Società libera, governo limitato, senso del limite: Russell Kirk e una prospettiva conservatrice e liberale

Abstract

Russell Kirk (1919-1994) has been one of the most important American conservative thinkers of the Twentieth century. However, in Italy his thought is anything but studied. After a brief introduction into the problem of order in political terms, in the first part this essay aims at exploring his political thought with particular attention to his idea of order and in continuity with Burke’s and Tocqueville’s perspectives. After that, some of the major cultural influences on his thought will be considered. Thirdly, the essay will focus on a comparison between his and Hayek’s vision of order, underlying differences but also similarities. The conclusion will try to outline a conservative vision of order characterised, at the same time, by the respect of traditions, the sense of limits and the ordered liberty.