American strong gods - N.S. Lyons on the meaning of Trump

Two weeks into Trump's presidency the outstanding commentator on Substack N.S. Lyons wrote about what he thinks the Trump presidency really means.

He concluded it was about the end of the 'The Long Twentieth Century', characterised by the rise of fascism then 'three interlinked post-war projects: the progressive opening of societies through the deconstruction of norms and borders, the consolidation of the managerial state, and the hegemony of the liberal international order. The hope was that together they could form the foundation for a world that would finally achieve peace on earth and goodwill between all mankind. That this would be a weak, passionless, undemocratic, intricately micromanaged world of technocratic rationalism was a sacrifice the post-war consensus was willing to make.'

But he writes

'That dream didn’t work out though, because the strong gods refused to die.'

Lyons is referring to R R Reno's book The Return of the Strong Gods. By 'strong gods' Reno draws on Norse mythology to mean the objects of men’s love and devotion, the sources of the passions and loyalties that unite societies instead of the 'weak gods' that negate and loosen ties.

We will review Lyon's article (link also here) and discuss it. You do not need to read Reno's book.

Please read the article to enable the discussion. It takes about 15 minutes.

As always come for dinner earlier if you wish! I'll get there about 6:30.