In this essay for Liberty Unbound, I examine the protests in Hong Kong and the widespread confusion between democracy and liberty.

Hong Kong is one of the freest, safest, and most civilized places I know. My argument is that democracy, by itself, does not create liberty. In fact, democratic pressure often expands government, weakens institutions, and gives political legitimacy to the majority’s appetite for control and redistribution.

Read the archived article at Liberty Unbound via the Wayback Machine →