The Routledge Handbook of Classical Liberalism
1st Edition
Will be published approx. on 14. July 2026
Book
Hardback
646 pages
978-1-032-23312-3 (ISBN)
Description
The Routledge Handbook of Classical Liberalism provides a comprehensive analysis of classical liberal theory including a survey of the theory's central ideas and arguments, and the application of these ideas to contemporary issues.
Chapters providing theoretical analyses are interwoven with coverage of wide-ranging, concrete applications such as public health and healthcare, technology, policing, taxation and wealth, constitutional structures, and more. Across these areas, this handbook demonstrates how classical liberalism provides a unified approach over a divergent set of problems, providing a statement of modern classical liberalism serving as a research tool for a wide variety of individuals across the ideological spectrum. Classical liberalism is a systematic effort to ensure that the existence of the state does not abridge the fundamental rights and liberties of individuals, especially including property and contract rights. It holds that laws must satisfy the criteria of the Rule of Law so that stable relations between the individual and the state may develop.
The Routledge Handbook of Classical Liberalism is an authoritative and key reference text for students, academics, and researchers engaged in the study of political ideologies, political science, political economy, economics, law, social policy, and related fields.
Chapters providing theoretical analyses are interwoven with coverage of wide-ranging, concrete applications such as public health and healthcare, technology, policing, taxation and wealth, constitutional structures, and more. Across these areas, this handbook demonstrates how classical liberalism provides a unified approach over a divergent set of problems, providing a statement of modern classical liberalism serving as a research tool for a wide variety of individuals across the ideological spectrum. Classical liberalism is a systematic effort to ensure that the existence of the state does not abridge the fundamental rights and liberties of individuals, especially including property and contract rights. It holds that laws must satisfy the criteria of the Rule of Law so that stable relations between the individual and the state may develop.
The Routledge Handbook of Classical Liberalism is an authoritative and key reference text for students, academics, and researchers engaged in the study of political ideologies, political science, political economy, economics, law, social policy, and related fields.
Reviews / Votes
"This is an excellent collection, consisting of writings of some of the leading classical liberals in the world today, on many of the most important classical liberal issues."Tyler Cowen, George Mason University, USA
"While liberalism is all too often misunderstood - and, for that reason, disliked - this work brightly introduces the reader to its core principles and to their implications for our modern world. Any good library should definitely have it on its shelves, available for curious and serious students."
Pierre Garello, Aix Marseille University, France
"In a global context of increasing ideological confusion, this handbook is an essential companion to distinguish what is and what is not classical liberalism. Its philosophical and historical approach guides the reader through the great questions of the day."
Roberta Adelaide Modugno, Roma TRE University, Italy
"Classical Liberalism provides the intellectual foundation for free societies, social order, and constitutional democracies. Get this handbook for informed reference on your middle bookshelf."
Vernon L. Smith, Chapman University, USA
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Postgraduate and Undergraduate Advanced
Illustrations
3 s/w Tabellen, 5 s/w Zeichnungen, 5 s/w Abbildungen
3 Tables, black and white; 5 Line drawings, black and white; 5 Illustrations, black and white
Dimensions
Height: 246 mm
Width: 174 mm
Weight
453 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-032-23312-3 (9781032233123)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Richard A. Epstein is the inaugural Laurence A. Tisch Professor of Law at the NYU School of Law, where he serves as Director of the Classical Liberal Institute. He is also the James Parker Hall Distinguished Service Professor of Law Emeritus and a Senior Lecturer at the University of Chicago, USA.
Mario J. Rizzo is Professor of Economics, Director of the Foundations of the Market Economy program in the Department of Economics, and co-Director of the Classical Liberal Institute at the NYU School of Law, USA.
Liya Palagashvili is a Senior Research Fellow with the Mercatus Center at George Mason University and a Fellow with the Classical Liberal Institute at NYU Law, USA.
Mario J. Rizzo is Professor of Economics, Director of the Foundations of the Market Economy program in the Department of Economics, and co-Director of the Classical Liberal Institute at the NYU School of Law, USA.
Liya Palagashvili is a Senior Research Fellow with the Mercatus Center at George Mason University and a Fellow with the Classical Liberal Institute at NYU Law, USA.
Content
1. An Introduction to Classical Liberal Thought 2. Historical Influences on Classical Liberalism from Religion and Natural Law 3. Foundations of Classical Liberalism 4. The Birds and the Bees: Classical Liberalism(s) in Relation to Other Schools of Thought 5. Examining the Ordoliberal Tradition in Classical Liberal Thought 6. The Austrian Economists and Classical Liberalism 7. Classical Liberalism and Property 8. Rights and Classical Liberalism 9. Liberalism, Rights, and Welfare 10. Classical Liberal Constitutionalism 11. The Structure of Government 12. Public Administration and the Classical Liberal Tradition: Governance Principles and Processes 13. Coordination, Collective Action, and Voluntary Governance in the Classical Liberal Tradition: In Search of Civil Society 14. Classical Liberalism and Taxation 15. Fiscal Policy 16. Classically Liberal Monetary Policy: Rules, Not Discretion 17. Competition and Competition Law in the Classical Liberal Tradition 18. Price Controls from a Classical Liberal Perspective 19. Classical Liberal Perspectives on Banking and Financial Regulation 20. Data and Privacy 21. Classical Liberalism and Intellectual Property Rights: A Critical Reassessment 22. Environmental Policy and Regulation 23. Land-Use Regulation 24. Classical Liberalism and Corporate Law 25. Contemporary Welfare Policies 26. A Classical Liberal Approach to U.S. Health care 27. The Classical Liberal Account of Public Health 28. Education 29. On Paternalism 30. Classical Liberalism and Crime Prevention 31. Policing and Imprisonment: Is Classical Liberalism Complicit in Systemic Racism? 32. Gender in Classical Liberal Thought 33. Classical Liberalism in Native America 34. Foreign Policy, Defense, and War 35. Immigration and Citizenship in a Classically Liberal State: Principles and Policies 36. Liberalism and Trade 37. Economic Development and Classical Liberalism 38. The Future of Liberalism