Mavis Gallant's Legacy Explores Cost of Freedom

In 'Liberty as Independence: The Making and Unmaking of a Political Idea,' historian Quentin Skinner explores the evolution of liberty from a republican ideal—emphasizing freedom as independence from arbitrary power and rooted in social status—to its modern, liberal understanding as simply the absence of coercion or barriers. Skinner traces how earlier thinkers viewed liberty as a condition enjoyed predominantly by a privileged few, but notes that the ideal itself is not inherently elitist, as later radicals sought to broaden its application. The book contrasts these conceptions, highlighting the ongoing tension between liberty as self-governance and liberty as non-interference. Skinner’s analysis underscores how debates over the meaning and scope of freedom remain central to political thought today.