For many socialists, liberalism is at best a kind of bourgeois conformism and at worst an outright reactionary doctrine. For centuries now, socialists have developed probing criticisms of liberalism — too atomistic, too unequal, too imperialist — and looked forward to the day when it would be overcome and replaced by a higher form of society.

At the same time, even as hardened a critic as Karl Marx offered a far more sophisticated and generous critique of liberalism than is sometimes admitted. Even in the nineteenth century, it was clear that classical liberalism was a significant advance on the old feudal order. Since then, many liberals have taken on board the most serious left critiques and tried to show how liberal democracy is not only compatible with but may even require a commitment to economic democratization and equality.

These themes are explored at length in Matt McManus’s intriguing new book, The Political Theory of Liberal Socialism, and will be discussed in an upcoming symposium on liberalism, socialism, and right-wing populism at the University of Toronto. Political scientist Igor Shoikhedbrod spoke with McManus about the book. McManus argues that while liberalism has its flaws, socialists should not be too quick to dispense with liberal ideas entirely.