In Defense of Liberalism

The municipal elections are over, and the chances of 2027 are now at the top of the agendas for many candidates and parties. Magazine covers, social media, and bookshelves are filled with confessions, flashes of insight, and proposals. It is not certain that this agitation will attract a wide interest, but that matters little because the goal is not that; it is to gather the faithful and gradually shape the market of ideas to impose themes deemed favorable to one camp rather than another.

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The anti-liberal claim discourse of the left is part of this strategy. The economic program of the Socialist Party, the discourse rejecting the supposed “commodification” of society, and publications on inequalities all contribute to a dual objective: on one hand, to compete with the far left; on the other hand, to embed in people’s minds discourses that will serve as a reference as the campaign unfolds.

It doesn’t matter if the observations are wrong: tomorrow, the rest of the political spectrum will be forced to explain why it accepts the voracious dominance of the market, if it is satisfied with social distress, and if it does not consider that with a little will, it would not be difficult to take the money from the rich.

Moreover, liberalism is in no way a doctrine of exploitation – it is instead a movement of emancipation, in spirit as well as in results. It is a leap towards individual empowerment through the pursuit of knowledge, entrepreneurial quest, and exchange. Liberal thought accepts a thousand nuances. Its truth is not revealed, it is constantly unveiled through the confrontation of analyses. It is an act of doubt and questioning.

Choosing one’s destiny

Liberalism is the belief that equal rights allow each individual to choose their destiny, without any immanent entity that they have approved (a dogma or an elite) being able to impose it. Each individual is better placed to know what is best for them. The coordination of interests is then expressed through exchange, contract, or vote, which can lead to consensual constraints – as long as they do not challenge the foundation of ultimate free choice. Liberalism is essentially a political philosophy.

This balance is constantly renewed: it therefore rejects planning, centralization, and revelation. To be realized, it nurtures a concern for an ever deeper understanding of things and beings. In a world where truth is imposed, there is no need to understand, only to submit. It is in a liberal world that science, arts, and travels thrive. If the market aims for accumulation, it is primarily of knowledge, which grows through exchange.

Liberalism also imposes humility (its defenders may concede to their opponents that they have not always demonstrated this brilliantly): faced with the diversity of individuals and interests; faced with the endless search for a better society; faced with the impossibility of achieving stationary perfection.

It is a long quest, an adventure, an exploration. It experiences failures. It suffers setbacks. However, it still records undeniable accomplishments: progress in science, the development of democracy, and the enrichment of individuals. No other regime has done this. It must be remembered as its enemies prepare their pitchforks.

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