Introduction Saving Liberal Democracy from Itself Since the 1960s, political conflict in the Western world has been growing increasingly adversarial and intractable. In the United States, we have now reached the point where political opponents agree on almost nothing, not even the most basic facts. People have sorted themselves into ideological “tribes” whose worldviews are increasingly at odds. Support for democratic ideals and principles, such as tolerance and compromise, are weakening. It’s not simply that formal institutions have been shaken—the informal norms that underpin them have become more fragile.1 Rules concerning transparency, conflict of interest, civil discourse, respect for the opposition and freedom of the press, and equal treatment of citizens are all eroding. Much of the public is angry, resentful, and preoccupied with problems and issues that have no apparent solution. Many people seem to be open to “alternatives” to liberal democracy.2 But why? After all, as Steven Pinker points out, the history of the United States (and indeed, of the entire Western world) over the past three centu- ries is a story of gradual, not always even, but nevertheless continuous pro gress: expanding freedom, growing tolerance, rising prosperity, improving health and safety, advancing knowledge, and burgeoning technological prowess.3 Why, then—despite all the achievements of liberal democratic in the long struggle to eliminate the perennial woes and ills of societies human existence—is there so much discontent, misery, and rage? Why aren’t we all ecstatic about the immense gains we have made and the prom- ise of even greater achievements to come? 4 The short answer is that liberalism—the body of beliefs, principles, and institutions that emerged during the cultural revolution known as the Enlightenment—has succeeded too well.5 To its credit, liberalism has sought