In January 2023, Richard Haass, a veteran American diplomat and President of the Council on Foreign Relations, released a new book titled “The Bill of Obligations: The Ten Habits of Good Citizens,” published by Penguin Random House. This work addresses the most significant threats facing the United States and offers a guide to reimagining good citizenship in an era of division, in support of American democracy. The central question he seeks to answer is: how can Americans rediscover and reclaim the attitudes and behaviors that have greatly contributed to their nation’s success over the centuries?
Internal Threats
According to Haass, while the United States faces grave external threats from countries like Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran, as well as from terrorism, climate change, and future pandemics, the most pressing threats to American security and stability arise from within. The growing intensity of political divisions has raised profound questions about the future of American democracy itself. This can be illustrated through several key points:
Firstly, the events of January 6, 2021, when the U.S. Capitol was stormed, revealed a deep division within American society. These unprecedented attacks, occurring amid attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results, demonstrated that internal divisions in the United States had reached a qualitatively different and dangerous level. Evidence showed that some members of Congress, as well as the then-president and his close associates, were not merely aware of the planned actions but were closely involved.
Although the inauguration of the new president occurred two weeks later, affirming the resilience of American democracy, these events highlighted the fact that the oldest democracy in the world is not immune to democratic backsliding. This shift has been a global trend over the past two decades, threatening the peaceful transfer of power—a principle that Americans have long taken for granted, even during times of war and crisis. A significant portion of the population continues to reject the results of the November 2020 elections, swayed by claims from some Republicans regarding their integrity.
Secondly, the impact of political divisions complicates the political landscape. A situation in which a substantial number of voters may consider a president illegitimate increases the likelihood of violence. As the ability to agree on policies that uphold American democratic norms declines, it becomes nearly impossible for the state to address its economic, social, and political issues or harness its potential for influence. This situation jeopardizes both the economy and society, potentially leading to the deterioration or collapse of essential public services, as well as challenges to civil and political rights that have long been taken for granted.
The most concerning aspect is the potential for an increase and proliferation of violence, both from ordinary criminals and those with political agendas, in line with the definition of terrorism. This reality does not exclude the possibility of one or more states completely attempting to secede from the union, despite the fact that the vast majority of Americans still oppose such actions. The growing political division in the country is exacerbated by an increasing number of states categorized as “red” (leaning toward Republicans and conservatives) or “blue” (displaying progressive and Democratic inclinations), while the number of purple or swing states is declining.
Thirdly, the internal threats reflect on Washington’s external influence. The dangers that confront the United States extend beyond the domestic sphere, as the deterioration of democracy also has negative consequences for the government’s ability to unite in the face of various external threats. Deep political divisions make it difficult—if not impossible—to design and implement a coherent and robust foreign policy at a time when global events deeply impact domestic affairs. This fragmentation also impedes the internal solidarity necessary to effectively respond to other global crises and challenges that may intensify throughout this century, including infectious diseases, climate change, nuclear proliferation, and terrorism.
Likewise, a nation at war with itself cannot serve as a model for other peoples to emulate. Moreover, a failure of democracy within the U.S. invites dangers to democracies worldwide, while providing authoritarian regimes the opportunity to justify their repressive practices against their citizens.
Causes of the Crises
Haass argues that the increasing problems faced by America are rooted in a crisis of democracy based fundamentally on rights; differing perspectives often clash, making it difficult to balance these rights with citizens’ obligations to each other. This necessitates a reconsideration of the very idea of citizenship, which can be delineated through the following reasons:
Firstly, conflicting views on rights issues proliferate. While the Bill of Rights occupies a central position in the American constitution, many of the most contentious American conflicts often stem from opposing views on what rights should entail. The most complex issues frequently involve rights versus rights; for instance, the right to bear arms versus an individual’s right to safety, the choice not to be vaccinated or to wear a mask versus the right to public health, women’s rights to abortion versus fetal rights, and so forth. If everyone focuses solely on their own rights, there is little room for compromise, as rights quickly become absolutist and may conflict with one another.
Secondly, the challenge of balancing rights and obligations becomes evident. The previous problem underscores that rights alone cannot provide the foundation for an effective democracy, much less ensure prosperity within society. While Americans often debate their rights vigorously, Haass believes that an effective remedy lies in placing obligations on equal footing with rights. He asserts that the success of democracy can only be assured if citizens also take responsibility for promoting these values, and indeed for one another. Respecting rights while fulfilling responsibilities is fundamental to the democracy that guarantees the foundation for a free society.
Thirdly, the idea of American citizenship requires reconsideration. By emphasizing the need to balance rights and obligations, and with the goal of overcoming the challenges facing American democracy, Haass stresses the importance of revisiting and expanding the concept of citizenship. He proposes a set of obligations that seek to help reaffirm the principles of citizenship upon which America’s struggling democracy was founded, aiming to address internal divisions and safeguard the nation’s future.
Proposals for Solutions
In his book, Haass outlines several essential commitments crucial for reshaping the idea of citizenship in line with the first ten amendments to the Constitution. These include informed participation, active engagement, openness to compromise, maintaining civility, rejecting violence, respecting normative values, promoting the common good, supporting public service, and teaching civic education, with an emphasis on placing the nation first. These obligations can be summarized into several main themes:
Firstly, political participation based on awareness is imperative. An informed citizen is one who can distinguish misleading information amidst the surrounding information revolution, grasp the basics of how government, the economy, and society function, as well as the key challenges the country faces both domestically and internationally. This understanding also includes recognizing competing options or policies to tackle these challenges, which may require a familiarity with the country’s history; one cannot fully grasp the present without appreciating the past, which also provides lessons on contemporary challenges. This situation may necessitate a stronger emphasis on teaching civic education in schools.
Secondly, the importance of political flexibility and avoiding stagnation cannot be overstated. Upholding political engagement should not translate to political or partisan rigidity; this sometimes requires acceptance of compromise and middle-ground solutions. Haass addresses this concept under the heading “openness to compromise,” highlighting that such an attitude should not be construed as weakness or surrender. Moreover, it is crucial to engage with others in a respectful and polite manner, which is essential for the functioning of a democracy that encompasses a wide array of differing values, beliefs, and even conflicting rights.
It is vital to appreciate how to differ, while still ensuring that one remains acceptable to those around them. Civility helps minimize or bridge differences. Even if that is not possible, civility allows relationships to persist and dialogue on other issues to continue. Opponents in one matter need not become adversaries in all matters.
Thirdly, respecting normative standards and rejecting violence is crucial. Normative standards encompass broader criteria than mere obedience to the law and are essential for the stability of any community. It is equally important to consider the principles underlying the spirit and purpose of the law and those behaviors that may not be legislated or officially mandated for various reasons, yet are all desirable and indeed necessary for the success of democracy; it is impossible to regulate every potential and undesirable behavior through fixed rules like law.
In this context, rules should extend to include traditions, customs, conventions, codes of conduct, and unwritten practices that minimize friction and reduce societal fragility, aiding in the prevention of violence, which should be condemned among citizens themselves.
Fourthly, promoting the common good is essential. Ultimately, individuals live within a societal context that influences and is influenced by them, highlighting the importance of public welfare. This concern arises not only from a moral obligation towards others but also because promoting the common good reflects self-interest and fosters private benefit that requires respect for public service and boosts trust in official institutions, even amid skepticism about their performance. This effort must support the common good and contribute to stability, without conflicting with course corrections for politicians and policymakers through active political involvement and increased political awareness, as Haass elaborates in various parts of the book. This commitment to prioritizing the nation means placing the country and American democracy above party affiliation and individual interests. This approach helps to strengthen societal bonds and serves as a means to preserve the United States and support American democracy, which, despite its flaws, remains the most successful political experiment, necessitating proactive efforts to sustain it, according to Haass’s vision.
Essential Observations
Haass’s proposed framework raises significant points that it should not impose a burden on citizens, differing from legal texts and respecting individual rights. These observations can be elaborated on as follows:
Firstly, obligations should not be a burden on citizens. Citizens bear obligations toward one another and the government, aimed at supporting democracy while confronting rising apathy, anger, selfishness, division, misinformation, and violence that threaten the entire community. These are not demands but personal practices that should be maintained rather than performed out of necessity to keep the political system functioning and ensure societal peace.
Secondly, obligations differ from laws. Obligations are distinct from legal requirements whose violation can result in penalties, such as fines or imprisonment. Instead, obligations relate to what citizens ought to do, characterizing them as moral and political duties rather than legal ones that one commits to voluntarily. They should encompass greater responsibilities that are harder to evade, even if some obligations can indeed be reflected in laws.
Thirdly, respect for individual rights is paramount. The call for a notion of citizenship that equates obligations with rights does not aim to diminish the importance of respecting and protecting rights, which remain the foundation of any functioning democracy. However, it should be noted that rights alone do not create a successful democracy. A democracy that focuses solely on protecting individual rights may face dangers, especially when rights conflict with each other, threatening political or physical confrontations.
In conclusion, it is essential that a path exists for citizens to be prepared to coexist peacefully and work with those who differ from them through the ability to bargain and reach compromises. The obligations between individual citizens, as well as between citizens and their government, form another cornerstone of successful democracy.
Source:
Richard Haass, The Bill of Obligations: The Ten Habits of Good Citizens, (New York, Penguin Press, 2023)
