In his recent article “What Do Conservatives Mean by ‘Western Civilization’?”, _Providence_ editor James Diddams notes how contrasting remarks from Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez reveal a tension: there is no firm definition of “Western civilization,” yet the concept enables people with different philosophical precepts to unite around policy goals…

At the 2026 Munich Security Conference, Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered a rousing speech that was well-received both by his fellow Republicans and the Europeans. The civilizational themes hit upon by Rubio were grandiose as possible, emphasizing the unbreakable bonds between Europe and the United States

“Forged by centuries of shared history, Christian faith, culture, heritage,…