In Athens, Marco Rubio's civilisational hubris reaches a peak

In Athens, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's speech delivered on October 7th 2026 at the Parthenon showcased an extreme instance of civilizational hubris. Standing before the iconic ancient monument, Rubio painted a picture of western superiority, drawing connections between ancient Greek traits and contemporary Western characteristics.

He claimed that the ancient Greeks gave rise to traits that ‘would come to define the West’, setting it apart from other cultures with stability and subsistence as their highest pursuits. He highlighted the curiosity, ambition, and impatience with impossibility of the West, which he deemed as the foundations of the modern world.

However, Rubio's argument was marred by selective memory and a sense of unearned pride. He overlooked significant contributions from other cultures such as the builders of Angkor temples, astronomers of Samarkand, engineers of the Inca road system and mathematicians of India's Kerala. These civilizations are often overlooked in favor of a singular focus on Western contributions.

Moreover, Rubio's praise for the Greeks' curiosity also failed to acknowledge the critical role of Islamic scholars, Baghdad’s libraries, and Muslim Spain in preserving and extending Greek philosophy and science. The Western scientific achievements Rubio celebrated were initially used for conquest and colonialism, as exemplified by the voyages of Columbus and Cortes. These explorers not only brought about brutal colonization but also initiated the transatlantic slave trade which devastated native populations.

The speech also highlighted the downside of Western civilization’s relentless pursuit of expansion and exploration, which has often resulted in conquest and subjugation. Despite Rubio's rhetoric celebrating exploration, it often led to the first stages of invasion for those on the receiving end. His speech glossed over the significant costs of these pursuits, presenting a romanticized view of Western history.

The setting of Rubio's speech, the Parthenon, further underscored the problematic nature of his argument. This temple, a symbol of ancient Greek civilization, was built on the backs of enslaved people and women, reflecting the patriarchal and exploitative nature of the society it represented. The democracy that Rubio touted was not truly inclusive, as it was limited to a minority of adult men.