The Secrets of Statecraft

Dan Hannan and The Case for Capitalism | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution

May 8, 2026
Dan Hannan, Conservative politician and new director of the Institute of Economic Affairs, champions free markets and economic literacy. He discusses restoring market-friendly ideas, defending free trade against protectionist instincts, rethinking education to teach economics to youth, Brexit’s unrealized deregulation opportunities, and the cultural and political forces reshaping conservatism today.
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ANECDOTE

Meeting IEA Founder Ralph Harris As A Teen

  • Hannan recalls meeting IEA founder Ralph Harris as a teenager and attending 1990s meetings where limited-government arguments were assumed.
  • He contrasts that confidence with today's need to re-teach basics to young people.
INSIGHT

Bad Leaders Reflect An Electorate Problem

  • Poor governance reflects an electorate problem more than just bad politicians.
  • Hannan argues bailouts and lockdowns convinced voters a 'magic money tree' exists, inflating demand for state spending.
INSIGHT

Toryism Has Centuries-Long Continuity

  • Toryism traces back centuries as a durable creed of order, patriotism, and property rights.
  • Hannan dates the two-party origins to the 1641 Grand Remonstrance and sees cultural continuity across eras.
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