Liberalism’s Future

Francis Fukuyama delivered a defense of classical liberalism, defining it as the belief in universal human dignity, rule of law, and limitations on state power. He addressed critiques of liberalism from both the right (neoliberalism) and the left (woke liberalism), highlighting their extensions into harmful territories. He argued that while neoliberalism can be reversed through policy adjustments, the cultural changes driven by woke liberalism are harder to address. Fukuyama advocated for liberalism’s capacity for self-correction amidst social and technological transformations.