Perpetual anti-liberal sentiment and its leaders

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The United States has harbored a consistent anti-liberal sentiment since its inception, originating from slaveholders and later from groups like the Jim Crow South and certain Christian Americans advocating for a nation guided by Christian values. This sentiment has persisted despite being subdued in the Civil War and post-Depression eras. The current resurgence of this sentiment, led by Donald Trump, marks a final push to alter the prevailing system.

Across the world, billions of citizens are being asked to cast their vote in elections taking place in more than 50 countries, making this a pivotal year for democracy. But these polls come as populist, illiberal and far-right parties are either growing in support or consolidating gains they have already made. In the first of this five-part series, the FT’s renowned economics commentator Martin Wolf tells executive opinion editor Jonathan Derbyshire why he worries about the consequences for the future of democratic institutions. Martin then speaks to Robert Kagan, a neoconservative scholar and a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington, about what a victory, or defeat, for Donald Trump might mean for the future of US democracy.

Links:

Martin Wolf column: Fascism has changed, but it is not dead

For Martin’s other FT columns click here

Clip: CNBC

This episode is presented by Jonathan Derbyshire and Martin Wolf. The producer is Sandra Kanthal. Production help from Sonja Hutson. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa and the sound engineer is Nigel Appleton. The FT's global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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