Liberalism in Question | CIS

In this thought-provoking episode of Liberalism in Question, we delve into the rich tapestry of Australia's liberal history with esteemed guest Dr Greg Melleuish, Associate Professor of History and Politics at the University of Wollongong. Explore how liberalism shaped Australia's political landscape, influenced key figures like Alfred Deakin and Robert Menzies, and continues to inform contemporary debates on freedom, modernity, an...

In this thought-provoking episode of Liberalism in Question, we welcome Emma Dawson, Executive Director of the progressive think tank Per Capita (and formerly of the Chifley Research Centre), to offer a contrasting social democratic perspective. Challenging classical liberal skepticism toward government overreach, Dawson argues that the state can—and should—play a constructive, helpful role in addressing inequality and building sha...

Join us on Liberalism in Question as Senator Kerrynne Liddle shares her insights on why one-size-fits-all policies fall short in a diverse nation like Australia. Liddle critiques excessive bureaucracy, advocating for greater personal and community responsibility to drive real progress and prosperity. 

This episode challenges conventional thinking on Indigenous affairs and explores how classical liberal principles can foster genuine...

Get your tickets to see Alexander Downer in Sydney: https://events.humanitix.com/alexander-downer-leadership-between-allies-and-the-region 

In this episode of Liberalism in Question, former Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer joins us to dissect the ever-shifting landscape of political ideologies. From the rise of Trump's nationalist movement and its global ripple effects, to the enduring appeal of economic liberalism as a...

Watch: https://youtu.be/xWVre38e0qQ  In this episode of Liberalism in Question, we dive deep into the complex and often overlooked history of liberalism in the Middle East with renowned expert Joshua Landis. As a professor of Middle East history at the University of Oklahoma and director of the Center for Middle East Studies, Landis brings decades of insight from his work on Syria, sectarianism, and regional politics. Join us as w...

Senator James Paterson joins Liberalism in Question to discuss the core principles of classical liberalism — individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and the rule of law — and how they apply to Australia’s current political debates. The conversation explores where liberalism is being challenged, misunderstood, or defended, and what its future looks like in a changing political landscape.

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From surrogacy to free speech, Rob Forsyth and Gray Connolly discuss the differences between classical liberalism and conservatism in the Australian context. 

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About the guest: 

Gray Connolly i...

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In this episode of Liberalism in Question, we dive into Roger Partridge's provocative Quillette essay, "Classical Liberalism Without Strong Gods", where he challenges the rise of "strong gods" like religion and nationalism as antidotes to liberal society's spiritual void.

You can read the article here: https://quillette.com/2025/06/10/classical-liberalism-without-strong-gods-open-society...

Watch here: https://youtu.be/ybqWLEwL28Y  From economic reform and rising government spending to cultural shifts and the decline of liberalism, Costello reflects on the ideas that shaped the Howard years and what’s needed to renew them today.

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Listen to our new show, The Stutchbury Sessions on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeartRadio, PlayerFM or listen on your browser.   Watch this episode here: https://youtu.be/sv9pXQxa9bo

In this episode of Liberalism in Question, host Robert Forsyth engages in a thought-provoking discussion with Mark Leach, co-founder and CEO of "Never Again Is Now", on the rise of anti-Semitism in Australia, the erosion of Western liberal values, and th...

In this episode, Rob sits down with Trisha Jha, a policy analyst at the Centre for Independent Studies, to explore the relationship between liberalism and education. They discuss how liberal principles, like individual freedom, pluralism, and limited government, may require an educated population to survive. 

Trisha Jha is a Research Fellow in the Education program, where she leads a stream of work on the science of learning, as we...

Watch here: https://youtu.be/DgqdELXU4BI  In this episode of Liberalism in Question from the Centre for Independent Studies, economist Robert Carling discusses the alarming rise in Australian government spending and its long-term consequences.

👉 More from Robert Carling:  🔹 Leviathan on the Rampage: Government spending growth a threat to Australia’s economic future: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/leviathan-on-the-rampage-how...

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When Peter Kurti published "The Ties That Bind: Reconciling Value Pluralism and National Identity in Australia", Jude felt compelled to disagree vehemently, though only in a rhetorical sense!  

“Australia’s multicultural democracy is under increasing pressure, not only from economic uncertainty but from the moral and cultural disagreements that have intensified in recent years. Deep cultural...

Watch Here: https://youtu.be/29qPdsxMHss  “Freedom or death!” The rallying cry of revolutions, constitutions, and rights movements shaped the modern world — and liberalism was its architect. Built on the belief that individuals should be free to choose their paths, pursue their dreams, and speak their minds, liberalism became the moral and political foundation of the 20th century. But in the 21st, the definition of freedom is ex...

Watch here: https://youtu.be/-NaJolceTlI Robert Forsyth interviews Dr. Michael Bird, who reflects on the relationship between liberalism and Christianity. Bird acknowledges the strengths of liberalism—its emphasis on individual liberty, pluralism, and democratic governance—but warns that when liberalism becomes detached from its Christian moral and philosophical roots, it risks undermining the very values it seeks to uphold.

He ar...

Watch now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRlHwPrD850 Robert Forsyth interviews Glenn Fahey, director of the education program at the Centre for Independent Studies (CIS), who explores why a classical liberal think tank is deeply engaged in education policy. Fahey argues that education is the great enabler of freedom—central to the classical liberal vision of a society where individuals can shape their own lives. He explains that...

Watch here: https://youtu.be/o6TVilPFQxo  Robert Forsyth speaks with Rohan McHugh, who contends that the liberal tradition’s “contest of ideas” — though vital for intellectual refinement — does not conflict with the enduring boundaries that have sustained Western civilization for millennia. These boundaries have been upheld by long-standing institutions and validated by their outcomes. While the classical liberal model deserves af...

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In this episode, we delve into the controversial world of the Intellectual Dark Web (IDW) with guest Jamie Q. Roberts, a political theorist and commentator on digital discourse and dissent. We unpack the origins of the IDW, a loose network of academics, commentators, and public intellectuals who challenge mainstream narratives on culture, politics, and identity. Roberts explores how the IDW ...