National Policy Archives - KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast & Radio Show · Burt Cohen

America’s Old Tradition of “Civic Republicanism” Is New Again

January 23, 2023·59 min·5 clips

Paul Glastris reveals how the 1970s economic crises led both parties to embrace a laissez-faire approach that still shapes America today.

This episode explores the concept of civic republicanism as a potential unifying framework for America's deep political divisions. Host Bert Cohen interviews Paul Glastris, editor-in-chief of the Washington Monthly, which dedicated a special print series to this topic. Glastris argues that both major political parties have operated under a neoliberal economic order since the late 1970s, prioritizing deregulation and limited government intervention. He traces a historical cycle in American governance, contrasting this neoliberal era with periods like the post-World War II years, where policies like the GI Bill and the Higher Education Act aimed to provide citizens with economic assets and opportunity. The conversation identifies concentrated corporate power and declining antitrust enforcement as key factors suppressing wages, entrepreneurship, and economic security. Glastris points to specific actions by the Biden administration, such as the CHIPS Act and Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan's move to outlaw non-compete clauses, as breaks from the neoliberal consensus. He cites the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 and the Morrill Land-Grant Act as foundational examples of civic republican principles in action, designed to create broad-based prosperity through land ownership and accessible education. A central insight is that the founders believed economic independence was a prerequisite for political freedom and a stable republic, a condition now eroded. Glastris suggests the shared, often unconscious, anger on both the political left and right stems from a common frustration with this neoliberal economic system, despite stark cultural differences. He observes that while many young people are skeptical of capitalism, they retain an entrepreneurial spirit, which he sees as a point of hope. The discussion notes a paradoxical anti-corporate sentiment within parts of the Republican base, exemplified by rhetoric against "woke capitalism" and actions like Florida's dispute with Disney. Glastris posits that the rise of authoritarian figures can be linked to the decline of a secure middle class, which the founders saw as a bulwark against dictatorship. He contends that civic republicanism offers a distinct alternative to both European-style socialism and untethered libertarianism, rooted in uniquely American traditions. The tone is a conversational and educational dialogue between two engaged participants seeking historical context for contemporary problems. The style is analytical, weaving together political history, economic policy, and philosophical ideas about democracy. This episode would appeal to listeners interested in political history, economic policy alternatives, and seeking a framework to understand current polarization beyond typical partisan narratives. Those seeking breaking news analysis or partisan advocacy might find the discussion too philosophical or historical.

As heard by us

A serious look at political fracture, capitalism, and the search for common ground.

This episode takes up America's political split and asks whether the founders still offer any shared ground. Bert Cohen keeps circling the gap between what people think and what policy delivers, and Paul Glastris widens that concern into a broader look at decline, alienation,…

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Why you'd press play

You want a calm, serious route through America's political exhaustion.

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