Liberalism and Its Discontents

A history of liberalism since the 1930s, offering an account of: where it came from, where it has gone, and why. Considering the role of alternate political traditions in liberalism's downfall, it shows how historical interpretation has been a reflection of liberal assumptions.

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In this history of liberalism since the 1930s, the author offers an account of: where it came from where it has gone, and why. It move from interpretation of Franklin D. Roosevelt and the New Deal to an analysis of the profound and frequently corrosive economic, social, and cultural changes that have undermined the liberal tradition. The book considers the role of alternate political traditions in liberalism's downfall. What emerges is a picture of a dominant political tradition less uniform and stable - more complex and contested. It shows how historical interpretation was itself a reflection of liberal assumptions.