Abstract

The liberalism that «The Economist» on the occasion of its 175th birthday suggests to relaunch needs a better-defined identity. This must show that neoliberalism is not its legitimate continuation and solidarity no less important than liberty as cement of society, while the main opponent of liberalism is now populism as well as the degeneration of «political correctness». Rather than in a well-defined ideology and in a party liberalism can be vital and effective as an inspiration and a style of political interplay. Doubts remain as to the chances of liberalism in a world scenario in which the international liberal order is seriously under attack, while the agenda is shifting towards the governance of our threatened global commons as in climate change - far away from the original circumstances of liberalism.