Post-Liberalism in Conversation: Why is liberalism becoming illiberal?

with Kevin Vallier and Brad Littlejohn

Contemporary liberalism has increasingly faced charges of being itself illiberal. Indeed, there is a common perception that many mainstream elites in intellectual, corporate, and political spaces have shifted in their beliefs and practices and lent themselves to quite illiberal stances, particularly on cultural issues. Kevin Vallier and Brad Littlejohn agree with that assessment, and this event will put them in conversation about the causes of the current state of affairs. Some contend that the reason for the shift is the abandonment of a religious core that predates the emergence of classical liberalism - one that has acted as a guardrail for vibrant liberalism. Others maintain that secularism is not to blame and that it is entirely possible to retain humble and healthy liberal practices without invoking an imperatively religious component. What are the illiberal practices and beliefs marking modern liberalism, what is the reason for their emergence, and what should be done?

This speaker series, organized by the Illiberalism Studies Program and the Loeb Institute for Religious Freedom at the George Washington University, proposes to provide a space for intellectually stimulating discussions surrounding liberal and non-liberal ideologies. We want to promote substantive discussion of political and economic visions for the future. By facilitating open dialogues, this series seeks to transcend ideological boundaries and foster a deeper comprehension of each other's viewpoints.