Liberalism and Its Discontents
- Downloads：2934
- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2022-05-13 00:19:36
- Update Date：2025-09-07
- Status：finish
- Author：Francis Fukuyama
- ISBN：0374606714
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
Reviews
Suleiman Malik
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The tolerance-based approach that Fukuyama describes is not modern liberalism but Christian liberty as introduced by Locke， who was a Christian and not secular thinker。 Locke copied this from the Islamic concept of tolerance for multiple schools， sects and even religions， which had been completely unknown in Christians Catholic Europe。 This tolerance indeed made no prescriptions regarding values but it was meant to function within the context of Christian society and government。 This is because The tolerance-based approach that Fukuyama describes is not modern liberalism but Christian liberty as introduced by Locke， who was a Christian and not secular thinker。 Locke copied this from the Islamic concept of tolerance for multiple schools， sects and even religions， which had been completely unknown in Christians Catholic Europe。 This tolerance indeed made no prescriptions regarding values but it was meant to function within the context of Christian society and government。 This is because society and government must be established on a particular value system and cannot be neutral to them all。The secular liberalism that replaced Christianity is not a system of tolerance but a distinct ideology that has its own values， based not on liberty （ie tolerance） but based on freedoms and sovereignty for man。 Fukuyama is not being honest at all by conflating this secular liberalism with the earlier Christian liberty but then that is what everyone in the West has been made to think。 It is this value system of secular liberalism， extending deeply into social and economic norms that were previously based on Christianity， that is forcing Christian communities in the West to reject secular liberalism， through what the liberals refer to as populist leaders。Under Christian liberty， it should not have been a problem for Muslim women to take that niqab。 But under secular liberalism， the niqab contradicts basic freedoms so must be rejected。 。。。more
Tiffany
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Like “identity”， a book I really loved， this states and frames problems and their origins beautifully but leaves the reader hanging in terms of stating any resolution
Angie Boyter
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4++Liberalism and its Discontents is a provocative title that may attract the attention of right-wing populists who think they see an ally as well as leftwing progressives spoiling for a fight。 Those who have read Francis Fukuyama’s earlier writing， though， will know what to expect， and Fukuyama provides a well-reasoned examination and critique of how the political left and right have both done damage to the classical liberalism that emerged during the seventeenth century to limit the powers of 4++Liberalism and its Discontents is a provocative title that may attract the attention of right-wing populists who think they see an ally as well as leftwing progressives spoiling for a fight。 Those who have read Francis Fukuyama’s earlier writing， though， will know what to expect， and Fukuyama provides a well-reasoned examination and critique of how the political left and right have both done damage to the classical liberalism that emerged during the seventeenth century to limit the powers of governments and protect the rights of diverse people living under those governments。The book examines the foundational classical liberal ideas of economic liberalism and personal autonomy， including free speech， and explores the core ideas of today’s contemporary liberalism。 It also discusses the critique of modern scientific thinking， a critique that both the right and left seem to share。 Fukuyama describes how populists on the right and progressives on the left are both unhappy with the way classical liberalism has evolved but states that this is not because of any fundamental flaw in liberalism but because， for example， conservatives see the emphasis on personal autonomy to be a threat to their deeply held religious and cultural beliefs and progressives object to how the rules protect existing elites， which tends to increase economic inequalities and social justice。 These manifest themselves in things like calls for book bans and cancel culture。 While Fukuyama acknowledges the legitimate “discontents” of both sides， he also recognizes the resulting threats to liberalism’s basic foundations。 As an intelligent， rational being， Fukuyama does not try to offer a panacea but states some principles for a modern liberal society and （SPOILER ALERT！ ） concludes with a call for moderation from all sides。 Liberalism and Its Discontents is aimed at an intelligent general reader， and the style is generally clear and not overly pedantic。 There are a number of highlights in my ebook and notes like “Well put” and “Too true！”。 As a good scholar， Fukuyama cites his sources carefully and has given me several titles to add to my TBR stack as well as an urge to reread some classics。 However， it could be improved by defining terms like Overton Window that most people would not know and also by defining more clearly and precisely important terms like neoliberalism。 And while I am pleased he did not turn the book into a tome， I would have liked somewhat longer exploration of some topics like the economic elements of alternatives to today and perhaps less stress on identity politics。Many people today are concerned about the state of our society， but those who care enough to write about it usually have an axe to grind。 This is one of the most well-balanced books of its type that I have read in a long time and is worth the attention of anyone who cares about our future。 。。。more
Kai
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Without moderation will be the end of liberalism - our desires， wants， and needs are infinite。 Turning and turning in the widening gyre。
Martin von Haller Groenbaek
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Fukuyama provides a very nuanced and well-balanced account of what liberalism， as in classic liberalism， means today and how it has evolved over time and explains why to a large extent is the victim of its own success。 He carefully explains why there is no alternative to a liberal democracy， but that it will have to accommodate its evil twin offspring: rightwing ethno-liberalism and leftwing identity politics by addressing the legitimate concerns of people that have led to up rise。 This is neces Fukuyama provides a very nuanced and well-balanced account of what liberalism， as in classic liberalism， means today and how it has evolved over time and explains why to a large extent is the victim of its own success。 He carefully explains why there is no alternative to a liberal democracy， but that it will have to accommodate its evil twin offspring: rightwing ethno-liberalism and leftwing identity politics by addressing the legitimate concerns of people that have led to up rise。 This is necessary if our western societies are to survive the onslaughts of illiberal autocratic societies such as China， Russia and to a lesser degree Turkey and Hungary。 The book is really well written and highly recommendable。 。。。more
Anthony
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A short sharp overview of the pressures on classic liberalism from both the left and right， and critical of neoliberal overreach。 Whether he is an optimist or pessimist he does not say， but a welcome call to arms。
Mockracy1
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The whole book can be summarised as Fukuyama saying to both neoliberal and progressives - “Yes， you do have some valid points and criticisms but now you are taking things to extremes， so please slow down”。 Interestingly， ethno-nationalist wing of conservatism doesn’t get any of his sympathies and he considers them to represent the most urgent and lethal threat to the functioning of liberal democracies around the world。
Meike
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