Would My Political Philosophy Be the Same if I Grew Up in Another Country?

The question ldquo;Would you have approximately the same political philosophy if you grew up in another country and had access to the same information?rdquo; is intriguing. It raises the notion that the environment, culture, and upbringing significantly shape one's beliefs and values.

The Role of Culture and Upbringing

Upon closer reflection, I am not entirely certain that the answer is a simple ldquo;yes.rdquo; Growing up in a different country also means growing up in a different culture, which can heavily influence one's political views. For instance, if I were to grow up in a Nordic country, I might develop more liberal views, juxtaposed with a Middle Eastern society where I might become more conservative.

Genetic Proclivity to Individualism

I have a pet theory that the desire for individualism, freedom, and self-determination, often referred to as the ldquo;master mentality,rdquo; is at least partly genetic. Just as cattle dogs round up livestock, a significant portion of humanity with this genetic proclivity moves to America, pursuing a free lifestyle. This shift began from the 17th to the early 20th century, with people from all over the world coming to America to become their own masters—whether succeeding or failing.

However, this shift changed around the 20th century, when the slave mentality, incentivized by government benefits, was imported wholesale. This doesn't mean that freedom lovers no longer exist, but they are the minority today. This genetic and cultural shift might explain why we are seeing a move towards a more collectivist society.

Growth of Global Left-Right Alignments

It is interesting to note that if I grew up in any other developing or developed country, the political philosophy might align more with global left-right trends. For instance, left-wingers in countries like Germany and Australia would likely agree on more issues with right-wingers from the United States or other individualist nations.

Geographical Determinism and Nationality

Some believe that there is a geographical determinism to political beliefs, making citizens of a certain nation a unified bloc. However, this belief is dangerously close to bigotry. People from a specific nation do not hold a uniform set of beliefs simply because of their passport. While there is often a collectivist element inculcated in many European and Asian cultures, which can predict their political beliefs, there will always be outliers regardless of government centralization.

Evidence of Libertarianism in South America

The example of Javier Milei, an Argentinian libertarian politician, refutes the idea that South America, particularly Argentina, does not produce libertarians. Finding a libertarian in South America is not as rare as once thought. This challenges the notion that collectivism is an inherent trait of South American culture.

The Genetic Argument

Another argument is that a person's personality type can accurately predict their political affiliation. Libertarians, like myself, are said to be cognitively and emotionally programmed to be libertarian, suggesting that our convictions are not simply a choice but are deeply ingrained in our biology and synapses.

My Personal Beliefs

Despite the genetic and cultural factors, I believe that my political philosophy would remain largely the same if I grew up in another country and had access to the same information. As a stubborn mule and an anti-authoritarian, I would have seen the world's governments, including my own, succumbing to corruption and betraying their people. These experiences would have reinforced my beliefs, likely leading me to advocate for individual liberty through a platform for political office.

Political philosophy is often a blend of innate tendencies and external influences. While culture and upbringing play a significant role, the core values of individual freedom and self-determination are likely to remain unchanged in my case.