Publication Type

Book Chapter

Version

acceptedVersion

Publication Date

1-2006

Abstract

F. A. Hayek occupies a peculiar place in the history of twentiethcentury liberalism. His influence has, in many respects, been enormous. The Road to Serfdom, his first political work, not onlyattracted popular attention in the west but also circulated widely(in samizdat form) in the intellectual underground of Eastern Europeduring the years between the end of the war and the revolutions of1989. His critique of central planning has been thoroughly vindicated, if not by the demise of communist economic systems, thenat least by the recognition by socialists of many stripes of theimportance of market processes.1 Books and articles on his thoughtcontinue to appear and there is plenty of evidence that his ideas arewidely discussed in Europe, South America, and even in the UnitedStates. Hayek’s political influence has been no less remarkable.He persuaded Antony Fisher to abandon his plans for a politicalcareer and to devote himself instead to establishing an organization for the dissemination of classical liberal ideas. The Institute ofEconomic Affairs founded by Fisher not only played an important rolein changing the policymaking climate in Britain but also became themodel for many classical liberal ‘‘think-tanks’’ around the world. ButHayek also influenced political leaders and activists more directlythrough his writings and public speeches,2 and also through personalcorrespondence. By any reasonable standard, Hayek has been a significant public intellectual whose influence has roamed across thedisciplines of social science into the realms of public policy.

Discipline

Ethics and Political Philosophy | Political Economy

Research Areas

Political Science

Publication

The cambridge companion to Hayek

Editor

FESER, Edward

First Page

182

Last Page

207

ISBN

9781139827584

Identifier

10.1017/CCOL0521849772.011

Publisher

Cambridge University Press

Additional URL

https://doi.org/10.1017/CCOL0521849772.011

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