Is the world confronting an illiberal moment?
Many democratic societies are facing challenges from both the left and right against the very idea of liberal democracy itself.
At the same time, governments around the world have adopted extraordinary powers in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Can liberalism survive these threats? In this week’s episode of the Solutions With David Ansara podcast I speak to legal researcher and commentator, Martin van Staden of Sakeliga, about the state of liberalism today.
Liberals believe in the timeless principles put forward by John Locke, John Stuart Mill and other thinkers several hundred years ago: freedom of the individual, a market economy, the rule of law, free expression and limited government.
The world may have changed in many respects, but these principles offer a timeless set of tools with which to organise our political arrangements. Fundamentally, liberalism deals with the issue of coercion and the appropriate role of the state. It is not a doctrine or a dogma: it is an approach that prioritises freedom.
Martin and I discuss why governments should not mandate their citizens to get the Covid-19 vaccine. We both agree that getting the jab is a good idea, we just don’t think that anybody should be forced by the state or a third party to be vaccinated against their will. This opposition is grounded on the respect for bodily integrity. We also discuss the importance of the rule of law, why it is different to “the rule of man”, and also reflect on the relationship between individuals and groups.
We conclude the discussion with an examination of liberalism here in South Africa. Liberalism is one of the oldest political traditions in South Africa, but it has always been caught between the “two fires” of competing nationalisms.
Although there have been many reversals, Martin is relatively optimistic about the prospects for liberalism in SA and the world. The desire to be free is innate within us, and part of the human condition. "Freedom, once given, cannot be taken away,” he says.
Caught between a resurgent left and a reactionary right, liberals have it hardest, but as the world becomes increasingly polarized between these two extremes, this is also a great opportunity for liberals to persuade and to educate. "Liberals believe in the persuasion society, not the permission society,” he notes.
TIMESTAMPS
(00:00) Intro
(00:38) The current state of liberalism
(06:58) Government responses to the pandemic
(12:39) Why vaccine mandates are illiberal
(18:29) Managing risk in a free society
(20:41) The vaccine and personal choice
(24:28) The importance of the rule of law
(31:32) The relationship between individuals and groups
(39:09) The strengths and weaknesses of democracy
(44:08) The future of liberalism in South Africa
(49:48) Conclusion
RESOURCES
'The Liberal case against (vaccine) passports' by Martin van Staden (The Daily Friend, 11 Sept 2021): https://dailyfriend.co.za/2021/09/11/the-liberal-case-against-vaccine-passports-2/
'Failed Democracy: Can Conservatives Tell Liberals “We Told You So”?' by Martin van Staden (Rational Standard, 14 September 2021): https://rationalstandard.com/failed-democracy-can-conservatives-tell-liberals-we-told-you-so/
VIDEO
WATCH this episode on YouTube.
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