world safe for democracy’ is the motto of American interventionism. Europe hopes it can make more fundamental changes to the world through financial and ultimately therapeutic incentives than through weapons. A lot of money flows into building democracy, which – it is commonly assumed – should lay the foundations for later prosperity. Behind this assumption lies a … Continue reading Democracy and Prosperity