politics
Across the world authoritarians want to tell us what a ‘good life’ looks like. Here’s how liberals must respond
From Maga to Hungary’s Fidesz and Australia’s One Nation, politics is returning to its oldest question: what makes a life worth living? And liberalism needs a credible answer
TL;DR
- Liberal democracies typically protect rights and foster the economy without dictating what constitutes a good life.
- Globally, authoritarian leaders and movements are increasingly defining the 'good life' as a public affair, using state power to promote specific ideals.
- Examples include Hungary's Fidesz party, which believes in promoting a specific vision of family and national identity, and movements in India, China, Israel, and Iran.
- This approach is a return to a historical norm where politics aimed at achieving the 'good life,' as articulated by thinkers like Aristotle and traditions like Confucianism and Islam.
- Liberals often condemn these movements, but must also acknowledge the appeal of the human goods they offer, such as belonging and purpose.
- Australia's One Nation party shows signs of adopting this trend, advocating for a 'monocultural' Australia and suggesting government should define a 'proper Australian life.'
- Liberalism cannot adopt a 'good life state' of its own without sacrificing its core principles; instead, it needs to present a credible, attractive vision of fairness, freedom, and living with difference.