ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION This chapter examines the issue of how liberalism, the dominant ideology of Western democracies since 1945 is best justified. Also examined is the issue of the historical journey of toleration in Western liberal democratic states from religious toleration after the wars of religion, (the original ‘liberalism of fear’) to toleration of political views and sexual lifestyles. The final question examines how the liberal democracies justify the punishment of criminal offenders.
