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Exchange Exemplar: Liberal Democracy, On The Ropes

Andrew Nixon/Capital Public Radio

The very title of Patrick J. Deneen's book may inflame some people's sensibilities: Why Liberalism Failed.

On closer examination, the author, a political scientist at the University of Notre Dame, is talking BIG liberalism, as in liberal democratic societies. And the idea that they are failing may be a greater cause for concern.

But the tensions are evident: emphasizing individual rights and gains while also expecting some participation in civil society can and do seem like contradictory goals. We explore the topic anew in this interview from 2018.

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The Jefferson Exchange is Jefferson Public Radio's daily news program focused on issues, people and events across Southern Oregon and Northern California. Angela Decker is the program's senior producer, Charlie Zimmermann is the assistant producer, and Geoffrey Riley hosts the show.