European Dream: A New Dream for Human Development in the 21st Century

Author: Jeremy Rifkin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-08-01
Features: In the 19th century, solemn and splendid Europe was admired by the world; in the 20th century, the United States surpassed Europe comprehensively and became the new dream of humanity. Who will lead the trend in the 21st century—Europe's dream? America's dream? Humanity has never lived completely according to the dreams it designed, but Europeans have painted a new vision of the future. Humans always design dreams, adjust dreams, and strive to find a better way of life. "When the American spirit is 'waning' in its past, a new European dream is being born," Jeremy Rifkin draws this bold conclusion, which is a heavy blow to those obsessed with the 'American Dream'—The Washington Post. Rifkin challenges American hegemony with simple facts and data. "The European Dream may be an impossible dream, but it is quite inspiring for those concerned about the direction of humanity's future"—Time Magazine. Professor Jeremy Rifkin analyzes the performance of the 'American Dream' today—although it was once an ideal admired by the world, it can no longer adapt to an increasingly risky, diverse, and interdependent world due to its excessive focus on material acquisition. Therefore, Professor Jeremy Rifkin proposes the idea of the 'European Dream' creating a new history. He believes that the American Dream emphasizes economic growth, the accumulation of personal wealth, and independence. The new European Dream pays more attention to sustainable development, quality of life, and interdependence. The American Dream is loyal to the work ethic, emphasizing "living to work"; the European Dream is more harmonious with leisure and deep play, advocating "working to live." The American Dream is integrative, and success can be attributed to cutting ties with the old culture and becoming free actors in the American melting pot. Conversely, the European Dream is based on preserving original cultural identities and surviving in a multicultural world. When necessary, Americans are more willing to use military force on a global scale to protect their core interests. Europeans, however, are less inclined to use force and prefer diplomacy, economic support, and aid to avoid conflict. The American Dream is deeply personalized, rarely concerned with the rest of humanity. The European Dream, however, is more inclusive and holistic, making it more concerned with global well-being. In the author's view, the European Dream can liberate individuals from the old yoke of Western ideology while also connecting humanity to a new shared story. It is a dream that guides us beyond modernity and postmodernity, into the global era.