Daniel Dăianu, author of the recently published Emerging Europe and the Great Recession, has a new article in defence of liberalism and democracy at Eurozine. The book discusses and builds on some of the arguments made in his book. Please click here to read the article, and an indicative excerpt is below:
“There is evidence of mounting illiberal temptations in the industrialized world, in democratic societies. Are these temptations linked with temporary phenomena, in the ‘extraordinary times’ we are living through, or do they have deeper roots? An answer to this question begs an examination of trends in society and economy, of the emergence of new (unconventional) threats, and, not least, of failed public policies. The argument that ‘liberal democracy’ is on the wane is wrong to the extent that policies can be corrected, that citizens and elites alike do not lose trust in democratic values. It may also be true that, although democracy has a ‘liberal core’, it can also be driven by ‘illiberal’ components, and that the magnitude of the latter can vary. But for democracy to survive , its liberal core must be preserved.”
Daniel’s book is available now, and be purchased directly from Cambridge Scholars by clicking here.