In its strategic competition with Russia and China, the United States has constructed a metanarrative based on democracy versus authoritarianism (i.e. good versus evil). Such a narrative harks back to the political thinking of the first half of the 20th century which saw the fighting of two world wars.

Once again, we are witnessing a major power pushing a metanarrative based on democracy as the only acceptable form of government in the world and that countries that practice democracy share the same set of values. It contends that democracy is now under threat and will only be safe if democracies ally themselves to push back against authoritarian governments to contain them. This is worryingly reflexive of another impending world war.

The New World Encyclopedia says: “Metanarrative or grand narrative or mater narrative is a term developed by Jean-François Lyotard to mean a theory that tries to give a totalising, comprehensive account to various historical events, experiences, and social, cultural phenomena based upon the appeal to universal truth or universal values. In this context, the narrative is a story that functions to legitimise power, authority, and social customs. … The term grand narratives can be applied to a wide range of thoughts which includes Marxism, religious doctrines, belief in progress, universal reason, and others.”

The European powers, mostly members of the European Union, have bought into this narrative to the point that many have sacrificed their own economic well-being on the altar of........

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