Liberal Socialism and the Challenge of Right-Wing Politics with Matt McManus

Listen to this episode from Varn Vlog on Spotify. Professor Matthew McManus joins us to explore liberal socialism, the right's evolution, and the shifting global political landscape.• Carlo Rossellini's work articulates a socialism that confronts both Marxist determinism and fascism• Rossellini criticized Italian leftists for failing to understand fascism's emotional appeal• Liberal socialism aims to make the promise of freedom true for everyone, especially the working poor• Mouffe and Laclau's influential work acknowledges the importance of recognizing political enemies• Axel Honneth introduces "social freedom" as a third dimension beyond negative and positive liberty• Trump's presidency reveals the collapse of centrist neoliberalism and democrats' failure to offer alternatives• European powers and Canada now defying American leadership shows declining US global dominance• The left needs to focus on building coalitions rather than demanding ideological purityFind Matthew's writing in Jacobin, Christian Socialism, Current Affairs, and Commonwealth, or reach him directly at [email protected] us a text Musis by Bitterlake, Used with Permission, all rights to BitterlakeSupport the showCrew:Host: C. Derick VarnIntro and Outro Music by Bitter Lake.Intro Video Design: Jason MylesArt Design: Corn and C. Derick VarnLinks and Social Media:twitter: @varnvlogblue sky: @varnvlog.bsky.socialYou can find the additional streams on YoutubeCurrent Patreon at the Sponsor Tier: Jordan Sheldon, Mark J. Matthews, Lindsay Kimbrough, RedWolf, DRV, Kenneth McKee, JY Chan, Matthew Monahan, Parzival, Adriel Mixon, Buddy Roark, Daniel Petrovic