How Hitchens Can Save the Left

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Christopher Hitchens was once regarded as one of the most eloquent left-wing polemicists, but today, many on the left view him as a defector and a warmonger due to his support for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq after September 11. In this analysis, Matt Johnson contends that this narrative misrepresents Hitchens. He was a steadfast advocate for free inquiry, humanism, and universal liberal values, believing in the fundamental right of all individuals to express themselves freely, free from authoritarian constraints. Hitchens embodied Enlightenment ideals and remained a man of the left throughout his life, making his legacy increasingly relevant today. The liberal foundations of democratic societies are showing signs of decay, with nationalism and authoritarianism resurging on the right, while the left grapples with an overly reductive identity politics and a belief in the systemic flaws of their own societies. As free speech and individual rights wane in influence, Hitchens's defense of universal Enlightenment principles offers a vital framework for genuine liberals to resist emerging illiberal trends. His example serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of thinking and speaking boldly in support of these ideals.