The Conservation Of Liberty

Conservatism in Britain is an ideology which has taken on many forms over its history. It has been influenced by some of the country's greatest thinkers and politicians, and has been present at nearly every major political and social event since the end of the Renaissance. It has also proved itself versatile and fluid, adopting ideas from traditionalism, liberalism and socialism at various points across its history. When British people today think of conservatism, perhaps what springs to mind is the Conservative Party, an institution with a polarising effect on British society. This party, however, is not entitled to claim the mantle of British conservatism all for itself. Conservatism has manifested itself in many ways, not just as an ideological force in British politics, but as an attitude deep-rooted in the British mindset, such that many Britons might be described as "small-c conservative". This book is a study in British conservatism. It is an examination of its history, its philosophy and the author hopes, a standing point from which to look at conservatism's future. The reality is, despite the stigma modern conservatives may face, and the influence of economic liberalism on today's right-wing politics, many still hold beliefs which are rooted in a deeply pragmatic and compassionate philosophy, committed to preserving the values which marked Britain out as a nation of liberties for over four centuries. This book presents the development and current state of this philosophy, and hopefully allows the reader to appreciate its dynamic and ubiquitous nature.

This book examines the concept of liberty in relation to civilization’s ability to live within ecological limits. Freedom, in all its renditions – choice, thought, action – has become inextricably linked to our understanding of what it means to be modern citizens. And yet, it is our relatively unbounded freedom that has resulted in so much ecological devastation. Liberty has piggy-backed on transformations in human–nature relationships that characterize the Anthropocene: increasing extraction of resources, industrialization, technological development, ecological destruction, and mass production linked to global consumerism. This volume provides a deeply critical examination of the concept of liberty as it relates to environmental politics and ethics in the long view. Contributions explore this entanglement of freedom and the ecological crisis, as well as investigate alternative modernities and more ecologically benign ways of living on Earth. The overarching framework for this collection is that liberty and agency need to be rethought before these strongly held ideals of our age are forced out. On a finite planet, our choices will become limited if we hope to survive the climatic transitions set in motion by uncontrolled consumption of resources and energy over the past 150 years. This volume suggests concrete political and philosophical approaches and governance strategies for learning how to flourish in new ways within the ecological constraints of the planet. Mapping out new ways forward for long-term ecological well-being, this book is essential reading for students and scholars of ecology, environmental ethics, politics, and sociology, and for the wider audience interested in the human–Earth relationship and global sustainability.

This comprehensive work includes thought-provoking quotes that run the gamut, from Aristotle to Adam Smith, from Rush Limbaugh to Newt Gingrich.

Hundreds of African American soldiers and regimental employees represented Wisconsin in the Civil War, and many of them lived in the state either before or after the conflict. And yet, if these individuals are mentioned at all in histories of the state, it is with a sentence or two about their small numbers, or the belief that they all were from slaveholding states and served as substitutes for Wisconsin draftees. Relative to the total number of Badgers who served in the Civil War, African Americans soldiers were few, but they constituted a significant number in at least five regiments of the United States Colored Infantry and several other companies. Their lives before and after the war in rural communities, small towns, and cities form an enlightening story of acceptance and respect for their service but rejection and discrimination based on their race. Make Way for Liberty will bring clarity to the questions of how many African Americans represented Wisconsin during the conflict, who among them lived in the state before and after the war, and their impact on their communities

Peter Berkowitz identifies the political principles social conservatives and libertarians share, or should share, and sketches the common ground on which they can and should join forces. Drawing on the writings of Edmund Burke, The Federalist, and the high points of post-World War II American conservatism, he argues that the top political priority for social conservatives and libertarians should be to rally around the principles of liberty embodied in the US Constitution and pursue reform in light of them.

Kenneth Minogue offers a brilliant and provocative exploration of liberalism in the Western world today: its roots and its influences, its present state, and its prospects in the new century. The Liberal Mind limns the taxonomy of a way of thinking that constitutes the very consciousness of most people in most Western countries. Kenneth Minogue is Emeritus Professor of Political Science at the University of London. Please note: This title is available as an ebook for purchase on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and iTunes.