The Postmodern Culture and Political Implications

Abstract

This chapter explores today’s postmodern culture that reflects a wide range of anti-Western, anti-American views and positions that reject notions of science, rationality, belief in reason, and common values. Postmodern philosophies have impacted political partisanship and voting, have ushered in identity and victim politics, favor group rights over individual rights and group interests ahead of common interests, encourage social polarization rather than unity, and limit freedom of speech. America has become a social relativistic and narcissistic society where morals and behaviors have become subjective and individual, resulting in political and social fragmentation. We are a nation of “hyphenated” Americans where group identity is more important than national affiliation, where self-concerns are more important than communal needs, and where social responsibility is a matter for government to address.