The Discourse Between Liberals and Comunitarians

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There are two versions of communitarianism. One is straightforwardly rusoian, it aims to create a community like the community that ruso describes in the social contract or in the constitution of Poland. The other stresses smaller communities that exist within a liberal democratic framework. In that sense I guess I am a communitarian social democrat because I belong to a community of social democrats in the United States.

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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