The Once and Future Liberal

160 pages, 2018

Mark Lilla

Takeaways

Description

In The Once and Future Liberal, Mark Lilla offers an impassioned, tough-minded, and stinging look at the failure of American liberalism over the past two generations. Although there have been Democrats in the White House, and some notable policy achievements, for nearly 40 years the vision that Ronald Reagan offered—small government, lower taxes, and self-reliant individualism—has remained the country’s dominant political ideology.

And the Democratic Party has offered no convincing competing vision in response. Instead, as Lilla argues, American liberalism fell under the spell of identity politics, with disastrous consequences.

Driven originally by a sincere desire to protect the most vulnerable Americans, the left has now unwittingly Balkanized the electorate, encouraged self-absorption rather than solidarity, and invested its energies in social movements rather than in party politics. With dire consequences.

The Shift in Liberal Politics

In 'The Once and Future Liberal', Mark Lilla explores the transformation of liberal politics in America. He argues that liberals have shifted from focusing on collective goals to individual rights, which has weakened their political influence.

The Importance of Shared Citizenship

Lilla emphasizes the importance of shared citizenship and common goals. He believes that liberals need to look beyond individual identities and focus on what unites us as a nation. This is a key theme you'll find throughout the book.

The Role of Identity Politics

The book takes a critical look at identity politics. Lilla argues that while it's important to acknowledge and respect individual identities, focusing too much on them can lead to division and conflict. He suggests that liberals should instead focus on shared values and goals.

The Need for a New Vision

Lilla believes that liberals need a new vision to regain political power. He suggests that they should focus on creating a shared vision for the future that appeals to a broad range of citizens, rather than focusing on individual identities.

The Power of Collective Action

In 'The Once and Future Liberal', you'll see that Lilla strongly advocates for collective action. He believes that by working together towards common goals, liberals can regain political power and create meaningful change.

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Quotes 3

Mark Lilla's book is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the current state of American politics. It's a wake-up call for liberals to return to their roots and redefine their identity.

David Brooks - Political commentator

Lilla's book is a powerful critique of the liberal identity politics that have dominated the Democratic Party for the past few decades.

Thomas B. Edsall - Journalist, Author

Mark Lilla's book is a compelling argument for a more inclusive and unifying liberal politics. It's a call for liberals to focus on common goals rather than individual identities.