The Common Good in the 21st Century

Recently, it has looked as if the common good might be disappearing as a guiding principle of our society. In a world where nationalism is becoming more dominant (think of Donald Trump’s “America First” agenda), protectionism is pursued (“une Europe qui protège,” as announced by France’s President Macron), and society too is disintegrating into an increasing number of parts, the idea that we need to think about the common good seems to be progressively weakening. More and more frequently we are confronted with the charge that in the Western world, in particular, governments as well as economic and intellectual elites are moving away from the people, who are the real sovereign power. As is widely agreed, the principle of the common good is essential for our society’s cohesiveness, as a focus on it can bring the individual parts of society closer together again.