Helena Rosenblatt Knihy

The book delves into the socio-economic, political, and religious landscape of 18th-century Geneva, shedding light on how these elements influenced Rousseau's intellectual evolution from the First Discourse to the Social Contract. By emphasizing Rousseau's Genevan roots, the author reveals how his classical republicanism, natural law theory, and civil religion emerged as reactions to Geneva's political climate, challenging the notion of Rousseau solely as a French thinker and highlighting his unique contributions to political thought.

"The Lost History of Liberalism challenges our most basic assumptions about a political creed that has become a rallying cry - and a term of derision - in today's increasingly divided public square. Taking readers from ancient Rome to today, Helena Rosenblatt traces the evolution of the words "liberal" and "liberalism," revealing the heated debates that have taken place over their meaning. In this timely and provocative book, Rosenblatt debunks the popular myth of liberalism as a uniquely Anglo-American tradition centered on individual rights. It was only during the Cold War and America's growing world hegemony that liberalism was refashioned into an American ideology focused so strongly on individual freedoms."--