Unconvincing postliberalism

Postliberal Politics, by Pabst, Adrian. Polity. 160 pp. £14.99 Words matter, especially new ones. They slip into the mainstream, often unnoticed with their origins unexplained. Such is case postliberalism. It has seeped political discussion over last few years, initially pushed David Goodhart. Now Adrian Pabst written a book which defines concept and uses it to identify discontents of age offer way forward. Professor Politics at University Kent, Pabst's core assertion that problems today's world are attributable ‘discredited liberal consensus’ forty years ‘progressives’ have promoted. In this narrative, economic liberalism 1980s became fused social 1960s in globalisation excess. A postliberal order needed move beyond both. The alternative vision common good, mutualised markets, ethical enterprises politics starts from what most people value. While sometimes asserting left-right division outdated, nonetheless places himself on left, claiming follow an socialist tradition looking for government ‘combining justice solidarity ecological balance’. more philosophical parts book, he outlines strong commitment importance intermediary institutions—trade unions, universities, local authorities, cultural bodies—and need them be genuinely autonomous state. programmatic latter section there numerous policy suggestions many left would support: increasing vocational training; strengthening role government; developing regional banks along lines German public sector such as Sparkassen KfW. Yet, package fails convince, number ways. First, refuses recognise extent which, globalised world, economics leapt boundaries small or medium-sized nation states, rendering his insistence purely national economy implausible. Second, continuous romance about ‘the family’ ignores realities divorce, domestic violence abuse modern Britain, while calls return family wage’ sure sign author hankering 1950s. Third, integrate ecology strategy, denigrates green deals ‘focus carbon-driven climate change … intended save capitalism itself’. Most readers will wish advice UN's Intergovernmental Panel Climate Change see cutting carbon emissions crucial ensuring survivable planet. But contradiction heart refusal intervention can go together. doesn't like Enlightenment values, they ‘are abstract removed life people’, but liberty, equality been bedrock progressive thought action two centuries, bringing great advances post-1945 period: universal, free health service; widespread education; liberalisation divorce; decriminalisation abortion homosexuality; moves towards racial equality. For hypocritical, opposite claims promote. So, ‘liberty once disconnected self-restraint mutual obligation slides unfreedom—even tyranny’, claiming—with minimal evidence—that happened UK, US elsewhere. Early astonishing description worldwide, anti-racist movement after George Floyd's death ‘a counter-putsch’. After thirty pages dense argument polemic against ‘ultra-progressives’ ‘identitarianism’, followed Black Lives Matter ‘in some respects mirror image white supremacism’, smear its ‘leadership tainted accusations anti-Semitism’. He struggle dissolves mob rule mass lawlessness. There multiple campaigns rewrite school university curricula, combined attacks any dissenters’. Presumably referring cases Lola Olufemi, Cambridge student union women's officer, who asked English literature course accommodate female ethnic minority authors was falsely accused Daily Telegraph wanting entirely replace black Does postliberalism consist preserving curriculum set stone? philosophy not extend students asking questions content study? Of course, leftist purist trends movements, were fifty ago. elements adopt Stalinist tactics try silence others. Serious intellectuals these dangers argue them. wholesale, blanket condemnation denigration runs through different order. Just laws acts sixty does want change? One clue comes when favourably quotes Christopher Lasch calling limits abortion, reassertion two-parent family, opposition affirmative action. Why otherwise so coy? truth hitched wagon narrative national-populist right assiduously promoted Unherd website. Their current editors contributors formed participants Windsor Castle symposium acknowledged preface inspiration book. Its themes echoed Conservative politicians, increasingly New Statesman. As founder, Tim Montgomerie, expressed it, within Tory Party magnetism sovereignty needs overtake markets’. This anti-globalisation shift market populism enables appeal workers apparent ‘anti-capitalist’ message, challenging iniquities foreign capital same time decrying foreigners refugees. enabled nationalist US, UK across Europe strengthen cross-class coalition low income voters range issues. collapsed boundary between orthodox conservatism racist, neo-fascist right, seen dramatically Trump's attempt overturn election. aware danger. tries demarcate philosophically anti-liberal allegedly pluralist, positions holds. can't resist temptation promote national-populist—and alt-right—conspiracy theories fusion woke extreme identity politics’, establishment—Walmart, Facebook, Amazon, well Ivy League trustees those charge major sports leagues—supported global protests funded BLM’. Further, again without evidence, ‘much contemporary far focus smashing statues [is] alliance big billion-dollar businesses mainstream media’. supposedly only twin forces hyper-capitalism frequently referred ‘revolutionary left’. Let's clear: revolutionary miniscule force today. project national-populism—whether guise—is bury democratic reverse gains, remove space combines liberalism, view millions voted parties—including Labour—over seventy-five years. renewed built. Joe Biden begun show how. But, built gains half-century, reversing Furthermore, viable pluralist draw panoply movements made possible—Reclaim Night, Kick Out, Women's Aid, Abortion Rights, equal pay campaigners, Me Too, Gay Pride, Matter, Greenpeace, Friends Earth, School Strike Climate, countless fond quoting Gramsci; Stuart Hall understood him. wrote: ‘Politics reflect majorities, constructs them.’ majority Britain bring together economically interventionist socially liberal. Without either strand, won't fly. Postliberalism right-wing, seeking incorporate hegemonise sections splitting base. Following land embrace why keen ideas. Progressives should avoid booby trap. Birmingham. Jon Bloomfield Our City: Migrants Making Modern Birmingham (reviewed PQ, vol. 90, no. 4, 2019).