Like many, I am concerned about threats to freedom,
excessive government power, how to strengthen democracy, etc. However, where do
the concepts of “freedom,” “limited government,” “representative government”,
etc. come from, at least in the :West. This is the topic of Daniel Hannan’s
Inventing Freedom: How the English-Speaking Peoples Made the Modern World. I
have no desire to re-invent the wheel, talk about the “Whigs, ”English history,
etc .. You can read a lengthy, excellent review here. (
This “review” will discuss only a few issues.
First, according to Hannan, a group often ignored by scholars, the English Levellers, were “proto-libertarians” (p. 149). With regard to American history, Hannan reminds us the oft-ignored role that religion played in setting the stage for the American Revolution (“bellicose” Protestantsism and hostility toward the Catholic Church and Church of England).
Hannan, is a member of the British Parliament and gives insight into how an Englishman sees many of the issues that face America. He laments the growing power of the European Union on freedom, and its toll on British Democracy. He also criticizes the weakening of federalism in the U.S. He also has written The New Road to Serfdom which is a take-off on Hayek’s classic, The Road to Serfdom. Hannan’s book is going on my “to read,” list.
Hannan gives some insight into how an Englishman sees many of these issues that trouble Americans. Although I strongly recommend this book, the lack of chapter notes or footnotes is disturbing. I have checked a few of the quotes, and they are accurate. I have no specific qualms about accuracy, but, like many, I prefer to check the author’s sources, even though I may agree with the author.
First, according to Hannan, a group often ignored by scholars, the English Levellers, were “proto-libertarians” (p. 149). With regard to American history, Hannan reminds us the oft-ignored role that religion played in setting the stage for the American Revolution (“bellicose” Protestantsism and hostility toward the Catholic Church and Church of England).
Hannan, is a member of the British Parliament and gives insight into how an Englishman sees many of the issues that face America. He laments the growing power of the European Union on freedom, and its toll on British Democracy. He also criticizes the weakening of federalism in the U.S. He also has written The New Road to Serfdom which is a take-off on Hayek’s classic, The Road to Serfdom. Hannan’s book is going on my “to read,” list.
Hannan gives some insight into how an Englishman sees many of these issues that trouble Americans. Although I strongly recommend this book, the lack of chapter notes or footnotes is disturbing. I have checked a few of the quotes, and they are accurate. I have no specific qualms about accuracy, but, like many, I prefer to check the author’s sources, even though I may agree with the author.
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