Just listened to a fascinating discussion with Professor Mark Pennington (LSE) about whether liberalism in the classical sense can survive the current wave of populism. He argues that both the left and the right are turning illiberal: the left in the name of justice and safety, the right in the name of order and tradition. Both sides end up rejecting the idea of individual freedom that liberalism was built on.
They get into how this breakdown in shared values leads to censorship, political tribalism, and the rise of populist figures like Trump and Charlie Kirk. The conversation’s not partisan — it’s more about how societies that lose faith in freedom and open debate inevitably slide into authoritarianism, no matter who’s in charge.
It’s a great reminder of why classical liberalism still matters and how fragile it really is.
Posted by Street_You2981