The United States appears increasingly determined to retreat from its global commitments. The recent decision by the Trump administration to withdraw from 66 international treaties, conventions, and organizations is notable for the broad scope of its rejections. From climate change agreements to multilateral initiatives concerning migration, clean water, and renewable energy, the administration has deemed these efforts as “contrary to the interests of the United States.”

This move is emblematic of an administration focused on erecting physical walls around the country, as noted by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Such withdrawal reflects a troubling indifference to longstanding collective initiatives, suggesting they are irrelevant to our national interests. This perspective raises fundamental questions about how interconnectedness with the global community has become so profoundly obscured in American discourse.

As a cultural anthropologist, I’ve examined this phenomenon over the past decade. In my recent book, Something Between Us: The Everyday Walls of American Life, and How to Take Them Down, I explore the patterns of isolation and division that have increasingly characterized American life. Escalating fortification of homes and neighborhoods, the prevalence of larger vehicles, and media narratives that shut down dissenting views have contributed to a divide that encourages Americans to overlook their connections to others.

“Going it alone is a path to autocracy, not autonomy.”

My research, drawn from conversations with diverse groups—real estate professionals, urban planners, and social justice advocates—reveals an individualistic mindset that’s taken hold. For instance, a home improvement podcaster implied that smart lighting could lead potential burglars away from one’s residence, while another individual shared insights about a focus group that expressed a preference for larger vehicles in accidents. These narratives foster an environment where social and environmental issues are easily dismissed as the concerns of “others.”

The rejection of climate diplomacy and the embrace of fossil fuels represent more than mere policy shifts. They signify a mindset that frames well-being and freedom in sharply individualistic terms. To effect genuine change, we must reconsider these prevailing attitudes and practices.

The vicissitudes of global weather will increasingly manifest as natural disasters, as exemplified by last year’s wildfires in Los Angeles.

Our future is intertwined with the well-being of others beyond our borders. Economic disparities and environmental instabilities are driving migration, impacting our own communities. When faced with challenges like the climate crisis, if our response is to isolate ourselves further, we only exacerbate the problems we seek to avoid.

Martin Luther King Jr. articulated similar sentiments over half a century ago in his 1963 letter from the Birmingham jail, recognizing an “inescapable network of mutuality” that binds us together. While it may seem that this “single garment of destiny” is beginning to fray, it can be re-woven through a renewed commitment to mutual aid and collective solidarity.

Consider the clean water activists in Newburgh, New York, who organized against “forever chemicals” contaminating their municipal water supply. By fostering a sense of watershed awareness, these activists encourage a recognition that upstream actions impact those downstream. Through community conversations centered on the theme “I Am Water,” they invite participants to reflect on their relationships with water and envision themselves as part of a shared ecosystem.

“We had to start with our own bodies before addressing the body of water itself,” said activist Gabrielle Hill, emphasizing our interconnectedness with the environment that sustains us, both in the U.S. and beyond.

Galvanized by recent threats to democracy, Hill ran for a district position in her local legislature and won the Democratic nomination last year. On the evening of her victory, she shared an African proverb: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” This spirit of community was reflected in her campaign, emphasizing clean public water, accessible public transportation, and affordable housing for Newburgh’s diverse working-class residents.

Ultimately, isolationism leads to autocracy rather than autonomy. Repressive regimes compel us to disregard our interconnectedness, casting security in terms of suspicion and division. Conversely, the collective movements emerging in these challenging times illustrate that our well-being is most effectively viewed as a communal resource. Our destinies are intertwined, whether we choose to recognize this truth or not.