Prof Matt Sleat: Post-liberalism (Institute for Policy Research)

Liberalism has long shaped political life across the modern West. But in recent years, post-liberalism has become one of the most talked-about ideas on the ‘New Right’, attracting supporters including American Vice-President JD Vance. Professor Matt Sleat (University of Sheffield) discusses post-liberalism: what it is, where it comes from, and why it has gained momentum. He examines the problems he sees in the movement’s diagnosis of today’s political challenges, and argues that its proposed solutions come with grave risks, from authoritarianism to coercion. He also considers how liberals might respond to post-liberalism, and what the shift means for the future of conservative politics. He is in conversation with Dr David Moon (University of Bath). This Institute for Policy Research event took place on 26 March 2026.