The Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic and the political response to it have made liberalism more relevant than it has been in recent decades, especially in South Africa.
As with the apartheid regime before, once again we have seen the destruction the government can bring to the economy, people’s livelihoods and personal freedom, all under the guise of serving the so-called public interest. This destruction requires us to redouble our efforts in the fight for human liberty.
Many people regard the Covid-19 outbreak as the end of liberalism. It appears that most people have looked to the government to provide leadership through the crisis, rather than to themselves and their communities, as liberals would have it.