Abstract

THE FEAR OF THE LIBERALS

Offers a look at why liberals in the United States believe that President George W. Bush can bring democracy to Iraq and questions why some liberals refused to march against the U.S.-led Iraq War. Report that leftists have moved towards faith in U.S. power and skepticism of popular movements; Belief of some liberals that mass movements are blind to evil or apologize for it; Suggestion that liberals are inspired by that which minimizes fear; Role of liberalism in inspiring various social movements, including the war against slavery, women's rights and civil rights; Failings and compromises of liberalism; Statement that U.S. liberals in the past have looked at the rest of the world as a rebuke to illiberalism at home or a goad to domestic reform.