Vinson Centre Conference: Classical Liberalism 2025
In collaboration with the Centre for the Study of Governance and Society (King’s College London)
‘The Diversity of Classical Liberalism’ 7th July 2025
Vinson Building Auditorium, University of Buckingham. Buckingham.
Below are the topics discussed during the conference and the Chairpersons and Speakers.
Opening lecture – “Equality of Permission as the Essential Liberalism.”. By Professor Deirdre McCloskey (CATO Institute).
Session 1 – On Classical Liberal Traditions
Chairperson: Professor Martin Ricketts (University of Buckingham).
Speakers:
Professor Mark Pennington (King’s College London) – Foucault, Post-modernism, and Classical Liberalism.
Dr Steve Davies (Institute of Economic Affairs) – Lost traditions in Classical Liberalism in the 19th century.
Professor Paul D. Aligica (Mercatus Center) – Collective Identity, Governance Frameworks, and the Architecture of Freedom: Liberal Nationalism Reconsidered.
Session 2 – On Classical Liberalism and Change
Chairperson: Lord Syed Kamall (Vinson Centre).
Speakers:
Dr Phillip Magness (Independent Institute) – Anticapitalism and antiliberal causes since the global financial crisis.
Dr Paola Romero (London School of Economics) – Conservatism: The Odd Uncle of Classical Liberalism”.
Session 3 – On International Relations and Conflict
Chairperson: Dr Steve Davies (Institute of Economic Affairs).
Speakers:
Dr Edwin Van de Haar (Independent Scholar) – A classical Liberal approach to international relations.
Lord Syed Kamall (Vinson Centre) – A classical liberal vision on the world order and the current ‘tariffs war’.
Session 4 – Classical Liberalism: a dialogue between Public Choice School and the Austrian School
Chairperson: Dr Gabriel Calzada (Universidad de las Hesperides).
Speakers:
Professor Philip Booth (St Marys University) and Professor Christian Bjørnskov (Aarhus University).