Their undeveloped prefrontal cortex puts us all at risk

If you’re confused by the chaotic state of affairs in the US and the UK, a nice book to read is God and Gold: Britain, America, and the Making of the Modern World by Walter Russell Mead. 

Going as far back as the 17th century, this author made me understand how we got to where we are. How three centuries of world domination can lead to reckless decision-making and abuses of power. How two countries, in social crises, reach a point where even children can be elected as leaders. And now here we are, watching Donald Trump and Boris Johnson playing on the international playground, throwing sand at the girls, taunting the teachers, and hanging little kids upside down by their boots.

Perhaps it’s our entertainment-dominated society that has elevated two narcissistic celebrities to rule what we've called the Free World.  Trump and Johnson are better known for their clownish antics than their understanding of how government works. They're attention-deficit, adoration-craving men, who thrive on the latest news about themselves. Similar to adolescents, their prefrontal cortex appears to not have been fully developed, leading to an inability to foresee the consequences of their behaviour. 

Economic stability? Who needs it. Let's leave the European Union!

Work with our allies? Who needs them. Let’s start a conflict with Iran! 

Impulsive decision making is their modus operandi. They’re backed by supporters who have been cheering for a winning team for decades and no longer understand the stakes. They have no idea what it’s like to lose a major war, to face hunger and starvation, or be scorned with international ridicule. A small decline in wealth or social standing causes them to lash out at the rest of the world with fierce abandon.  

Contrast this with countries like Japan and Germany, which, still humbled by the impacts of World War II, tread lightly on the world stage. While boasting economic strength, their political and military ambitions are cautious and calculated. Walk through peaceful Japan today, and you’d be shocked to learn they were once a despised regional power. 

While the U.S.S.R. arguably kept Western powers in check throughout much of the 20th Century (Vietnam being the exception), the reckless interventions of the 21st century display a troubling pattern. First Afghanistan, then Iraq and Libya, now Iran.

Mead makes it clear in his book as to why Arabic countries despise the Western world. Just like the New England Patriots have dominated American football for decades, earning the hatred of thousands of NFL fans, so Western nations have dominated the affairs of Arabic nations with the arrogance of a colonial power. Remember when it was thought the U.S. would be welcomed as a liberator in Iraq? 

The Patriots lost their luster last weekend, eliminated in the playoffs after two surprising back-to-back defeats. (Yes, I watched with glee.) But defeat has a way of providing perspective. I don't wish tragedy on any nation, but for two countries used to getting their way, even a small display of humility could go a long way.

It won’t happen so long as two children are in charge.