# Why Nations Succeed
I was reading Marc Andreessen's article, Time to Build (opens new window). His article is full of great solutions to our problems.
After reading his article I came away with a (tangential) set of questions. Why do some countries succeed in becoming great? Alternatively - why do some countries fail to become great, even in cases when they have massive resources? And why do those who are already great eventually lose their greatness?
Not how, but why?
If we had an exact script which the world could follow to pull ourselves out of this crisis, would we follow that script? No, of course not. But why not?
I tried to come up with a first-principled line of reasoning for how a nation "fails to succeed":
- A nation succeeds through change.
- Change happens through action.
- Action happens after the decisions of those with power are supported.
- Opposition prevents that support.
Sometimes the opposition is necessary. But opposition is more commonly driven by ego. Ego is quite easy to observe on an individual level, but less-so on a national level. And so I have an elaboration of this. A simple theory which, for the sake of this article, I'll call The Identity Theory.
# The Identity Theory
The Identity Theory is this:
A nation's ability to grow is in direct proportion to its ability to leave its past behind.
And not just the bad past, the good past as well. That might sound controversial. Logically, we should be able to keep the good and simply improve the bad. Unfortunately, humans are not logical. When it comes to humans, identity itself is bad. But I'm getting ahead of myself. Let's explore some history.
# Germany
At the end of World War II, the German economy was in disarray. 20% of housing was destroyed, food production per-capita had dropped 49%, and industrial output had dropped by one third. Defeated, sanctioned, and ashamed, Germany was a ruined state facing a bleak future.
Less than 80 years later, Germany is a global economic power. It's the largest economy in the European Union with 24% of the total EU GDP. Sometimes called The German Economic Miracle (Wirtschaftswunder), most of this German economic turnaround had taken effect by 1989 when the Berlin Wall fell and Germany was once again reunited.
And they didn't just win in terms of economic power. They are the de-facto leader of the EU, looked upon for guidance and support by other nations. Think about that for a second. The aggressors of the largest war in modern history somehow overcame their reputational damage to become an internationally respected country.
# France
Contrast Germany with France who were facing their own economic and social disaster 230 years earlier, with the French Revolution. Heavily in debt from war, the French government started taxing its citizens excessively, causing rebellion. After decades of turmoil the French people would throw off their monarchical constraints and provide the world with a model for democracy, established in the ideals of the Enlightenment (opens new window).
For the past two centuries the Enlightenment has inspired movements like abolitionism and the right to vote. The values and institutions of the Revolution dominate French politics to this day. And rightly so. They should be proud of their history.
But pride has a way of stagnating us. Admittedly, France's economy isn't that bad - their total GDP is 40% lower than Germany but their GDP per-capita is only 14% lower (2019, wikipedia (opens new window)).
What I would like to ask is this: why isn't France's economy even bigger? France is a nation whose ideas inspired much of the governance we see operating in the largest nations today. Why couldn't they convert these ideas into greater economic power for their own nation?
# Germany vs France
Now, I understand that I have given a grossly over-simplified history. But that's the point - don't get stuck in the weeds. Bear with me while I build my case.
I listened recently to a podcast with Dave Goggins (opens new window), a retired US Navy SEAL.
At the age of 24 Goggins saw a TV show about the infamous Hell Week (opens new window) and decided that he wanted to join the Navy SEALs. The problem was that he was in the depths of depression, caused by a childhood full of poverty and physical abuse. To make things worse, he was 48kg (106 pounds) over the required weight and he had only 3 months to lose it.
While it sounds impossible, Goggins lost the weight and participated in Hell Week three times to eventually become a Navy SEAL.
His explaination of how he managed this? He literally created a new identity for himself.
He was no longer "David Goggins", he was just "Goggins". His new identity, Goggins, "invented this thing called the accountability mirror.
"I would look in the mirror and call myself out: 'I’m afraid of this. I’m afraid of that.'"
Despite his tortured past, which gave him every justification for quitting, Goggins didn't allow it.
Goggins is now retired from the SEALs. But he hasn't slowed down. At the age of 45 he is an ultra-distance athlete and former world record holder for the most pull-ups in 24 hours. He's an author, and motivational speaker.
This is the most impressive thing about Goggins. He's working as hard at 45 as he did at 24. He still "lives each day as if he hasn’t accomplished anything yet." It sounds completely unhealthy, but it does have a pertinent side-effect: growth.
Germany is like Goggins. Through whatever mix of shame and destroyed-identity, they were able to leave their war-torn history behind and transform their frail economy.
France is not like Goggins. They achieved something any nation would be proud of. But their pride made them slow. Each political decision is debated endlessly in the context of their historical identity.
And so we have the basis of The Identity Theory. A nation's ability to grow is in direct proportion to its ability to leave its past behind. It's the story of many rapidly growing nations. China leaving their Maoist history behind. The Soviet Union built from multiple national Soviet republics to form a single state. The USA throwing off their colonial roots.
# USA
The USA is like Goggins at 24.
240 years ago they reforged their identity and created a nation of greatness. But their identity is their greatest weakness now.
Americans cling to their political affiliations. They rile against the problems that the opposition made in the past and oppose actions which might give everyone a benefit in the future. Their political system is a zero-sum game, where each party tries to make the other lose so that they can gain power.
And the biggest problem? Theirs is the greatest political system ever practiced. The Founding Fathers had an uncanny amount of insight to produce a system that would inspire a nation into unity and continue, largely unchanged, for centuries.
But it's still just the least-worst option. The system needs improvement. To improve, the system needs to change. And change cant't happen while opposition is blocking every decision, regardless of its rational advantages.
If you're an American reading that thinking, "Yeah, the opposition party is really annoying", then you're likely part of the problem. Instead, you should be thinking: "What is the opposition party offering that I can get on-board with?".
# What to build
Marc finishes with a challenge:
Here’s a modest proposal to my critics. Instead of attacking my ideas of what to build, conceive your own! What do you think we should build? There’s an excellent chance I’ll agree with you.
So here is my response to Marc: Build a nation that can give up it's past.
It's tempting to finish with a counter-argument on the importance of historical identity and its value to society. But I don't want to dilute the key takeaway of this article.
This article is simple observation and a brutal truth: if you want to be to be great, forget who are are and become who you need to be.