In this Q&A section, Hanson argues that periods of intense division are not new in American history and that democratic societies can recover when people remain engaged, temper political hostility, and take responsibility for the quality of public life. Civic renewal, in this view, begins with citizens who choose participation over withdrawal and disagreement without abandoning a shared political community.
Victor Davis Hanson
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American self-government depends on power being divided, limited, and accountable to voters. That balance erodes when unelected officials expand their authority, constitutional procedures are bypassed, and national sovereignty is ceded to institutions beyond direct democratic control.
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A self-governing society depends on citizens who share civic knowledge, economic independence, and allegiance to a common national culture. Sustaining that system requires a strong middle class, successful assimilation, and a civic identity that rises above tribal loyalties.
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