One side-effect of the so-called war on terror has been a crisis of liberalism. This is not only a question of alarmingly illiberal legislation, but a more general problem of how the liberal state deals with its anti-liberal enemies.

Summary

The quote highlights the unanticipated consequence of the "war on terror": a crisis for liberalism. It suggests that in the pursuit of countering terrorism, liberal states may resort to legislation that undermines liberal principles. Moreover, it emphasizes a broader issue of how liberal states should handle their opponents who harbor anti-liberal ideologies. The quote implies that the conflict between liberal values and the need for national security presents a challenge for liberal democratic societies in maintaining their commitment to liberalism while effectively addressing security concerns.

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