Review by Booklist Review
Prominent political philosopher Fukuyama reiterates the virtues of classical liberalism, his arguments strengthened by serious consideration of the doctrine's weaknesses. Liberalism--not left-of-center politics but rather the political and moral theories of limited government, individual liberty, and rule of law that emerged in the late seventeenth century--underpins much of modern society. But lately, liberalism has been attacked both by the populist right, which rejects the doctrine's secularism and embrace of diversity, and by the progressive left, which initially critiqued liberalism's failure to live up to its stated ideals but has broadened its attack into an outright rejection of the philosophy's core principles. Some of these critiques have been voiced since the French Revolution. Others are in response to recent developments, like the cruelty and chaos caused by neoliberal policies that twist classical liberalism into fundamentalist market worshipping. But, argues Fukuyama, the alternatives to liberalism--nativism, statism, collectivism--would be far worse. Intended as a pithy mission statement for American Purpose, a journal with which the author is affiliated, this title also builds upon Fukuyama's recent exploration of identity politics, Identity (2018).
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Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
A liberalism under siege from right and left gets a measured defense in this incisive treatise on politics and governance. Stanford University political scientist Fukuyama (The End of History and the Last Man), ponders classical liberalism as a creed that champions respect for individual dignity and autonomy, the rule of law, economic freedom, and scientific rationality. Unfortunately, he contends, liberalism has wandered into excesses, including neoliberal economic theories and policies that are hostile to even necessary government regulation and breed inequality, dislocation, and soulless consumerism; divisive attacks on social traditions in the name of personal self-actualization; identity politics demanding that rights be invested in groups rather than individuals; and ambitions to override property rights and redistribute wealth. As a result, both right-wing populists and left-wing progressives are wary of liberal ideals of tolerance, freedom, and reasoned debate. Fukuyama's lucid, insightful analysis traces liberalism's development back to its medieval Christian roots and forward to modern philosophical muddles and today's wrangles over voting restrictions and cancel culture, offering tart criticism for all sides: "Progressives and white nationalists come together in valuing raw feeling and emotion over cold empirical analysis." The result is an authoritative and accessible diagnosis of how liberalism went wrong and how it can reclaim its best impulses. Agent: Esther Newberg, ICM Partners. (May)
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Review by Library Journal Review
In his latest book, political scientist Fukuyama (Identity: The Demand for Dignity and the Politics of Resentment) identifies and formulates responses to criticisms of the liberal world order. First, he defines "liberalism" as the classical liberalism originally expressed by John Locke and other thinkers of the Enlightenment era, with its focus on individual rights and rule of law. He argues that the excesses of late 20th-century neoliberalism (identity politics; the cult of economic freedom) have triggered backlash against liberalism from both the left and the right. While there are many leftist critiques of liberalism, Fukuyama identifies the right as the more serious threat to liberalism, giving the examples of Putin in Russia, Orban in Hungary, and Trump in the United States; he argues that all three figures are willing to undermine liberal institutions, such as an independent judiciary and a free press, to expand their own power. VERDICT Essential reading for all students of political science. Fukuyama's scholarly, yet approachable work is highly recommended for any reader interested in understanding the current political environment.--Joshua Wallace
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
The renowned political scientist and philosopher considers classical liberalism and the broad range of enemies arrayed against it. "By 'liberalism,' " writes Fukuyama, "I refer to the doctrine…that argued for the limitation of the powers of governments through law and ultimately constitutions, creating institutions protecting the rights of individuals living under their jurisdiction." Born of events such as the English civil war and the Enlightenment, this liberalism also encouraged diversity of thought, religion, and ethnicity, placing it squarely in the crosshairs of today's authoritarian nationalists, not least Donald Trump. Fukuyama has often been identified with conservative causes, but his thinking here is democratic to the core, and he has no use for such pathetic lies as Trump's insistence that the 2020 election was stolen. That said, the author notes that liberalism has many enemies on both the left and the right for numerous real yet correctable failings. The neoliberalism that has emerged over the past couple of generations has accelerated inequality, and numerous institutions have been eroded while others, such as the Electoral College, have been revealed to be anti-democratic. Both left and right, the author argues, have trouble accepting that governing over diversity, the hallmark of liberalism, means governing over many ethnic and national groups, strata of income, and competing interests. He adds, however, "Left-of-center voters…remain much more diverse" in political outlook. Essential to a liberal society, Fukuyama insists, is the right to vote: "Voting rights are fundamental rights that need to be defended by the power of the national government." While he insists that individual rights take precedence over group rights, he also observes that the social contract demands citizen participation. To the conservative charge that the social contract is one thing but the "common moral horizon" another, he answers that yes, liberalism does not insist on a single morality--which "is indeed a feature and not a bug." A deceptively slender but rich argument in favor of conserving liberal ideals--and liberal government. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
