Liberal Socialism and the Challenge of Right-Wing Politics with Matt McManus

Professor Matthew McManus joins us to explore liberal socialism, the right's evolution, and the shifting global political landscape.

• Carlo Rossellini's work articulates a socialism that confronts both Marxist determinism and fascism
• Rossellini criticized Italian leftists for failing to understand fascism's emotional appeal
• Liberal socialism aims to make the promise of freedom true for everyone, especially the working poor
• Mouffe and Laclau's influential work acknowledges the importance of recognizing political enemies
• Axel Honneth introduces "social freedom" as a third dimension beyond negative and positive liberty
• Trump's presidency reveals the collapse of centrist neoliberalism and democrats' failure to offer alternatives
• European powers and Canada now defying American leadership shows declining US global dominance
• The left needs to focus on building coalitions rather than demanding ideological purity

Find Matthew's writing in Jacobin, Christian Socialism, Current Affairs, and Commonwealth, or reach him directly at [e-mail].

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Musis by Bitterlake, Used with Permission, all rights to Bitterlake

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Crew:
Host: C. Derick Varn
Intro and Outro Music by Bitter Lake.
Intro Video Design: Jason Myles
Art Design: Corn and C. Derick Varn

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