The Liberal’s Need of the Hour

Intellectual pursuits are tricky and infested with pitfalls. In fact, many a times, the follies human intellectual endeavours ostentatiously profess to fight, come back to infest the same very same endeavours. Unfortunately, this has been a reality of all systems and owing to the peculiarities of human nature, shall always be so. A perfect system or –ism is a myth.

The rise and universal embrace of liberalism in its entirety, including political, economic, and cultural aspects has been splendid. Such has been the universality of the thought that it has led to the perhaps the first and unique globally unifying culture and value system in a space of four centuries since Locke.

So, in the midst of a today’s powerful liberal democracies, and democratic institutions globally, that are armed by the world’s wealthiest, and most powerful, the re-consideration of alternative (often more conservative) philosophies as reasonable and practical alternatives by societies globally is curious. Be it the more conspicuous changes in Japanese approach in terms of their assertions on not-so-pleasant views of Second World War or her increase in Defence expenditures in the face of the rising Chinese power; or the emergence of the PEGIDA movement in the west; the increased attention that right wing political parties like National Front in France or Golden Dawn in Greece have been able to attract; or the astounding electoral success of Modi and more recently, Netanyahu’s re-election in the recently concluded elections, potentially becoming the longest serving Israeli Prime Minister.

A more comprehensive survey should reveal lots of other phenomenon that indicate that there is an increasing disillusionment with the political, economic and cultural package of liberalism.So what is going wrong here? For sure, plenty in the Indian context – and quite, likely the same are concerns everywhere that alternate thoughts are finding space.

Liberals have on most occasions failed to recognize the beauty and achievements of indigenous civilizations, worldwide. On most occasions the appreciation does come from them, is a condescending one with an effort to attribute ‘ancient museum-artefact’ – like value to them. For example, the fact that India has been a country which has embraced persecuted humanity from the world around, not just in the last few decades, rather through the millennia of history is a fact often missed. The fact that there has been an underlying civilization, one that is still alive and that is the foundation of the modern day India is often, sadly but, conveniently missed.

Such a scenario is still on most occasions is forgotten and forgiven by native societies. But, often in their overzealousness, there are onslaughts on native identities and pride, often in the form of refined arts and intellectual pursuits. This is sadly, when, the native identities are discarded and insulted, all with‘apparent’ logic, and unfortunately, traditional achievements are hijacked. A great example for this would be India, where the ideas for tolerance and secularismhave been a part of millennia old civilization. But, unfortunately with the passing over of the reins of national intellectual, economic, political and artistic life to ‘liberal’ elements, the same are projected as pursuits of modern liberal thoughts, and in essence far superior in its science and rationale to any native, ‘archaic’ schools.

In fact, to a large extent, thetendency to measure liberalism by steadfastness and persistence in attacks on native civilizations and culture, has unfortunately drawn many otherwise true liberals away from it.

And, finally the other trouble that has plagued the liberals has been the persistent hesitation in calling a spade a spade. The universal hesitation of liberals across the world in unqualified recognition of politically sensitive but real issues has increasingly disillusioned supporters worldwide. That is why when last year, the then BJP PM candidate Modi even just as much as openly discussed the illegal immigration from Bangladesh as a problem on a national platform, large sections saw in him someone who would not fear addressing a real, practical problem. When the French National Front points out immigration as a problem today, many people find a voice in it. This is something that the liberals globally have been unable to show the courage to admit and address.

In essence, a realization is required to dawn on the liberal mindset that human civilizations worldwide and at all times have had achievements. And that the starting point of most of humanity’s crowning achievements in culture, morality, values and civilisation lie much beyond in the past than the founding dates of modern date liberal democracies. Equally importantly, real problems, however, politically sensitive, cannot be brushed under colourful carpets. If there is an elephant in the room, it must be called out. If it isn’t and concerns of people don’t find expressions, then the path is set for conservative expressions of the otherwise truly ‘liberal’ people.

By Siddhartha Purkayastha