By Uditha Devapriya

Tracing its origins to 17th and 18th century European thought, liberalism has had a long, complex, and troubling history. In this essay Uditha Devapriya explores this history from the perspective of three contradictions that have bedevilled liberalism from inception. Though avowedly humanist, secular, and inclusive, liberalism has also been defined by a particular worldview and shaped by the ideologies of its time. Today, as the world confronts an increasingly polarised economic climate, Devapriya suggests how we can rethink liberalism and make it more relevant to contemporary needs and challenges.