The Delicate Order of Liberalism: Resentment Politics and the Public Trust

In response to the advance of right-wing populism in many Western democracies, political economists have sought explanations for disaffection socioeconomic dislocations wrought by globalization, deindustrialization, and automation. Distrust institutions elites has been identified as a consequence open markets neoliberal governance. While affirming public trust cornerstone liberal democracy, this article directs analysis contemporary condition broader set uniquely psychosocial cultural dynamics. We identify sentiments ranging from disillusion defiance that are now fueling runaway politics narrowly defined around race, ethnicity, national identity. examine stakes eroding historical theoretical perspective through an key works Karl Polanyi, John Maynard Keynes, E. H. Carr. Drawing parallels their assessments interwar period, we argue today’s resentment is not singularly product economic hardship or even institutional failure, but emerges also breakdown social ties underpin liberalism—a “delicate order” built part on sublimated understandings agency community. Democracy again hangs balance.