Liberalism as a Way of Life – What Exactly are we Defending? A conversation with Alexandre Lefebvre, Ralf Fücks and Karolina Wigura. Liberalism is under pressure—politically, culturally, and intellectually.
In our event series Liberalism and its Critics, part of the broader publication project Vordenker der liberalen Moderne (Thought Leaders of Liberal Modernity), we explore both the vulnerabilities of liberal societies and the critiques that have emerged from across the political spectrum. In this upcoming session, we welcome Alexandre Lefebvre (University of Sydney), one of the most original contemporary thinkers on liberalism. In his recent book Liberalism as a Way of Life (Princeton, 2024), Lefebvre argues that liberalism is more than a political program or constitutional order. It is also a lived culture, shaping our norms, moral intuitions, everyday practices, and even our sense of humor. This perspective invites a renewed question: When liberalism is attacked today, what exactly is being rejected: institutions, values, or a whole way of living? The discussion will engage with some of the most pressing issues of our time: Why has liberalism become the object of growing resentment and fatigue? Where are its blind spots and where are its strengths often underestimated? And how should liberals respond to the rising appeal of political forces that do not merely seek to govern, but to actively define a collective understanding of the good life?
We cordially invite you to join us for this conversation and to reflect together on the future of liberal modernity.
The conversation will take place in English.
We look forward to your participation.
