March 29, 2024
Is Tyranny the Inevitable Consequence of Liberalism?
Sohrab Ahmari’s thesis that liberalism inevitably leads to tyranny only works if classical liberalism and what he calls “progressive liberalism” are fundamentally the same.
Sohrab Ahmari’s thesis that liberalism inevitably leads to tyranny only works if classical liberalism and what he calls “progressive liberalism” are fundamentally the same.

In a recent column at The Spectator titled “Tyranny is the Inevitable Consequence of Liberalism,” Sohrab Ahmari blames “liberalism” for the woke tyranny afflicting America and the West today.

“Look around you: when was the last time you felt like you lived in a pluralistic, tolerant society?” Ahmari writes. “Does the Free World feel free? Four centuries or so since it was launched, has the liberal project delivered on its promise to make men and women free? . . . At some point, the liberal has to admit that the powdered-wig version of his ideology contained in it the seeds of its woke, repressive variety.”

According to Ahmari, today’s woke tyranny is the “inevitable” result of the “liberal project” to “make men and women free.” The liberal project has failed to bring liberty; “four centuries” of striving for political liberty in the West has delivered us into tyranny. 

The consequences of this thesis are truly alarming. If Ahmari is correct, one thing is certain: we cannot rely on the American founders to lead the way; their ideas have betrayed us. On the other hand, if he is mistaken, widespread acceptance of his thesis would constitute an insidious threat to American liberty.

In order to sow confusion, former President Bill Clinton once said, “That depends on what the meaning of ‘is’ is.” Ahmari has evidently sown confusion in his own mind by failing to ask what the meaning of “liberalism” is. Or, rather, he has failed to ask what the meanings of the word “liberalism” are. “Liberalism” is a term under unusual stress; it is used to designate one thing and also to designate its opposite.

[Interesting Read]

See Also:

(1) A Welcome Backlash against Critical Race Theory

(2) Disabled Portland Veteran Says Armed Black Lives Matter Agitators Beat, Hospitalized Him

(3) Michelle Claims to ‘Live in Fear,’ Barack Actually Does

(4) Union bosses lived high on the hog as COVID devastated membership -report

(5) Biden’s Woke Military Will Embarrass America

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