One of Foreign Affairs' Picks for Best of Books 2018
One of Isthmus' Most Important Books of 2018 (Dave Cieslewicz)
The Lost History of Liberalism challenges our most basic assumptions about a political creed that has become a rallying cry—and a term of derision—in today’s increasingly divided public square. Taking readers from ancient Rome to today, Helena Rosenblatt traces the evolution of the words “liberal” and “liberalism,” revealing the heated debates that have taken place over their meaning. She debunks the popular myth of liberalism as a uniquely Anglo-American tradition, and shows how it was only during the Cold War that it was refashioned into an American ideology focused on individual freedoms. This timely and provocative book sets the record straight on a core tenet of today’s political conversation, laying the foundations for a more constructive discussion about the future of liberal democracy.
Author: Rosenblatt Helena
Publisher: PRINCETON UNIVERSITY PRESS
Pages: 368
ISBN: 9780691203966
Cover: Paperback
Edition Number: 1
Release Year: 2020
Helena Rosenblatt is professor of history at the Graduate Center, City University of New York. Her many books include Liberal Values: Benjamin Constant and the Politics of Religion and Thinking with Rousseau: From Machiavelli to Schmitt.
Description
One of Foreign Affairs' Picks for Best of Books 2018
One of Isthmus' Most Important Books of 2018 (Dave Cieslewicz)
The Lost History of Liberalism challenges our most basic assumptions about a political creed that has become a rallying cry—and a term of derision—in today’s increasingly divided public square. Taking readers from ancient Rome to today, Helena Rosenblatt traces the evolution of the words “liberal” and “liberalism,” revealing the heated debates that have taken place over their meaning. She debunks the popular myth of liberalism as a uniquely Anglo-American tradition, and shows how it was only during the Cold War that it was refashioned into an American ideology focused on individual freedoms. This timely and provocative book sets the record straight on a core tenet of today’s political conversation, laying the foundations for a more constructive discussion about the future of liberal democracy.
We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners.
