This series insists on the bond between liberalism and
democracy. Liberalism and democracy are two distinguishable
components of present-day liberal democratic societies. Their
combination into a particular form of society is a great
achievement but it is also a source of difficult problems. For
instance, can these societies reconcile the fundamental conflict
between minimizing governmental authority and intrusiveness
and the democratic demand for more governmental activities
and greater governmental provision of welfare services? What
are the consequences of some of the institutions of liberal
democratic society for the daily life of the individual in his or
her private sphere? These questions and others like them
constitute a continuing challenge for the present and successor
generations. These books are devised to assist in the
understanding of that challenge.

Roger Michener
Edwar Shils

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