Ill Liberalism

THE Danish political scientist Georg Sørensen recently noted that “the tradition that became liberal democracy was liberal first (aimed at restricting state power over civil society) and democratic later (aimed at creating structures that would secure a popular mandate).” Today the liberal foundation of democracy is under an assault which, if successful, will transform democracy itself. An alternative world view, “cultural democracy,” has emerged, challenging the basic principles of liberal democracy on practically every important issue.

For the greater part of the twentieth century liberal democracy waged an epic ideological struggle against Fascism and Communism in every corner of the world. After more than seven decades, near the end of what Zbigniew Brzezinski has called “mankind’s most bloody and hateful century,” liberal democracy emerged triumphant. Many Western commentators proclaimed the world-historical significance of this victory. Francis Fukuyama declared that we had reached the “end of history.” He predicted that the basic principles of liberal democracy would never again face serious opposition from a rival political philosophy with a universal appeal.

About the Author

John Fonte

John Fonte is a Senior Fellow and Director of the Center for American Common Culture at the Hudson Institute.

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THE Danish political scientist Georg Sørensen recently noted that “the tradition that became liberal democracy was liberal first (aimed at restricting state power over civil society) and democratic later (aimed at creating structures that would secure a popular mandate).” Today the liberal foundation of democracy is under an assault which, if successful, will transform democracy itself. An alternative world view, “cultural democracy,” has emerged, challenging the basic principles of liberal democracy on practically every important issue.

For the greater part of the twentieth century liberal democracy waged an epic ideological struggle against Fascism and Communism in every corner of the world. After more than seven decades, near the end of what Zbigniew Brzezinski has called “mankind’s most bloody and hateful century,” liberal democracy emerged triumphant. Many Western commentators proclaimed the world-historical significance of this victory. Francis Fukuyama declared that we had reached the “end of history.” He predicted that the basic principles of liberal democracy would never again face serious opposition from a rival political philosophy with a universal appeal.