The Tragedy of Liberalism ― An Alternative Defense of a Political Tradition

Drawing on recent developments in liberal theory, van den Brink (law, Tilburg University) develops an alternative defense of liberalism. He argues that liberal theorists should admit that their doctrine is not neutral with regard to conceptions of the good life that it in fact fosters ideals of personal autonomy and a pluralist environment. These ideals generate irreconcilable conflicts between liberal and nonliberal ideals, and it is only by taking these conflicts seriously that liberals can learn of the unwanted consequences of liberal doctrine, effectively rebut critics, and react adequately to the complex pluralism of contemporary societies. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Bert van den Brink is a Research Fellow on the Faculty of Law at Tilburg University, The Netherlands and coeditor of Burgergesellschaft, Recht und Demokratie.