We Must Return to the Radical Roots of Liberalism (w/ Matt McManus)
Current Affairs6 Touko 2025

We Must Return to the Radical Roots of Liberalism (w/ Matt McManus)

🦩 This episode originally aired on April 29, 2025. Get new episodes early at patreon.com/CurrentAffairs!

Liberalism and socialism are often treated as opposites — but what if they’re actually part of the same fight for freedom, equality, and democracy? We’re joined by political theorist Matt McManus, author of The Political Theory of Liberal Socialism, a new book that challenges conventional narratives about liberalism, socialism, and the history of political philosophy.

McManus explains how thinkers from John Stuart Mill to John Rawls argued that true freedom requires not just political rights, but freedom from domination in the workplace and economy. He also addresses the deep confusion around the word "liberal" today — why many leftists recoil at liberalism after decades of association with hollow technocrats like Matt Yglesias — and why the older liberal tradition, rooted in egalitarian principles, is worth retrieving.

0:00–6:45 Why Political Philosophy Matters

6:45–23:34 Recovering the Radical Roots of Liberalism

23:34–27:20 John Rawls Was More Radical Than You Think

27:20–32:30 Can Liberalism Be Saved From Its Hypocrisy?

32:30–38:42 What Separates Liberal Socialists From Other Socialists

38:42–46:06 Why Understanding Liberalism and Socialism Still Matters Today

🌹 The Political Theory of Liberal Socialism: https://www.routledge.com/The-Political-Theory-of-Liberal-Socialism/McManus/p/book/9781032647234

🦩SUBSCRIBE TO CURRENT AFFAIRS MAGAZINE: https://www.currentaffairs.org/membership

🦩 PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/c/CurrentAffairs

🦩THE MYTH OF AMERICAN IDEALISM: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/738224/the-myth-of-american-idealism-by-noam-chomsky-and-nathan-j-robinson/

Jaksot(600)

Episode #33: Bike Dancing

Episode #33: Bike Dancing

In this episode, the Current Affairs team discuss the usefulness of boycotts, encouraging news, and Pete faces down the rest of the cruel and ruthless panel in a round of Lefty Shark Tank. The panel ...

29 Elo 20191h 5min

PREVIEW: WATER (feat. Varsha Venkatasubramanian on dams)

PREVIEW: WATER (feat. Varsha Venkatasubramanian on dams)

Current Affairs finance editor Sparky Abraham and associate editor Vanessa A. Bee sit down with Varsha Venkatasubramanian to discuss the politics of water —more specifically, dams. Find out how the si...

22 Elo 201959s

In conversation: Mehdi Hasan on pseudo-intellectualism and Islamophobia

In conversation: Mehdi Hasan on pseudo-intellectualism and Islamophobia

Current Affairs editor-in-chief Nathan J. Robinson and business manager Eli Massey sit down with journalist and broadcaster Mehdi Hasan to discuss the bad-faith actions of the "Intellectual Dark Web",...

20 Elo 20193min

PREVIEW: A Very Nice and Polite Argument with Ezra Klein

PREVIEW: A Very Nice and Polite Argument with Ezra Klein

Current Affairs editor-in-chief Nathan J. Robinson sits down with founder and editor-at-large of Vox, Ezra Klein. Together, they debate (in a very friendly manner) the successes and failures of the Be...

15 Elo 20191min

Landlord Wars, Ep. #32: The Tenant Strikes Back

Landlord Wars, Ep. #32: The Tenant Strikes Back

Relevant reading: An Example for All the Land: Emancipation and the Struggle over Equality in Washington, D.C., by Kate Masur: https://www.uncpress.org/book/9780807872666/an-example-for-all-the-land/ ...

13 Elo 20191h 1min

In conversation: Mckayla Wilkes on her 2020 run for Congress

In conversation: Mckayla Wilkes on her 2020 run for Congress

Current Affairs host Pete Davis and managing editor Lyta Gold sit down with Mckayla Wilkes, a 28-year-old progressive who is challenging the House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer for his seat. Mckayla tel...

8 Elo 201934min

PREVIEW: Malcolm X

PREVIEW: Malcolm X

Nathan J. Robinson and Oren Nimni discuss the legacy of Malcolm X. This episode is available in full to our Patreon subscribers. To gain full access to this episode, as well as lots of other fantasti...

6 Elo 201938s

UNLOCKED! Chuck Marohn on Strong Towns

UNLOCKED! Chuck Marohn on Strong Towns

Current Affairs host Pete Davis sits down with engineer, land planner and founder of the Strong Towns movement, Chuck Marohn, to discuss how to create thriving towns and cities. This episode was edit...

5 Elo 201948min

Suosittua kategoriassa Komedia

nikotellen
anni-jaajo
antin-matka
tuplakaak
olipa-kerran-otsikko
ihan-oikeesti
rss-saarinen-shoy
antin-palautepalvelu
rss-nikotellen
antin-elokuvakerho
puurojengi
rss-kaheli
naakkavalta
kasper-ja-mikko-suomen-suosituin-podcast
ela-viitti
rss-kuukka-vehvilainen-hartlin
rss-sami-jorma
rss-ruokacast
mysteeripodcast
everypodi