Rationalization against Victims of Liberalism

The process of explaining away liberal society’s failures (deep inequality, democratic erosion) as results of insufficient liberalism (“not enough free markets,” “not enough democracy”), or as aberrations caused by external illiberal forces. The system’s logic is never wrong, only imperfectly applied.

Rationalization against Victims of Liberalism Example: “Our politics aren’t corrupt because of lobbying and dark money; it’s because we don’t have true campaign finance liberalism. More transparency and more speech will fix it.” This rationalization treats the systemic flaws as accidental, preserving faith in the original ideology by blaming its imperfect implementation.

by Abzugal February 8, 2026

Logicalization against the Victims of Liberalism

Using the formal principles of liberal philosophy (individualism, social contract theory) to logically dismiss claims of systemic victimization. If rights are individual and the contract is consensual, then collective grievances or claims of embedded oppression are framed as logical category errors.

Logicalization against the Victims of Liberalism Example: “You claim systemic racism, but the law is colorblind. Logically, any disparity must be due to individual or cultural factors, not the liberal system itself.” This logicalization uses the system’s own theoretical axioms to immunize it from critique, defining any evidence of group harm as illogical from the start.

by Abzugal February 8, 2026

Trivialization against the Victims of Liberalism

Portraying the negative consequences of liberal policies as minor inconveniences or as the hysterical complaints of groups seeking “special treatment.” It mocks demands for substantive equality as a desire for “coddling” or a refusal to engage in the “free marketplace of ideas.”

Trivialization against the Victims of Liberalism Example: Dismissing calls for robust anti-discrimination laws with, “So now we need a ‘safe space’ from every mean comment? Grow a thicker skin.” This trivialization reduces the material and psychological impact of discrimination to mere hurt feelings, framing the liberal norm of resilience as the only valid response.

by Abzugal February 8, 2026