Liberalism in Question | CIS

S3E7 | Sabine Beppler-Spahl | Challenges and opportunities for liberalism in Germany

Speaking from Berlin, Sabine speaks with Rob about why she set up the Freiblickinstitut (Free Vision Institute) to promote open freedom of discussion and tolerance in public debate. They discuss some of the tragic moments of lost opportunity for liberalism in Germany history. Sabine explains why there is no German word for ‘Cancel Culture’ in German, even though the phenomenon exists in a country that has always had some form of censorship. She describes the unusual powers of the courts in Germany to decide matters of public debate as well as the unhelpful role of political consensus in stifling debate. Nonetheless she is hopeful for the future of liberalism in Germany.

S3E6 | Claire Lehmann | Against tribalism. Take an empirical not emotional approach

Claire Lehmann, founding editor of Quillette sits down with Rob. Claire explains the philosophy of the Quillette project in promoting Enlightenment values of reason, the use of evidence, and free thought which first arose to confront unconscious left-wing bias in psychology. She believes ideological diversity is helpful in any search for truth because everyone has blind spots. Rob and Claire discuss the nature and dangers of tribalism in thought. She believes that while liberalism is not under threat in Australia there is the danger of importing populist movements of both left and right from the US.

S3E5 | Mike Bird | A theologian who thinks secularism is a particularly good thing

Rob talks to Mike Bird, the Academic Dean at Ridley Theological College Melbourne, on the importance of secularism in contemporary Australian life and about his recent book Religious Freedom in a Secular Age (Harper Collins, May 2022). Mike contends that with a secular government religious bodies do not control the state and the state does not control religious bodies—to the benefit of both. They also discuss the threats to a secular government, which come surprisingly not from religious bodies but from those opposed to religion. The possibility of a peace between LGBTQI+ rights and religious freedom is canvassed.

S3E4 | Steven Schwartz | Liberalism: the winner in the battle of ideas but the loser on the ground

On this episode Rob chats with former university vice-chancellor Steven Schwartz. Steven understands liberalism as an attitude that gives everyone an opportunity to flourish — an attitude of ‘live and let live’ so long as you do not interfere with others living their lives. He believes liberalism has won the big battle of ideas, but that it keeps on being undermined in the narrow world of practical politics.

S3E3 | Emilie Dye | ‘I’m the expert in me’ —the value of individual freedom

In this discussion we hear a youthful take on Liberalism, Emilie is Australian Lead at Young Voices, an Advisor at GT Communications and former policy director at the Australian Taxpayers Alliance. Emily understands Liberalism as based on the understanding that only an individual can know what is best for their life. However, she is also aware that many of her generation are disillusioned with how they see the world and wrongly see the solution as more government.

S3E2 | Tom Switzer | The power of choice that makes society better—even if it not appreciated

Rob sits down the Centre for Independent Studies executive director Tom Switzer. Tom discusses with Rob what so called ‘Classical Liberalism’ is and why he is convinced it is best for society. This leads to the question if it works better, why don’t more people believe in it?

S3E1 | Ruth Richardson | What is needed to revive liberalism? Ideas and a spine!

A fierce reformer for liberalism, Ruth Richardson is asked whether the ship of reforming liberalism has sailed in the light of the many setbacks it has experienced in the last decades. They discuss how the restoration liberalism to its dynamic rightful place will depend on three things, the ideas of freedom, the institutions that buttress that freedom, and the individuals who champion that freedom—all of which have been missing of late.

S2E10 | Nick Cater ‘Liberalism needs moral vision not just economics’

Rob and Nick discuss the liberalism of Robert Menzies for whom the independence of the individual was paramount and whether liberalism is somehow in tune with the human soul and, if so, why is it not widespread in today’s connected world? Nick explains to us that liberalism has a strong moral vision that works in practice.
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S2E9 | Gordon Menzies ‘Liberalism as fundamentalism?’

Gordon's book is available on Amazon now; https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0817QK9KR
Rob and Gordon discuss issues arising from Gordon’s 2020 book Western Fundamentalism in which he critiques the unquestioning, and therefore ‘fundamentalist,’ adoption of democracy, free marked economic liberalism and sexual freedom as basic.
Rob and Gordon discuss why liberalism has been so effective in producing economic prosperity but why it is ineffective if spread to other areas of human life. They discuss the nature of freedom and whether liberalism itself may be naive about evils – especially in relation to issues of aggressive woke politics.
Good policy leads to great outcomes. CIS promotes free choice and individual liberty and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public.
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S2E8 | Simon Mordant ‘Why liberalism is essential to the arts’

Rob and Simon discuss how important liberalism is as philosophy of freedom and equality, despite concerns it is not applied uniformly across the board. Simon is particularly concerned about what he sees as a widening divide between haves and have-nots. Although there are limits to liberalism, larger government is not the solution.
Business leaders and the community need to have a stronger voice in terms of some of the policy settings that are required to create a better society. Long-term strategic vision is essential.
Good policy leads to great outcomes. CIS promotes free choice and individual liberty and the open exchange of ideas. CIS encourages debate among leading academics, politicians, media and the public.
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