Liberalism at Large

A highly-readable history of one of the world’s most influential publications - and an important contribution to the history of political thought – Gideon Rachman, Chief Foreign Affairs Commentator * Financial Times *The Economist has vigorously claimed to be advancing the liberal cause since its founding. Zevin takes it at its word, telling the story not only of the magazine itself but also of its impact on world affairs. Having evidently mastered the magazine’s archives, he commands a deep knowledge of its inner workings. The Economist emerges as a force that - thanks to the military, cultural and economic power of Britain and, later, America - can truly be said to have made the modern world, if not in the way that many liberals would suppose – Pankaj Mishra * New Yorker *Sharp, engaging and deeply researched, Liberalism at Large reveals the profound contradictions at the heart of one of themost influential strands of liberalism - its supposed aversion to state power and consistent embrace of imperial might – Jennifer Pitts, Professor of Political Science, University of ChicagoWritten with analytical rigour, narrative flair and formidably marshalled scepticism, Liberalism at Large is by some way the most ambitious and compelling history of a newspaper or magazine that I have read – David Kynaston, author of The City of London and Modernity BritainLiberalism at Large has to be the most fascinating, and the best-written, engagement with the idea-that-nobody-ever-defines. Our understanding of liberalism, and of its historical and ideological power, is permanently changed, and immeasurably for the better – Geoff Mann, author of In the Long Run We Are All DeadMuch more than a history of a single journal, Liberalism at Large gives us a compelling counter-history of key globalplayers, events and ideologies from imperialism and free trade to liberalism and neoliberalism. Absorbing and informative – Priyamvada Gopal, author of Insurgent EmpireWhat a brilliant idea and what a brilliant book. Zevin offers a critical and nuanced account of the ever-changing liberalism promoted by the Economist – Donald Sassoon, author of The Anxious TriumphMeticulous and beautifully written, Liberalism at Large should be read by anyone interested in “actually existing liberalism”, in other words liberalism as it was conceived by the people who defined and promoted it, and not an idealized version based on some pre-determined canon of “great thinkers”. Fascinating and often disturbing – Helena Rosenblatt, author of The Lost History of LiberalismLiberalism at Large is…well-paced and engagingly written all the way through. The particular lens acts as a rather inspired way of looking at the history of Anglo-American capitalism. Zevin…is able to tell a fascinating story of [the Economist] and its relationship to the system it has championed for close to two hundred years now. * Counterfire *Well-written and well-organized, Zevin’s book gives us fresh insight into the evolution of the doctrine of liberalism * Journal of European Economic History *

Alexander Zevin is Assistant Professor of History at City University of New York and an Editor at New Left Review.