The Colloque Walter Lippmann (
English: Walter Lippmann Colloquium), was a conference of intellectuals organized in
Paris in August 1938 by French philosopher
Louis Rougier
Louis Auguste Paul Rougier (; 10 April 1889 – 14 October 1982) was a French philosopher. Rougier made many important contributions to epistemology, philosophy of science, political philosophy and the history of Christianity.
Early life
Rougie ...
.
After interest in
classical liberalism had declined in the 1920s and 1930s, the aim was to construct a new
liberalism as a rejection of
collectivism
Collectivism may refer to:
* Bureaucratic collectivism, a theory of class society whichto describe the Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin
* Collectivist anarchism, a socialist doctrine in which the workers own and manage the production
* Collectivi ...
,
socialism and ''
laissez-faire'' liberalism.
At the meeting, the term
neoliberalism was coined by
German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany (of or related to)
**Germania (historical use)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
**Ge ...
sociologist and
economist
An economist is a professional and practitioner in the social science discipline of economics.
The individual may also study, develop, and apply theories and concepts from economics and write about economic policy. Within this field there are ...
Alexander Rüstow
Alexander Rüstow (8 April 1885 – 30 June 1963) was a German sociologist and economist. In 1938 he originated the term neoliberalism at the Colloque Walter Lippmann. He was one of the fathers of the "Social Market Economy" that shaped the econ ...
, referring to the rejection of the old ''laissez-faire'' liberalism.
Namesake
The colloquium was named after American journalist
Walter Lippmann. Lippman's 1937 book ''An Enquiry into the Principles of the Good Society'' had been translated into French as ''La Cité libre'' () and was studied in detail at the meeting.
Importance
Twenty-six intellectuals, including some of the most prominent liberal thinkers, took part. The participants chose to set up an organization to promote liberalism which was called the ''Comité international d'étude pour le renouveau du libéralisme'' (CIERL). Though CIERL had few consequences because of the war, it inspired Austrian-British
economist
An economist is a professional and practitioner in the social science discipline of economics.
The individual may also study, develop, and apply theories and concepts from economics and write about economic policy. Within this field there are ...
and
philosopher Friedrich Hayek
Friedrich August von Hayek ( , ; 8 May 189923 March 1992), often referred to by his initials F. A. Hayek, was an Austrian–British economist, legal theorist and philosopher who is best known for his defense of classical liberalism. Haye ...
in the postwar creation of the
Mont Pelerin Society in Switzerland.
Michel Foucault's 1978–1979
Collège de France
The Collège de France (), formerly known as the ''Collège Royal'' or as the ''Collège impérial'' founded in 1530 by François I, is a higher education and research establishment ('' grand établissement'') in France. It is located in Paris ...
lectures, published a quarter of a century later as ''
The Birth of Biopolitics
''The Birth of Biopolitics'' is a part of a lecture series by French philosopher Michel Foucault at the Collège de France between 1978 and 1979 and published posthumously based on audio recordings. In it, Foucault develops further the notion of ...
'', drew attention to the importance of the Walter Lippmann Colloquium.
Ideological cleavages
The participants were divided into two primary camps; one, represented by
Ludwig von Mises,
Jacques Rueff, and
Étienne Mantoux
Étienne Mantoux (5 February 1913 – 29 April 1945) was a French economist, born in Paris. He was the son of Paul Mantoux. He is probably best known for his book ''The Carthaginian Peace, or the Economic Consequences of Mr. Keynes'' publishe ...
, which advocated a strict adherence to
Manchester liberalism
Manchester Liberalism (also called the Manchester School, Manchester Capitalism and Manchesterism) comprises the political, economic and social movements of the 19th century that originated in Manchester, England. Led by Richard Cobden and John ...
and ''laissez-faire''; the other camp, represented by
Alexander Rüstow
Alexander Rüstow (8 April 1885 – 30 June 1963) was a German sociologist and economist. In 1938 he originated the term neoliberalism at the Colloque Walter Lippmann. He was one of the fathers of the "Social Market Economy" that shaped the econ ...
,
Raymond Aron,
Wilhelm Röpke
Wilhelm Röpke (October 10, 1899 – February 12, 1966) was a German economist and social critic, best known as one of the spiritual fathers of the social market economy. A Professor of Economics, first in Jena, then in Graz, Marburg, Ista ...
,
Auguste Detoeuf,
Robert Marjolin
Robert Marjolin (27 July 1911 – 15 April 1986) was a French economist and politician involved in the formation of the European Economic Community.
Early life and education
Robert Majolin was born in Paris, the son of an upholsterer. He left ...
,
Friedrich Hayek
Friedrich August von Hayek ( , ; 8 May 189923 March 1992), often referred to by his initials F. A. Hayek, was an Austrian–British economist, legal theorist and philosopher who is best known for his defense of classical liberalism. Haye ...
,
Louis Marlio, and
Walter Lippmann, opted for a kind of
social liberalism which was more favorable to state intervention and regulation and
Keynesian
Keynesian economics ( ; sometimes Keynesianism, named after British economist John Maynard Keynes) are the various macroeconomic theories and models of how aggregate demand (total spending in the economy) strongly influences economic output a ...
solutions.
Participants
Participants of the Colloquium included:
*
Raymond Aron, French philosopher, sociologist, journalist and political scientist
*
Friedrich Hayek
Friedrich August von Hayek ( , ; 8 May 189923 March 1992), often referred to by his initials F. A. Hayek, was an Austrian–British economist, legal theorist and philosopher who is best known for his defense of classical liberalism. Haye ...
, Austrian and British economist and philosopher
*
Walter Lippmann, American writer, reporter and political commentator
*
Auguste Detœuf, French economist
*
Étienne Mantoux
Étienne Mantoux (5 February 1913 – 29 April 1945) was a French economist, born in Paris. He was the son of Paul Mantoux. He is probably best known for his book ''The Carthaginian Peace, or the Economic Consequences of Mr. Keynes'' publishe ...
, French economist
*
Robert Marjolin
Robert Marjolin (27 July 1911 – 15 April 1986) was a French economist and politician involved in the formation of the European Economic Community.
Early life and education
Robert Majolin was born in Paris, the son of an upholsterer. He left ...
, French economist and politician
*
Louis Marlio, French economist
*
Ernest Mercier, French industrialist
*
Ludwig von Mises, Austro-Hungarian born economist
*
Michael Polanyi
Michael Polanyi (; hu, Polányi Mihály; 11 March 1891 – 22 February 1976) was a Hungarian-British polymath, who made important theoretical contributions to physical chemistry, economics, and philosophy. He argued that positivism supplie ...
, Hungarian-British
polymath
*
Stefan Thomas Possony, Austro-Hungarian born economist and military strategist
*
Wilhelm Röpke
Wilhelm Röpke (October 10, 1899 – February 12, 1966) was a German economist and social critic, best known as one of the spiritual fathers of the social market economy. A Professor of Economics, first in Jena, then in Graz, Marburg, Ista ...
, German economist
*
Louis Rougier
Louis Auguste Paul Rougier (; 10 April 1889 – 14 October 1982) was a French philosopher. Rougier made many important contributions to epistemology, philosophy of science, political philosophy and the history of Christianity.
Early life
Rougie ...
, French philosopher
*
Jacques Rueff, French economist
*
Alexander Rüstow
Alexander Rüstow (8 April 1885 – 30 June 1963) was a German sociologist and economist. In 1938 he originated the term neoliberalism at the Colloque Walter Lippmann. He was one of the fathers of the "Social Market Economy" that shaped the econ ...
, German sociologist and economist
Walter Eucken
Walter Eucken (; 17 January 1891 – 20 March 1950) was a German economist of the Freiburg school and father of ordoliberalism. He is closely linked with the development of the concept of "social market economy".
Early life
Walter Eucken was born ...
was invited to the colloquium, but he was not given permission to leave Germany by the
Nazi regime.
References
External links
Beacon of Liberty Amid Depression
{{neoliberalism
History of liberalism
Neoliberalism
Conservatism in France
1938 in France
1938 conferences