The Future of Liberalism: A Conversation Among Conservatives

Spring Conference

The University Club at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
Thursday April 11–Saturday April 13

After the demise of the Soviet Union in 1991, many scholars and pundits confidently predicted the triumph of liberal democracy around the globe. As we approach the thirtieth anniversary of that momentous event, confidence in that prediction has waned, if not altogether ceased. The defeat of Soviet Communism has coincided with an increasing anxiety and skepticism in the West about the viability, and desirability, of liberalism, and liberal democracy appears to be in retreat.

Much of that anxiety and skepticism have come from within the ranks of conservatism. Some conservatives argue that liberalism contains the seeds of its own destruction and is deeply contrary to conservatism. Other conservatives argue that conservatism involves the defense of at least some forms of liberalism and opposition to others.

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The goal of this conference is to have a serious and sustained conversation among some of the best of these conservatives on the relationship between liberalism and conservatism, especially in the American context.

Schedule

Session Topics

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  1. Presenters: Daniel McCarthy and Mark T. Mitchell
  2. Questions to consider:
    1. What is liberalism? (Are there different forms of liberalism?)
    2. Is there a difference between liberal institutions and liberal anthropology?
    3. What is conservatism?
    4. To what extent if any is American conservatism a form of liberalism?
    5. Does conservatism involve a support for liberal institutions?
    6. Are liberal institutions supportable by a non-liberal anthropology? If so, what is that anthropology?

  1. Presenters: D.C. Schindler and Joshua Mitchell
  2. Questions to consider:
    1. To what extent does Christianity fundamentally transform politics?
    2. To what extent does liberalism depend on Christianity?
    3. To what extent does liberalism undermine Christianity?
    4. To what extent does religious liberty promote pluralism?
    5. What are the scope and limits of pluralism?

  1. Presenters: Michael Kochin and Amy Wax
  2. Questions to consider:
    1. What is culture? What are the sources of culture?
    2. What is the relationship between politics and culture?
    3. Does liberalism require or promote a certain kind of culture? If so, what kind, and how is it achieved and preserved?
    4. Does conservatism require or promote a certain kind of culture? If so, what kind of culture? How is it achieved and preserved?  

  1. Presenters: Nathan Schlueter and Michael Hanby
  2. Questions to Consider:
    1. What is the ground of political authority?
    2. What are the proper scope and limits of government power?
    3. What are the conditions for free government?
    4. What are the greatest challenges for conservative/liberal views of government?

  1. Presenters: Jay Richards and William Cavanaugh
  2. Questions to Consider:
    1. Are commerce and politics compatible? What are the tensions between them?
    2. Is commerce neutral or does it promote a particular way of life?  
    3. Does commerce promote or hinder human flourishing?
    4. What kind of economics does conservatism promote?
    5. What kind of economics does liberalism promote?
    6. What are the ethical norms governing commerce?

  1. Presenters: Richard Avramenko, Christopher Lynch, Michael Promisel, and Michael Federici

Confirmed Speakers

 

Register Here 

A nominal registration fee of $40 is required. You will need to make your own travel and lodging arrangements, but a discounted block of rooms has been reserved at the Best Western Premier Park Hotel. Instructions on how to pay the registration fee and how to book rooms will be provided after registration.

Signing the Constitution, September 17, 1787