Oh, hapless Liberals, learn from Disraeli

The Future

'What's in a name?", sighed poor Juliet Capulet. For too long many in Australia have invested too much in the name "Liberal" in the name of Australia's most successful political party without understanding the organisation's full history or purpose.

Liberalism and Conservativism are indeed very distinct philosophical and political traditions whose differences should not be underestimated as the above has illustrated. But there can be a creative tension between them, and they can cooperate in pursuit of joint aims. The genius of Robert Menzies was to be able to unite those on the anti-socialist right into one party rather than having them splinter into a variety of different factional groupings. The emergence of the Labor Party as a common enemy, and particularly the Communist threat throughout the Cold War, helped keep this coalition together, but it also required some political skill.

Menzies quoted both Disraeli and Gladstone approvingly throughout his career and admired both. His "Forgotten People" speeches deftly avoided providing too much detail on his views on contentious subjects which might have divided conservatives and liberals (like trade and immigration) and instead focused on signalling in a broad way that he was on the side of patriotic, civic-minded Australians from all walks of life. He avoided tying himself explicitly too much to any one side. He referred to himself as "instinctively conservative" in his autobiography, Afternoon Light but had no objection to using the name "liberal" in the party he headed. In a way he turned Disraeli's line about "Tory men and Whig measures" on its head: he ruled as a Liberal Party man in a philosophically conservative manner, while being open to liberal arguments and perspectives.

To not be misunderstood, there is undoubtedly place for those who stick up for freedom in Australia. If that is what advocates for liberalism think it means, there is a place for it. But one cannot help but notice many of those march under that banner (with honourable exceptions) completely vacated the field during the Covid era and in many other areas.

"How is it that we hear the loudest yelps for liberty among the drivers of negroes?" the conservative Tory Samuel Johnson famously said of the American revolutionaries. One could equally say 'How was it that the advocates for implementing the appalling draconian measures during Covid came from many who like describe themselves as liberals?'

In any event, the key point remains is that in recent times the delicate balance between liberalism and conservativism has been lopsided on the centre-right in Australia. It is time to restore the balance.