Cato Podcast Raging Against Modernity
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Feb 12, 2026 Phil Magness, an economic historian and political scientist, discusses the rise of post-liberal thought and its critique of liberal modernity. He highlights key thinkers, the movement’s appeal to aesthetic and moral grievances, debates over executive power and emergency rules, and how these ideas are reshaping conservative politics and policy debates.
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Post-Liberalism Frames Liberalism As The Root Problem
- Post-liberalism blames Enlightenment liberalism for modern social ills and seeks a return to collective institutions like family, church, and monarchy.
- It treats liberalism as an aberration that contains the seeds of its own demise, similar to Marxist historical inevitability.
A Small Movement With Outsized Political Patrons
- Two academic stars anchor the movement: Patrick Deneen and Adrian Vermeule, with a thin supporting ecosystem of podcasters and minor figures.
- J.D. Vance functions as a political patron who has amplified post-liberal influence in government circles.
Aesthetic Grievances Drive Much Of The Critique
- Much of post-liberalism is an aesthetic grievance: disdain for consumerism, modern architecture, and abundance.
- Their ideal "common good" often maps onto founders' personal preferences rather than a clearly defined civic principle.
