The Free Society in Crisis : A History of Our Times

Critiquing assumptions on both the left and the right, noted historian of ideas and political theorist David Selbourne stresses the importance of shared community and civic duty. How stable are free societies today? This book argues that they are under threat from "market free-choice" and "moral free-choice," two sides of the same coin that between them, the author warns, threaten to tear civil society apart. Market free-choice is the prevailing economic ideology that gives free reign to market forces, even when they ride roughshod over communities and whole nations. Moral free-choice, the other side of the coin, is the notion of individual rights without any sense of civic responsibility. The result of such ultra-individualism in economic and moral practice is the malaise we find ourselves in today: a lost sense of place, community, and belonging, as well as dismissiveness and unawareness of the lessons of the past. In the wake of these destructive tends, this book reminds us that personal well-being is dependent in large part upon the maintenance of a coherent civic and moral order. A society consisting of isolated individuals focused solely on personal rights with no regard for the foundation of their freedoms will soon see that foundation crumble through neglect. By the same token, a society that routinely sacrifices equality of opportunity and economic fairness to the forces of the global marketplace creates dangerous tensions between the few haves and the many have-nots. Hearkening back to the aspirations and largely-forgotten writings of America's founding fathers, the book concludes by pointing to the principles of what the author calls the "true commonwealth" as an alternative to today's political, ethical, and social disorders. Described in a pre-publication review in the New York Times as "ambitious" and "exactly right to conclude that we need a practical renewal of the politics and ethics of the civic commonwealth," noted historian of ideas and political theorist David Selbourne takes his distance in The Free Society in Crisis from the routine thinking of right and left. Instead, he argues that free societies are under simultaneous threat from "market free choice" and "moral free choice", and sees them as two sides of the same coin. Market free choice gives free rein to market forces even when they create dangerous tensions between the haves and have-nots, and ride roughshod over communities and whole nations, while moral free choice privileges individual rights without any sense of civic responsibility and social consequence. The result of such individualism in economic and moral practice, whose history in recent decades Selbourne traces, is the malaise we find ourselves in a lost sense of place, identity and personal direction, as well as dismissiveness and ignorance of the lessons of the past. For today's liberty is not the freedom fought for in the French and American revolutions; it is instead the liberty of consumers and free-choosers. Reminding the reader of the aspirations and largely-forgotten writings of America's Founding Fathers, Selbourne shows how its first settlers' idea of a "true commonwealth" rested on "affections truly bent upon the common good". Today, as the democratic social order dissolves, and disapproval of the political class increases, he makes clear that liberty alone, however "progressive" it may be held to be, will not restore it, while there can be no "true commonwealth" where citizenship is seen as little more than a means of access to material benefits rather than a place of belonging. Moreover, if a civil society is to cohere, we must be citizens before we are Christians, Muslims, or Jews. Described in a pre-publication review in the New York Times as'ambitious'and'exactly right to conclude that we need a practical renewal of the politics and ethics of the civic commonwealth,'noted historian of ideas and political theorist David Selbourne takes his distance in The Free Society in Crisis from the routine thinking of right and left. Instead, he argues that free societies are under simultaneous threat from'market free choice'and'moral free choice', and sees them as two sides of the same coin. Market free choice gives free rein to market forces even when they create dangerous tensions between the haves and have-nots, and ride roughshod over communities and whole nations, while moral free choice privileges individual rights without any sense of civic responsibility and social consequence. The result of such individualism in economic and moral practice, whose history in recent decades Selbourne traces, is the malaise we find ourselves in today: a lost sense of place, identity and personal direction, as well as dismissiveness and ignorance of the lessons of the past.For today's liberty is not the freedom fought for in the French and American revolutions; it is instead the liberty of consumers and free-choosers. Reminding the reader of the aspirations and largely-forgotten writings of America's Founding Fathers, Selbourne shows how its first settlers'idea of a'true commonwealth'rested on'affections truly bent upon the common good'. Today, as the democratic social order dissolves, and disapproval of the political class increases, he makes clear that liberty alone, however'progressive'it may be held to be, will not restore it, while there can be no'true commonwealth'where citizenship is seen as little more than a means of access to material benefits rather than a place of belonging. Moreover, if a civil society is to cohere, we must be citizens before we are Christians, Muslims, or Jews. How Stable Are Free Societies Today? This Book Argues That They Are Under Threat From 'market Free-choice' And 'moral Free-choice,' Two Sides Of The Same Coin Which Between Them, The Author Warns, Threaten To Tear Civil Society Apart. Market Free-choice Is The Prevailing Economic Ideology That Gives Free Rein To Market Forces, Even When They Ride Roughshod Over Communities And Whole Nations. Moral Free-choice, The Other Side Of The Coin, Is The Notion Of Individual Rights Without Any Sense Of Civic Responsibility. The Result Of Such Ultra-individualism In Economic And Moral Practice Is The Malaise We Find Ourselves In Today: A Lost Sense Of Place, Community, And Belonging, As Well As Dismissiveness And Unawareness Of The Lessons Of The Past. In The Wake Of These Destructive Trends, This Book Reminds Us That Personal Well-being Is Dependent In Large Part Upon The Maintenance Of A Coherent Civic And Moral Order. A Society Consisting Of Isolated Individuals Focused Solely On Personal Rights With No Regard For The Foundation Of Their Freedoms Will Soon See That Foundation Crumble Through Neglect. By The Same Token, A Society That Routinely Sacrifices Equality Of Opportunity And Economic Fairness To The Forces Of The Global Marketplace Creates Dangerous Tensions Between The Few Haves And The Many Have-nots. Reminding The Reader Of The Aspirations And Largely-forgotten Writings Of America's Founding Fathers, The Book Concludes By Pointing To The Principles Of What The Author Calls The 'true Commonwealth' As An Alternative To Today's Political, Ethical, And Social Disorders--provided By Publisher. As Other Powers Advance -- Rich And Poor -- Socialism's Defeat -- Breaking The Bounds -- The Home Front -- In Limbo -- Reactions -- The Political Class -- Bad Faith -- The Demiurge Of Capital -- Questions Of Belief -- The True Commonwealth. David Selbourne. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. How stable are free societies today? This book argues that they are under threat from "market free-choice" and "moral free-choice," two sides of the same coin which between them, the author warns, threaten to tear civil society apart. Market free-choice is the prevailing economic ideology that gives free reign to market forces, even when they ride roughshod over communities and whole nations. Moral free-choice, the other side of the coin, is the notion of individual rights without any sense of civic responsibility. The result of such ultra-individualism in economic and moral practice is the malaise we find ourselves in today: a lost sense of place, community, and belonging, as well as dismissiveness and unawareness of the lessons of the past. In the wake of these destructive trends, this book reminds us that personal well-being is dependent in large part upon the maintenance of a coherent civic and moral order. A society consisting of isolated individuals focused solely on personal rights with no regard for the foundation of their freedoms will soon see that foundation crumble through neglect. By the same token, a society that routinely sacrifices equality of opportunity and economic fairness to the forces of the global marketplace creates dangerous tensions between the few haves and the many have-nots. Reminding the reader of the aspirations and largely-forgotten writings of America's founding fathers, the book concludes by pointing to the principles of what the author calls the "true commonwealth" as an alternative to today's political, ethical, and social disorders.