Symbolic Liberalism and Dialogical Sociology

Sari Hanafi, professor of sociology at the American University of Beirut and former president of the International Sociological Association, delivers a compelling 10-minute talk on 'symbolic liberalism'—a phenomenon where individuals espouse classical liberal values like freedom of expression and human rights while acting in ways that are politically illiberal. He critiques how this contradiction exacerbates polarization, undermines dialogue, and deepens social inequalities, particularly in the context of late modernity marked by authoritarianism, economic precarity, and environmental crisis. Drawing from his book *Against Symbolic Liberalism: A Plea for Dialogical Sociology*, Hanafi calls for a 'dialogical turn' in sociology and public life, advocating for a 'dialogical liberal project' that balances individual rights with collective justice, embraces pluralism, and fosters genuine cross-cultural conversation. He illustrates this through case studies, focusing on Sweden’s controversial child protection system, where over 3,000 children were removed from families without consent—highlighting how symbolic liberalism manifests in state overreach, cultural erasure, and the erosion of family as a moral and social institution. Hanafi argues that while some interventions are necessary, the current approach reflects a hegemonic, deculturalized conception of the good that suppresses dialogue and undermines civil society’s foundational institutions.