Is Europe the Last Bastion of Classical Liberalism?

For many observers, the United States has long stood as the nation of democracy, free speech, and free markets. This unique combination turned the country into a hyperpower — one of the richest nations in the world, with the most powerful military and the most dazzling soft power. No other country exerts such global influence in technology, diplomacy, and culture. Liberty, openness, scientific spirit, and a strong belief in the future have all driven America’s success.

By contrast, the European Union is often portrayed as a sluggish bureaucracy, plagued by mediocre economic performance — particularly since the Covid pandemic. Productivity remains low, and not a single major AI company has emerged from European soil. The reasons are well known: lack of venture capital, high taxation, and excessive regulation. The EU endured Brexit in 2020 and failed to defend Ukraine after the annexation of Crimea in 2014. In my view, the roots of this underperformance are clear: the EU became more concerned with redistribution than with growth, more focused on regulating than on innovating, more interested in comfort than in discovery and protection of liberty (including military protection when needed).

That being said, we should avoid caricature. Europe remains home to valuable innovation — in deep tech, robotics, cleantech — but it often lacks the scale and capital needed to compete globally. This is not a desert, but a fragmented and too small ecosystem. Europe has some remarkable AI startups, for instance. But they struggle to scale up — mainly because a true single market for digital services still doesn’t exist on the continent.

At first glance, this diagnosis may sound pessimistic. But it’s not — because something has been changing since the arrival of Trump in the Oval Office. It is no longer unthinkable that Europe may now be more classically liberal than the United States. Surprising? How can an overregulated, overtaxed continent claim to be the new home of liberalism? Let me explain.

I’m referring to classical liberalism, which rests on three foundational pillars: philosophical, legal, and economic. Philosophically, classical liberalism holds that human beings possess free will and rationality, and are responsible for their actions. What defines us as humans is our capacity for choice — grounded in reason.

Legally, it demands equality before the law. There can be no liberal society without the rule of law and an independent, impartial judiciary. Economically, it views liberty as the primary driver of prosperity and social harmony. Free trade is one of its core components — which is why liberals have always stood against protectionism and economic nationalism. So, when I speak of liberalism, I do not mean neoliberalism — often confused with deregulation at any cost — nor libertarianism, which rejects the state altogether. I speak of classical liberalism, anchored in reason, law, and freedom. A tradition that spans from Montesquieu to Berlin, and that deserves to be revived and defended.

With that in mind, it becomes clear that Donald Trump’s political agenda has nothing to do with liberalism. His brand of distorted capitalism has more in common with authoritarian populism than with any liberal tradition. He is a fervent nationalist and protectionist who fundamentally rejects free trade. He has openly challenged the independence of the judiciary, as seen in his attempts to override Supreme Court decisions. His disdain for science and his assault on research institutions reveal a rejection of rationality and innovation. To be fair, the American institutional system has shown great resilience in recent years. Courts, media, and civil society continue to uphold the Constitution. But the liberal spirit — the philosophical ethos — is clearly under pressure.

By contrast, Europe still upholds key liberal principles. Yes, economic freedom is hampered by excessive regulation and a burdensome tax system — especially in my country, France. And yes, some European governments (like Viktor Orbán’s in Hungary or Giorgia Meloni’s in Italy) embrace nationalist rhetoric. But most major EU governments — in France, Germany, Poland, and elsewhere — remain pro-science, pro–rule of law, and pro–free trade. Two telling examples: the European Union has stayed united in its opposition to Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. The so-called “coalition of the willing,” led by Paris and London, try to compensate for the U.S.’s waning military support for Kyiv. Moreover, I hope — and believe — that the EU will remain united in order to avoid a protectionist escalation.

I have no doubt that, sooner or later, the United States will return to the founding principles of its Constitution — principles rooted in classical liberalism. But until then, Europe has a vital role to play: preserving the values of liberal democracy, keeping the flame alive until America once again finds its way back to its own legacy. Peace, scientific progress, and prosperity depend on it. It is therefore essential to multiply public stands in favor of liberal democracy, to oppose populist candidates in elections, and to defend our model against external attempts at destabilization — especially those coming from Russia.

— Nicolas Bouzou