The Statesman's Year-Book 1991-92

Political liberalism began in the eighteenth century with the effort to establish a secular state in which religious differences would be tolerated. If religious views include universal principles to apply to all by force if necessary, diverse religions must conflict, perhaps fatally. In a sense, then, political liberalism was an invention to resolve a then current, awful problem. Its proponents were articulate and finally persuasive. There have been many comparable social inventions, many of which have failed, as Communism, egalitarianism, and perhaps socialism have all failed to date. The extraordinary thing about political liberalism is that it seems to have succeeded in its authors' initial hope for it. It may have helped end the turmoil occasioned by religious differences. Political liberalism has since expanded in various ways under other influences, and, if it were not for Islamic fundamentalism with its seemingly coercive theocratic program, we might no longer today associate religious conflict with the core of liberalism in its actual practice.

show abstract

The legacy of empire in international relations

Katz

1993

Comparative Strategy

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The Statesman's Year-Book 1991-92

Cited by 15 publications

References 0 publications

E-health progresses in Romania

E-health progresses in Romania

Liberalism: Political and Economic

The legacy of empire in international relations

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About