The Strength of Nations: How Ordinary People Are The Key To A Society's Success

This world has seen many tragedies in its pursuit of happiness: wars of conquest, racism, greed and materialism of all sorts, not to mention religious fanaticism and intolerance. Belief systems and forms of government have gone in and out of vogue, cultures and empires have risen and fallen, and still today the cult of greed and fame has its devotees. Yet, throughout history’s turmoil, here and there a light of hope has shined. Individuals and whole cultures have achieved, at least for a time, ways of life that are still admired. Tyrannies have been overthrown; creativity has flourished; people have thrived.

What enabled people of very different times and places to achieve a way of life that stood out as successful and happy? Jared Diamond does a fantastic job of delineating how important factors such as resources and geography can be in his Guns, Germs and Steel. However, while the blessings of nature and fortune may be significant, Mike Macijeski doesn’t believe they tell the whole story. If they did, Rome would never have fallen, China would never have been conquered by outsiders, and the Islamic world would be today’s global innovators.

His claim: that the key to a nation’s or a civilization’s success is ultimately and fundamentally tied to the character of its citizenry. When the trumpet sounds, do they respond? When disaster hits, is it every man for himself, or do they roll up their sleeves and help their neighbors? Do they give an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay, or is it get rich quick any way you can?

No amount of zealous speeches or propaganda can turn the disenchanted into a winning team. Bribery and spoils, bread and circuses may work for a while, but ultimately the cost is too high. On the other hand, the person who is beyond corruption is unstoppable: he cannot be bought, he cannot be intimidated. This person will do what is right, what needs to be done, because it is right and needs to be done.

How does a nation or a culture produce such people? They—more than oil, more than a good constitution, more than favorable climate—are the real strength of nations.

Drawing from personal experience as well as his decades in the classroom, Macijeski probes the factors that give a people the resilience and strength to not only meet but excel at life’s challenges. Broad both geographically and historically, Macijeski spotlights places that “got it right”—and also a few that got it terribly wrong. In a style that is informed yet informal, he writes like the fun history teacher you wish you had, examining factors like family and community, courage, and opportunity.

The author is a National Merit Scholar and has taught history in Vermont for more than 20 years. He is also a musician whose travels have taken him to four continents. He holds an MA in Education from Vermont College of Norwich University and serves as a Justice of the Peace. This is his first book.