Illiberal Reformers - Thomas Leonard, Hayek Lecture Series

Explore the controversial legacy of Progressive Era economic reforms in this thought-provoking lecture by Thomas Leonard. Delve into the complex motivations behind the creation of the regulatory welfare state, examining how academic social scientists and their allies sought to rationalize industrial capitalism. Uncover the paradoxical nature of these reforms, which aimed to uplift some while advocating for the exclusion of others. Investigate the influence of Darwinism, racial science, and eugenics on late 19th and early 20th-century scholars and activists. Gain insights into the ambivalent attitudes towards America's poor held by intellectual champions of the regulatory welfare state. Analyze the historical context, including urbanization, the Industrial Revolution, and the rise of expertism. Consider the roles of progressive women, efficiency, and concepts like race suicide in shaping these reforms. Reflect on the lessons for modern scholars and the dangers of technocratic hubris as Leonard reconstructs this pivotal period in American economic and social history.