Illiberalism Explained – How Left and Right Both Threaten Freedom
Everyone claims to defend freedom. Yet both left and right have found creative ways to chip away at it. The left does it in the name of justice, the right in the name of order. Different slogans, same result: less room for individuals to think, speak, and live freely.
Table of contents
What Is Illiberalism?
Illiberalism is when movements or governments reject liberal principles like free speech, pluralism, and individual rights.
- On the left, it often appears as censorship, identity politics, and group rights trumping individual liberty.
- On the right, it shows up as nationalism, authoritarian leaders, and laws that curb dissent.
Both sides insist it’s necessary — to protect the vulnerable, or to protect tradition. But the effect is the same: shrinking freedom.
How It Shows Up on the Left
- Cancel culture: careers ruined for unpopular opinions.
- Speech codes: universities and corporations policing language.
- Identity quotas: group identity outweighing merit or universality.
- Moral absolutism: dissent treated not as debate but as heresy.
How It Shows Up on the Right
- Strongman politics: leaders claiming only they can “protect the nation.”
- Nationalism & nativism: outsiders excluded to preserve homogeneity.
- Attacks on institutions: media, courts, and parliaments weakened.
- Civil liberties curtailed: restrictions on reproductive rights, speech, or protest.
Who Benefits? Who Doesn’t?
- Winners: Elites, activists, and rulers who gain power by controlling narratives.
- Losers: Ordinary citizens who lose the ability to speak, dissent, or choose freely.
The Consequences
When left and right both play the illiberal game, society gets trapped between censorship and authoritarianism. Instead of protecting democracy, both sides hollow it out. What begins as justice or order often ends as conformity and fear.
Conclusion
Illiberalism isn’t “out there” on one side of the spectrum — it’s a temptation for all. The left silences in the name of progress. The right controls in the name of tradition. Different costumes, same script: less freedom for everyone.
👉 Want the bigger picture on how power really works? Visit our Politics of Power Explainer Hub to see how leaders, corporations, and ideologies battle for control.
FAQ
What does illiberalism mean?
It means rejecting liberal values like free speech and individual rights.
How is left-wing illiberalism different from right-wing?
The left censors for justice; the right restricts for order.
Why is illiberalism dangerous?
Because it erodes democracy and replaces debate with control.
Is illiberalism rising today?
Yes — from cancel culture to strongman leaders, both sides are embracing it.
