Michael Sandel, an author and a professor of political philosophy at Harvard University, is the 2025 laureate of the Berggruen Prize for Philosophy & Culture. He recently sat down with Noema Editor-in-Chief Nathan Gardels to discuss the fate of liberalism and the vulnerability of the neutral state.
Nathan Gardels: It is remarkable in today’s context to remember that 40 years ago, you and I sat her...
Michael Sandel’s analysis presents a compelling critique of liberalism’s neutrality, arguing that its avoidance of moral debates has left a vacuum filled by hyper-nationalism and traditionalism. The strongest version of this narrative highlights how liberalism’s emphasis on individualism and market-driven solutions has alienated those left behind by globalization, fueling populist backlash. Sandel’s call for a "pluralism of engagement" offers a constructive alternative, emphasizing public delibe...