Religion & Liberty Online Archives

Free Trade

July 17, 2018

Trouble in Tanzania

President John Magufuli rose to power in Tanzania in 2015 with 58% of the popular vote. A populist and master of publicity, Magufuli gathered support all over the nation and now leads one of Africa’s most populous nations. Continue Reading...
July 12, 2018

5 things Christians and Muslims can agree on

At Acton University, Turkish Islamic scholar, Mustafa Akyol, gave multiple lectures on Islam, discussing topics ranging from its history to its controversial practices. Akyol has been speaking at Acton University for many years now and is a respected scholar in fields of Islam, politics, and Turkish affairs. Continue Reading...
July 03, 2018

Acton University: Why Fair Trade isn’t fair

Imagine: You are in the grocery store, searching for the perfect bag of coffee- not too expensive, but still rich in flavor and good quality. As you are turning away with the coffee you have just chosen, there on the shelf is a bag of coffee with the Fair Trade logo. Continue Reading...
June 26, 2018

Charles Krauthammer on America as a ‘commercial republic’

“We are not an imperial power. We are a commercial republic. We don’t take food; we trade for it. Which makes us something unique in history, an anomaly, a hybrid.” –Charles Krauthammer This week, we received the sad news that Charles Krauthammer has passed away due to a recent battle with cancer.  Continue Reading...
May 31, 2018

Want to ‘change the world’? Embrace the glories of economic scale

As the latest crop of college graduates enters the workforce, many are coming fully loaded with grandiose plans for “social transformation,” “giving back to their communities,” and “making a difference.” Unfortunately, such phrases have become slippery slogans based on a cultural imagination that is far too narrow in its basic assumptions. Continue Reading...
May 22, 2018

The beauty of trade: How sharing creates civilization and culture

In our complex and globalized economy, it can be hard to remember that trade and markets are fundamentally about relationships—channels for human interaction in pursuit of goods and services. That basic reality may be easier to see and feel at the local farmer’s market or the neighborhood diner, but it nonetheless translates across more intricate and extensive networks of exchange. Continue Reading...
March 27, 2018

Toward a Godly globalization

Globalization is routinely decried for its disruptive effects, particularly as it relates to the health of our social relationships and community enterprises and institutions. Even as it’s proven to drive significant economic growth, questions remain about its steamrolling influence on the culture and society. Continue Reading...