Marshall Memorial Fellowship: Role of Values – Cultural Differences Between the U.S. and Europe

Although I had long known about American values such as individualism, the rule of law, limited government, strong work ethic, and freespeech before the Marshall Memorial Fellowship, I  had never had an opportunity to observe how those values are rooted in the society.  Indeed, I found that those values were consistently expressed, consciously or subconsciously by people whom I met in the U.S. and pervade American policies.

The importance of American values became evident across many different meetings and program segments.  Editors at the Chicago Tribune attested that values shape their newspaper; the management staff of the Chicago Community Trust discussed the role of charity in helping communities; and the amazing Cara Project Foundation, which designs social programs for people looking for jobs that affirms those values.  One key value relates to self-reliance: the tendency to ask “how much can I do on my own and with the support of my community?” before asking the state for help.

For me as a European, this represented a significant cultural difference. Because on an everyday basis I see government interfering in lives of Europe’s citizens. This lack of trust in the role of government effectiveness was the most vivid in Miami, when during the seminar about health programs I learned that some states don’t want to accept federal funds because that would influence their self-governance. From the European perspective this system may seem cruel and inhumane. But for a person who grew up under a communist, totalitarian and oppressive regime, that kind of system based on freedom and responsibility looks like an unique and rewarding offer that matches human nature.

America has a lot of challenges to face right now such as violence, racism, inequity and poverty. But those are the same problems which Europe faces as well. And although we tend to criticize Americans for how they tackle those issues, Europeans  have also not found all the solutions—as we have learned in Paris and Brussels.

American values are not only central to the U.S.  I believe that these values are crucial for the progress of prosperity and peace in the transatlantic world. I was often very surprised during my visit how many Americans criticize the U.S. and its values. How often they think that this country doesn’t work. My opinion is that a society that puts freedom and responsibility on the core of its values will eventually reach progress and prosperity. As the famous economist Milton Friedman said:  “A society that puts equality before freedom will get neither. A society that puts freedom before equality will get a high degree of both”.

Through MMF I’ve learned a lot from Americans about how they put their values into action. I now wonder to what extent we can extend those values in Poland and in across Europe.

Błażej Moder, Director, New Center of Lodz Authority, is a Spring 2016 European Marshall Memorial Fellow.