The American culture wars of the last 50 years have profoundly impacted our foreign policy, culminating in the abandonment of Ukraine and Donald Trump openly siding with Vladimir Putin. This connection is explored in Dr. Kristina Stoeckl’s book, The Moralist International: Russia in the Global Culture Wars (currently free on kindle), which I discussed with her on my podcast. She details how American evangelical leaders, like Dr. James Dobson, forged ties with Russian Orthodox leaders in the 1990s, exporting the culture war narrative to Russia. Putin later weaponized these themes—opposing abortion, LGBTQ rights, and liberal democracy—to justify his authoritarianism and war against Ukraine, with support from figures like Archbishop Kirill. This influence has shaped the global conservative movement, emboldening American right-wing figures like Tucker Carlson and J.D. Vance to align with Russia under the guise of defending “traditional values.”
However, the culture war is not solely the fault of the right. Progressives have also played a role, particularly in their uncritical embrace of figures like Alfred Kinsey, whose flawed research helped fuel the sexual revolution. The left, through academia, media, and cultural institutions, often dismissed or ridiculed traditional moral values, exacerbating polarization. The rise of identity politics, gender debates, and provocations like drag story hours have further inflamed conservative resentment, creating a cycle where both sides have trolled each other at the expense of national unity. This cultural fragmentation has led to widespread alienation, particularly among younger generations, contributing to declining family formation and demographic collapse.
In this divided landscape, opportunists like Trump and Carlson have exploited these resentments for political gain, using cultural grievances to justify policies that weaken the West’s geopolitical standing. The internet and social media, driven by profit-hungry tech giants, have amplified this division, turning national discourse into a perpetual outrage machine. Now, we find ourselves in a situation where the Republican Party—once the champion of the fight against communism—is enabling a Russian dictator who has waged a brutal war on Ukraine. The irony is that while Putin markets himself as a defender of “traditional values,” his actions—murder, war crimes, and authoritarianism—are the very antithesis of morality.
The real question is: How did we let this happen?
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