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The age of hypocrisy: liberalism and its discontents
Thirty years after the Western Establishment’s proclamation of the so-called ‘end of history,’ confidence in the destiny of liberalism has collapsed amid fractious times of economic uncertainty and war, writes ZOLTAN ZIGEDY
Zoltan

THESE are difficult, perilous, and frustrating times. Many cherished beliefs are coming unravelled. Many once-shared values are no longer shared. And distrust of unshakeable institutions is widespread. 

Yet it was only a little more than three decades ago that North American and European intellectuals joined in acknowledging the triumph of the Western world’s “gift” to all: political and economic liberalism. 

For nearly half a century, Western liberalism had waged a “cold” war against the most serious challenge to its dominance. Apart from the fascist counter-revolution of the 1930s against political liberalism, no movement shook the Western liberal establishment and its self-confidence as did revolutionary socialism. Seemingly, that threat ended in 1991.

Liberation webinar, 30 November2024, 6pm (UK)
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