Postliberalism’s Rebellion Against Reality

Authors James Patterson and Thomas Howes argue in their book, Why Postliberalism Failed, that the postliberal movement remains a powerful force in American political discourse despite an apparent retreat. According to John F. Doherty, writing for Public Discourse, the authors note that supporters of postliberalism hold high-ranking positions within the United States government.

The book outlines a platform that rejects the liberal protection of individual liberty, which postliberals view as a precursor to atheism and communism. Instead, the movement advocates for a divinely ordained hierarchy where the Church provides spiritual rule and the state provides political rule. Under this theory, the state would submit to the Church in the event of a disagreement between the two bodies.

To reduce individual freedom, the postliberal platform suggests centrally organizing the economy through state-approved guilds or cartels. It also seeks to concentrate political power in a single executive that governs through a bureaucracy.