A Renewed Liberalism Can Meet the Populist Challenge

With President Trump back in the White House, it should be abundantly clear that “establishment liberalism” is no longer viable. We need a new liberalism that is more faithful to its original values but adapted to our times.

Establishment liberalism is liberalism as it came to be practiced in the mainstream of Western countries and their institutions throughout the post-World War II era, by both center-right and center-left parties.

But a renewed liberalism must rediscover its most inspiring roots: an energy coming from opposition to the unfair and unrestrained use of power; a commitment to freedom of thought and celebration of different approaches to our common problems; and a concern for the community as well as the individual as the basis of efforts to improve the opportunities of the disadvantaged.

With Mr. Trump’s radical agenda to reshape U.S. institutions, liberalism’s revival is urgent: It is again in opposition and in a position to speak truth to power.

Liberalism and its failure

At its core, liberalism includes a bundle of philosophical ideas based on individual rights, suspicion of and constraints on concentrated power, equality before the law and some willingness to help the weakest and discriminated members of society.

Liberalism is not just an abstract philosophy. It lays the foundation for institutions and systems that have contributed to the heights of human flourishing.