Baroness Philippa Stroud, a member of the British House of Lords and CEO of the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship (ARC), has voiced her support for Vice President JD Vance's recent remarks criticizing certain European nations for curtailing citizens' rights and freedoms. Stroud, whose organization champions the core principles of free expression and prosperity within Western society, concurred with Vance's assessment, emphasizing the importance of upholding these fundamental values.

"JD is absolutely correct. We must confront the crucial question: what exactly are we defending in the West? If we fail to value the bedrock principles of our civilization, what, then, are we safeguarding?" she questioned.

At the Munich Security Conference, Vance cited alleged censorship by European governments, including a Scottish incident where residents near abortion clinics were warned that praying at home could be illegal. "The most concerning threat to Europe isn't Russia, China, or any external force," Vance stated. "It's the internal erosion of Europe's fundamental values, values shared with the United States."

Stroud told Fox News Digital that she established ARC to reinforce and protect the foundational principles of Western civilization against a prevailing narrative of decline and intolerance, which she believes is rapidly eroding hope among younger generations.

"We face a choice between two competing narratives. One is power-driven and intolerant. The other, rooted in hope, sacrifice, and love, has always been the cornerstone of the West," she explained during a video interview from London, the site of the 3-day ARC conference.

Co-founded with renowned Canadian psychologist Jordan Peterson, ARC serves as a global platform for Western leaders, thinkers, businesspeople, and artists to strategize and develop a positive vision for the future of Western civilization, re-embracing its core principles. The ARC 2025 conference focuses on "re-laying the foundations of our civilization," suggesting a societal drift from the values that once fueled its success.

Stroud highlighted the elements of Western civilization that need reaffirmation: "the inherent dignity of each human being, freedoms, the rule of law, truth, and democracy." These, she emphasized, "should not be discarded."

She described a "declinist" narrative undermining these core principles and fostering despair, particularly among young people. "A pervasive narrative of decline and perpetual crisis has led to significant mental health issues among our youth. They genuinely question whether they have a future," Stroud remarked.

Stroud explained that Peterson witnessed how this negativity hindered well-intentioned political leaders. "He encountered leaders across Eastern Europe achieving remarkable things but struggling to maintain a public presence," she said. "He realized we risk losing valuable leaders from the public sphere."

She cautioned that if this decline persists, modern civilization could face the same fate as ancient Rome or Greece. Drawing parallels to historical ruins, Stroud urged vigilance in safeguarding cherished values and freedoms. At the conference's conclusion, she expressed optimism, asserting that decline is not inevitable and that upholding Western values is an individual responsibility.