What Is Liberal Socialism?

We’re often told that liberalism and socialism are locked in a permanent death match – two ideologies that simply can’t sit at the same table. But what if that’s a false choice?
In What is Liberal Socialism?, Matt McManus (alongside Florian Maiwald and Paul Crider) tears down the wall between these two traditions, arguing that both actually share the same Enlightenment values: a deep-seated commitment to human reason, personal freedom, and the idea that everyone, not just the elite, deserves to flourish.
By revisiting the radical ideas of heavy hitters like John Stuart Mill, Chantal Mouffe, and John Rawls, this book:

• investigates how liberal rights and socialist economics can actually strengthen one another;
• offers a rigorous alternative to both neoliberalism and reactionary populism;
• argues that liberal socialism isn’t just a historical footnote, but a viable, radical framework for a fairer future.

What is Liberal Socialism investigates the radical tradition of liberal socialism, making a case for its relevance in a Trumpian era and arguing that it may be an overlooked source of hope — one deserving of reconsideration in an era of right wing populism.