Different Matters by Damien Grant Dr Oliver Hartwich on Different Matters, Leonardo da Vinci, the enlightened world and where it's headed.
Sep 25, 2025
Dr. Oliver Hartwich, Executive Director of The New Zealand Initiative and expert in political philosophy, dives into fascinating themes such as the roots of Enlightenment thinking traced back to Leonardo da Vinci. He discusses the post-war order's fragility, mentioning the impact of significant historical events like 9/11 and the 2008 financial crisis. Hartwich warns of declining civic knowledge and the fragmentation of society, and he frames AI as an amplifier of change, questioning its effects on democratic values. Join for a compelling exploration of where today's challenges may lead us.
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Bretton Woods' Temporary Triumph
- Bretton Woods and post‑war institutions under US hegemony created a stable, rules-based international order that lasted about half a century.
- The 1989 collapse of communism seemed to confirm it, but events from 9/11 onward exposed deep fragility in that order.
No Single Start To The Unraveling
- The current unraveling has no single start date but is visible through multiple shocks: 9/11, financial crisis, Brexit, COVID, and rising authoritarianism.
- These events collectively show the post‑Cold War 'end of history' optimism was premature.
The Böckenförde Fragility
- Böckenförde's dilemma states liberal secular states depend on social foundations they cannot themselves guarantee without losing liberalism.
- Hartwich argues those social glue elements (churches, unions, common media) have eroded, creating fragility for democracies.