Liberalism: the life of an idea

Introduction: It's about more than liberty

The confidence of youth (1830-1880). Historical setting in the 1830s: thrown into a world of ceaseless change ; Guiding thoughts from founding thinkers: conflict, resistance, progress, and respect ; Liberalism in practice: four exemplary politicians ; The nineteenth-century legacy: liberalism without caricature

Liberalism in maturity and the struggle with democracy (1880-1945). Historical setting in the 1880s: the world liberals were making ; The compromises that gave us liberal democracy ; The economic powers of the modern state and modern market ; Damaged ideals and broken dreams ; Thinking about liberalism in the 1930s-1940s

Second chance and success (1945-1989). Historical setting after 1945: liberal democracy's new start ; New foundations: rights, a Democratic rule of law, and welfare ; Liberal thinking after 1945 ; The breadth of liberal politics in the 1950s-1980s

After 1989. Coda: Liberal dreams in the twenty-first century.