Western thinking is toxic to closed societies because it empowers the individual person to think, question authority, and make choices. But closed societies can only survive through conformity which is historically sustained through force and coercion.
China, North Korea, and Iran are typical examples of closed societies based on governments. Christianity, Islam, and Judaism are typical examples of closed religious societies.
The only way to ensure conformity in thoughts and actions is by having everyone pull from the same restricted pool of information and experiences. This way everyone will come to the same or similar conclusions. Even better, you can control their conclusions by controlling their input. Best of all is to teach people to self censure through doctrine or laws.
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;”
Proverbs 3:5
Closed societies are artificial because they depend on an absence of information. They are parochial and a great deal of energy must be spent restricting the flow of information in order to maintain the purity of thought for it’s citizens or followers. Otherwise the system risks imploding.
This National Public Radio interview with Jamileh Alamolhoda, the wife of Iran’s president, demonstrates the toxicity of western thinking to traditional societies and how they typically have to resort to force and coercion to maintain the existing order.
Curiosity and the demand for choice are basic human natures. Which is why western thinking is so appealing to the individual and so toxic to closed societies.