In a moment I'm going to share a quote with you, but one word in it needs its requisite contextual definition, as there's a good chance when people read it they might misunderstand its intent, message, and meaning. The word is 'liberal', which is often used today by certain media and politicians as a pejorative.
Let's dive in, shall we?
U.S. Political Liberalism, Classical Liberalism, and Philosophical Liberalism all share a focus on individual rights and freedom, but they diverge significantly in their views on government's role and how freedom should be supported. U.S. Classical Liberalism, rooted in Enlightenment thinking, emphasizes minimal government, free markets, and individual responsibility. Its primary goal is to protect personal and economic freedom, favoring limited interference in personal lives and a strong belief in self-reliance and private property. This framework shaped much of early American thought, influencing foundational principles like the Constitution.
Modern U.S. Political Liberalism, on the other hand, evolved in response to changing social needs, particularly in the 20th century. It embraces a more active government role in addressing social inequities and creating opportunities for all, often through regulations, social programs, and progressive taxation. Where Classical Liberalism focuses on the free market and limited intervention, Political Liberalism emphasizes a balance between individual rights and social responsibility, advocating policies that support equality and protections for disadvantaged groups. For Political Liberals, government is a necessary tool to foster justice and ensure that everyone can participate in society on a more equal footing.
Meanwhile, Philosophical Liberalism is an overarching theory that explores the ethical and abstract foundations of freedom, justice, and individual rights, not tied to specific policies. Philosophical Liberalism considers issues like autonomy, justice, and the ethical limits of freedom but doesn’t prescribe a concrete governmental role. This tradition provides the underlying values that both Classical and Political Liberalism draw on but stays focused on broad ideals rather than specific applications. Together, these forms of liberalism illustrate the evolution of thought about freedom and fairness, from theoretical concepts to practical applications in the political sphere.
And now the quote ...
"Hitler’s democratic triumph exposed the true nature of democracy. Democracy has few values of its own: it is as good or as bad, as the principles of the people who operate it. In the hands of liberal and tolerant people, it will produce a liberal and tolerant government; in the hands of cannibals, a government of cannibals. In Germany in 1933-4 it produced a Nazi government because the prevailing culture of Germany’s voters did not give priority to the exclusion of gangsters."
― Norman Davies, Historian (1996)
In this quote, Norman Davies uses "liberal" to refer to a set of principles emphasizing tolerance, openness, and respect for individual freedoms. He’s not necessarily referencing "liberal" in the modern, left-leaning U.S. political sense but rather in the broader, classical and philosophical sense associated with democratic values like freedom of speech, pluralism, and the protection of individual rights.
When Davies speaks of "liberal and tolerant people," he means those who value these foundational democratic principles, which ideally foster a society where diverse views coexist peacefully, and government operates with fairness and restraint. In contrast, the "cannibals" he mentions represent those with values fundamentally opposed to tolerance and individual freedom—people whose beliefs could erode or exploit democratic systems for harmful ends, as occurred in Nazi Germany.
So, Davies’ use of "liberal" here underscores the idea that democracy's effectiveness depends on a commitment to values that protect the rights and dignity of all individuals. It aligns more closely with Philosophical Liberalism. Without such a foundation, democracy itself is susceptible to being overtaken by destructive ideologies.
Vote carefully, America.