This paper aims at highlighting Keynes' main arguments in his criticism of economic liberalism, conceived of as the theories and the praxis of economic policy adopted by the mainstream thinkers in the field of economics and symbolically based on the laissez-faire approach. Although Keynes' ultimate works are in the field of economic theory, a number of them show his political line of thought, more evidently his criticism of classical liberalism. The paper demonstrates that, in a world polarized between nazi-fascism and the Soviet Stalinist experience, Keynes articulates a very peculiar view against both, in favor of a representative democracy and a free market economy. However, possibly based on philosophical pragmatism, economic liberalism is seen as a myth that is not compatible with 20th century capitalism.
Keynes; Liberalism; History of economic thought; Keynesian ideology; Anti-liberalism