{"product_id":"the-liberalism-of-fear-9780674306639","title":"The Liberalism of Fear","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAvailable for the first time in a stand-alone volume, the classic essay that envisions liberalism not as the triumphant endpoint of political progress, or even a cohesive ideology, but rather as a precarious guardrail against abuses of power.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eAfter the collapse of the Soviet Union, many hailed the supposed triumph of liberal democracy as the \"end of history.\" But Judith Shklar offers a sober and cautionary perspective. Far from an inevitable or permanent political order, liberalism was as fragile as it was essential: always threatened by the abusive political forces against which it offered imperfect but necessary defense. Shklar's vision of a bulwark in the face of cruelty, rather than a venerable ideology of freedom or individual autonomy, powerfully rejects conceptions of liberalism that were easy targets of critique from both left and right. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eWith its focus on the thin line dividing our political system from authoritarianism, \u003ci\u003eThe Liberalism of Fear\u003c\/i\u003e is as relevant today as it was on its initial publication. Democratic institutions, from the courts to the ballot, are under attack from within, and marginalized groups are even more vulnerable to state-sanctioned violence. Now as before, our faith in the liberal order seems to be fueled above all by a fear of the alternatives. This is as it should be, according to Shklar: Properly conceived, liberalism is a means of survival, not the road to utopia. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eA new foreword by Mark Lilla places this classic study in its historical context and solidifies its importance during a precarious moment. A perfect entryway into Shklar's large and influential body of work, \u003ci\u003eThe Liberalism of Fear\u003c\/i\u003e is both an essential addition to any scholar's library and a powerful note of warning.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Judith Nisse Shklar\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Harvard University Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 10\/06\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 80\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.24lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 6.35h x 4.25w x 0.44d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780674306639\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eShklar, Judith Nisse:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - Judith N. Shklar (1928-1992) was John Cowles Professor of Government at Harvard University and a MacArthur Fellow. Her many books include \u003ci\u003eAmerican Citizenship: The Quest for Inclusion, Ordinary Vices, \u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eLegalism: Law, Morals, and Political Trials\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eLilla, Mark:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - Mark Lilla is Professor of the Humanities at Columbia University and a frequent contributor to the \u003ci\u003eNew York Review of Books\u003c\/i\u003e and other publications worldwide. His books include \u003ci\u003eIgnorance and Bliss: On Wanting Not to Know, The Once and Future Liberal: After Identity Politics, The Shipwrecked Mind: On Political Reaction, \u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eThe Stillborn God: Religion, Politics, and the Modern West\u003c\/i\u003e.","brand":"booksdeli.com","offers":[{"title":"Judith Nisse Shklar \/ Hardcover \/ English","offer_id":67750671810717,"sku":"9780674306639","price":18.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0619\/5648\/9373\/files\/img_2415ee28-20b5-4551-aadb-a276c53eea72.jpg?v=1793174587","url":"https:\/\/booksdeli.com\/products\/the-liberalism-of-fear-9780674306639","provider":"booksdeli.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}