Liberty and Conservatism: A ReappraisalPontszerző: 2 pont

Wednesday 10 Jun 2026, 09:30 → 13:30 Europe/Budapest

Liberalism presents itself as the sole guarantee of liberty, the only ideology that provides a safeguard against political violations of personal freedom. Yet the Anglo-American traditional defence of freedom, with its established institutions – including Habeas Corpus, the Bill of Rights, and so many other achievements – is a reference point for conservatism just as much as it is for liberalism. Therefore, conservatism is a natural successor of a view of politics that regards personal freedom as an untouchable and unbreakable taboo.

This workshop focuses on Anglo-American conservatism’s account of individual freedom. Dan Pitt presents a conservative view of liberty, in which tradition and custom serve as major guarantees of the inviolability of liberty. Ferenc Hörcher returns to Burke’s notion of liberty in the Reflections. He asks whether there is any natural alliance between liberalism and conservatism, concerning their respective views on liberty. These talks will be followed by two presentations one by Karl Gustel Wärnberg presenting the Catholic view of liberty, as understood by Donoso Cortes, and another one by Madhurya Chakraborty about freedom and authority. This will be followed by the respondents’ answers and a free exchange of ideas.

Venue: Ludovika University of Public Service, John Lukacs lounge

Date: 10th June, 2026.

PROGRAMME

Two keynotes

Dan Pitt (earlier external fellow of RIPG, Ludovika University): A Conservative view of liberty; the role of tradition and custom

Ferenc Hörcher (RIPG, Ludovika University): Edmund Burke, Old Whig and Conservative, or Individual Liberty for British conservatives and liberals

 

Two presentations

Karl Gustel Wärnberg (independent scholar, Stockholm): Juan Donoso Cortes and the Catholic Tradition of Liberty

Madhurya Chakraborty (independent scholar, India): Freedom, Authority, Conservatism and Roger Scruton

 

Two Responses:

Tamás Nyirkos (RIPG, Ludovika University)

John O'Sullivan (Danube Institute)

 

 

 

A rendezvény kollégiumi pontszerző esemény, a pontok száma: 2