Raymond Aron's "Machiavellian" Liberalism

Area of Science:

• Political Philosophy
• Sociology
• Intellectual History

Background:

• Recent scholarship emphasizes Raymond Aron's "Cold War Liberalism."
• This perspective overlooks his deeper theoretical foundations.
• Aron's political thought is often miscategorized as neo-liberal or libertarian.

Purpose of the Study:

• To re-evaluate Raymond Aron's democratic theory.
• To establish Aron as a "Machiavellian" liberal.
• To explore the influence of Pareto, Mosca, and Michels on Aron's thought.

Main Methods:

• Reconstruction of Aron's intellectual dialogue with Vilfredo Pareto.
• Analysis of Aron's underappreciated sociological works on elite theory.
• Extension of the "Machiavellian Moment" thesis to the Centre Raymond Aron.

Main Results:

• Aron's liberalism is significantly shaped by elite theorists like Pareto, Mosca, and Michels.
• His democratic theory integrates insights on the dynamics of ruling classes.
• The "Machiavellian Moment" framework is applicable to understanding Aron's intellectual project.

Conclusions:

• Raymond Aron should be understood as a "Machiavellian" liberal, not a neo-liberal or libertarian.
• His engagement with elite theory provides a unique perspective on democratic stability.
• Aron's theories remain relevant for contemporary analysis of democracy and power.