Lessons of the Western Crisis. How the Elites of the USA and Europe Led Society into a Dead End

Thomas Sowell, an influential American economist and social theorist, explains in his book why Western elites — politicians, experts, judges — increasingly make decisions that lead society into a dead end. He calls their approach «messianic»: they are confident in their correctness, do not want to hear opposing arguments, and ignore the real consequences of their reforms. The book shows how elites manipulate public opinion, cherry-pick convenient statistics, launch loud campaigns, and use moral slogans to push their ideas — even if they harm the majority. The author provides examples from history, economics, law, and everyday life to vividly demonstrate how this mechanism works and how it has led Western society to its current crisis.