Liberal brutality : the illusion of difference within liberalism

Simon, G

Abstract

Hobbes argues that liberal orders protect individual freedom and enable subjects to live
in different ways, but he is clear that only certain differences are tolerable: those who
challenge the legitimacy and solidity of the order are not just different but radically
different, they must be classed as 'enemies' and treated violently. Since Hobbes,
however, liberal thinkers have emphasised diversity, not violence. Whilst they rarely
advocate a fully inclusive order in which even liberalism's enemies can live freely, they
do claim that liberalism enables differences to flourish. This thesis aims to demonstrate
the illusory nature of this claim. It shows that post-Hobbesian thinkers offering liberal
visions of flourishing diversity conceal the number of subjects who will be classed as
radically different and are likely to experience exclusion, assimilation and normalisation
as a consequence.
It explains first that Locke, Mill and Rawls privilege rational, deliberative individuals in
their ideals but ignore the subtle violence experienced by those who diverge from this
model of subjectivity. However, the thesis focuses on three more radical theorists:
William Connolly, Bonnie Honig and Chantal Mouffe. They admit that liberalism
cannot escape radical difference and violence, but they attempt to limit this violence by
theorising a liberal order invigorated by institutions for 'agonistic contest,' into which
those who differ can channel their resistance and through which they can create spaces
for difference. However, it is shown that, despite their aims, these theorists, in different
ways, also conceal the number of subjects who will be treated violently in their visions
because they diverge from liberal subjectivity. The thesis thus reveals that even radicalliberals claiming to acknowledge and confront liberalism's violence conceal the number
of subjects treated violently behind an illusion of difference. It concludes by exploring
the potentially devastating implications of this analysis for liberal political theory and
practice.

Citation

Simon, G. Liberal brutality : the illusion of difference within liberalism. (Thesis). Salford : University of Salford

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Oct 3, 2012
• Award Date: Jan 1, 2007