Is Liberalism Failing? The Anglosphere’s Existential Crisis | Brian Dijkema

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Host Sean Rasmussen sits down with Brian Dijkema, president of Cardus Canada and senior editor of Comment. Their wide-ranging conversation dives deep into the state of Western liberal democracies, the challenges facing Canadian society, and the interplay between faith, tradition, and contemporary public life.

Guest:

Brian Dijkema is the President, Canada at Cardus, and Senior Editor of Comment. He is a public policy analyst, public commentator, and writer.

He regularly works with municipal, provincial, federal governments, and civil servants on a wide range of policy issues. He consults widely with industry, business, labour, and civil society institutions. He is called upon to make presentations on research and policy to legislatures, and  industry professionals, and contributes to media outlets on cultural and political issues across Canada and internationally, including the Globe and Mail, the National Post, the Toronto Star, The Hub, National Affairs, and more. Brian and his wife Nicole, along with their four children, call Hamilton home.

Links:
Cardus Canada: ⁠https://www.cardus.ca/⁠
Brian Dijkema on X: ⁠https://x.com/BrianDijkema⁠

Here’s a quick rundown of the major topics they explored:

1. Current Challenges in Western Democracies

• Polarization and institutional decline
• Progressive activism and identity politics
• Housing affordability crisis
• Rising government debt and intergenerational responsibility

2. The Evolution and Problems of Liberal Societies

• Plurality of causes for societal issues
• The role of self-interest in the weakening of institutions
• Liberalism’s historical intent vs. its present manifestations
• The shift away from shared public responsibility

3. Return to Faith and Religion

• Growing openness to faith in public discourse
• Unique trends in Canada versus the U.S. and U.K.
• Young men’s interest in religion and its sociopolitical implications

4. Perceptions and Prejudices Toward Christianity

• Hostility towards Christianity in academic and media circles
• The legacy of colonialism and historical failures of the church
• Christianity’s complicated relationship with imperial power
• Christianity’s role in shaping social justice and international law

5. Western Self-Critique and Cultural Introspection

• Oikophobia and the tradition of Western self-criticism
• The pros and cons of cultural self-examination
• Risks associated with “throwing out” tradition

6. Forgiveness, Identity, and the Social Fabric

• The importance of forgiveness and common humanity
• The downside of purely identity-based politics
• Liberalism’s tendency to “punt” on foundational questions about human nature

7. Freedom, Pluralism, and Limits Within Liberalism

• Historical context of religious freedom
• Boundaries placed on pluralism in law and society
• The tension between autonomy and shared values

8. The Role of Christian Tradition in the Foundations of Liberal Democracy

• The social capital inherited from centuries of Christian development
• Judeo-Christian architecture of Western institutions
• Calls to “retrieve” rather than simply conserve tradition

9. Cardus & Comment: Thought Leadership in Faith and Public Life

• The work of Cardus and Comment in shaping debate
• Principles of charity, hospitality, and truth in public discourse
• Cross-partisan collaborations and empirical research

10. Leadership, Hope, and Imagination for Canada’s Future

• The qualities needed in today’s leaders
• Addressing fiscal realities, fertility, and social opportunity
• Organizing for change in education and civil society
• Building alternative institutions outside government structures

11. Practical Dialogue Across Differences

• Strategies for secular and religious collaboration
• Honest public debate about values, policy, and empirical truth
• The importance of transparency and openness in public discussions

12. Finding Faith and Community in Modern Canada

• Navigating diverse and “captured” church communities
• Recommendations for exploring Christianity—books, thinkers, and organizations
• Building bridges for curiosity and entry into spiritual dialogue

Whether you’re secular, religious, or somewhere in between, this episode offers a thought-provoking look at the foundations, crises, and futures of Canadian society and the Western world. For anyone curious about the interplay of tradition, faith, and public vision, it’s a must-listen.

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