'New Threats to Liberty in the 21st Century from Left and Right'

6.30pm, Wednesday 20th February 2008

Westminster Arms (upstairs room)
9 Storey's Gate
London
SW1P 3AT

Admission is free, but a donation at the meeting or later is always
welcome.  The meeting is open to members and non-members alike.  All
speakers are "contributors to debate".

* * *

The Society for Individual Freedom (http://www.individualist.org.uk)
is pleased to announce that its next guest speaker will be Dr Mark
Pennington.

Historically, conservatives and socialists have shared a suspicion of
free markets and individual liberty.  For conservatives, the market
economy represents a threat to established hierarchies and the
stability of tradition and religion, while for socialists market
competition has little to distinguish it from an anarchy where the
strong oppress the weak.  Notwithstanding this scepticism concerning
markets, conservatives and socialists have often found themselves on
opposing sides of practical politics.

Today, however, there are signs of realignment in the political
spectrum.  From the rise of environmentalism and anti-globalism to
'food and health fascism' the forces of left and right are uniting in
an anti-libertarian direction.  This realignment presents both a
threat to individual liberty and a new opportunity for those who wish
to defend it.  Mark Pennington will explore these threats and
opportunities and the ways in which libertarians can makes themselves
relevant in 21st century politics.

Mark Pennington is Senior Lecturer in Political Economy in the
Department of Politics, Queen Mary, University of London.