What Is Freedom?

Editor's Note

William McKenzie

Nativism, Protectionism, and Isolationism Are Not the Way Forward

George W. Bush, Tony Blair

President Bush and Prime Minister Blair discuss how nativism, protectionism, and isolationism can impede our capacity to prosper — and ultimately impact our freedom.

FDR Spoke for Everyone in the World

Jeffrey A. Engel, Ph.D

Trying to convince Congress to join arms and protect democracies, FDR delivered the Four Freedoms speech he believed everyone in the world ought to enjoy. Today that debate continues — can freedom exist everywhere?

The Roots of Extremism

Leon Panetta

As non-state actors, nuclear weapons in unstable nations, and economic ties with China threaten our freedom, Leon Panetta, former director of the Central Intelligence Agency and former secretary of defense discusses the ways to combat these challenges.

Privacy, Security, and the Evolution of Power

General Michael Hayden

During his tenure at the CIA and National Security Agency, General Michael Hayden witnessed national security needs change dramatically. The question now is, how can the U.S. prepare for threats from both established nations and non-state actors?

Freedom from Fear: Not in North Korea

The Korean Peninsula is divided into two countries whose people could not face more drastically differing fates. While South Koreans enjoy economic prosperity and civil liberties, North Koreans live in a world with no freedom of speech, no freedom of religion, and widespread malnutrition.

The Military's Modern Role in Securing Freedom

The U.S. military has evolved since the 1940s, adapting to advancing technology and a vastly different enemy. But what has not changed is that the U.S. military stands as a key element in protecting the freedoms Franklin Roosevelt outlined in his speech.

The Religious Freedom Battleground

Timothy Keller

Topics with their roots in religious freedom have been hotly debated for decades — from neighborhoods to the Supreme Court. Where should lawmakers and justices draw the line for what should be considered religious freedom?

Solving Conflict through Religious Freedom

Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks

Religion has long been a source of conflict in the world, but once-fighting religions have found peace in the past. Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks explains that the road toward peace begins with the realization that every person desires the freedom to practice his or her religion as deeply as every other person.

Islam and Freedom: The Challenge and the Hope

Mustafa Akyol

Mustafa Akyol, author of Islam Without Extremes, explores how Muslim states can move toward liberal worldviews while staying true to their culture and religion.

Protecting Religious Freedom Abroad Makes America Safer

Katrina Lantos Swett

The U.S. has flourished in part because of its unique commitment to religious freedom: communities are able to co-exist regardless of how their beliefs differ. This same thinking, applied abroad, can help stabilize societies and our own national security.

The Unmistakable Tie Between Education and Prosperity

Geoffrey Canada

Poverty limits the mobility of children in many major American cities, but Geoffrey Canada believes that what works in affluent America can work in the poorest communities in America. He explains why we need to believe all children can learn and focus on what works.

Finding Tacky Furniture and Dignity on the Road to Economic Freedom

Ken Hersh

Economics is more than the transfer of wealth and goods. The human spirit longs for creativity and freedom — and economies flourish when men and women strive to accomplish their dreams and drive toward their goals.

Reading Friedman in 2016: Capitalism, Freedom, and the China Challenge

Experts warn that China’s model of authoritarian capitalism could prevail over democratic capitalism. But is China’s economic model sustainable? Could it really lead to a decline of democracy in the not-so-distant future?

Journalism and Freedom

Jim Lehrer

Fact-finding reporting is a timeless and essential service in a democracy. Jim Lehrer explores this topic, along with freedom of speech, from his perspective as a veteran newsman.

Will the Internet Ever be as Free as Air?

James K. Glassman

Thanks to the Internet, billions of people have access to an unfathomable amount of information in their pocket. But the full potential of the Internet won’t be met if governments act to limit freedom online to protect their regimes.

The Path to Freedom for Cuba

Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet

Dr. Oscar Biscet’s freedom was taken away after protesting the Castro regime, so he knows how little the Cuban government values personal freedom. The Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient discusses life in Cuba and the efforts to attain freedom for the country’s citizens.