The Politics of Inequality

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David Frum: The argument about the spheres of justice for material equality is both powerful and plausible, but run up a little bit against some of the instincts of the left. He says it's when your wealth matters in every other sphere of activity and right now, crucially in politics. "It doesn't bother me if you can collect rare books and I can't," he adds.

Michael Walzer is an eminent political philosopher and the author of numerous books, including Just and Unjust Wars and Spheres of Justice. He is professor emeritus at the Institute of Advanced Study, has taught at Harvard University, and is editor emeritus of the magazine Dissent.

In this week’s conversation, Yascha Mounk and Michael Walzer discuss why, though he is a democratic socialist, he believes that there are certain acceptable forms of inequality; what forms of injustice true egalitarians should focus on fighting; and the threats to liberalism from the post-liberal right and the illiberal left.

This transcript has been condensed and lightly edited for clarity.

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