Liberalism That Wins
Available October 1st, 2025
Starting with the Science of Human Behaviour — A New Framework for Democratic Thought
A book for political leaders, thinkers, and practitioners, addressing the central problem of democratic politics: the absence of a coherent and compelling vision of the future.
As a connective work — at the intersection of political philosophy, neuroscience, moral psychology, and institutional design — it can reconnect the centre, strengthen democracy against illiberal movements, and build a vision people can trust.
A Work That...
Revisits the
Fundamentals
Applies Modern
Scientific Findings
Develops a more human framework
Political movements are, in essence, descriptions of purpose, form, direction, and identity.
By returning to these questions, we can lay a foundation that is both stable and coherent.
Converging research in neuroscience, psychology, and anthropology shows how human beings form trust, fairness, cooperation, and belonging. Using these findings as a basis for design moves politics beyond ideology toward evidence.
Institutions last when they feel legitimate. By aligning with innate moral preferences, we create systems that are trusted, more stable in crisis, and better able to deliver flourishing lives.
This framework builds on decades of research across a wide array of scientific fields.
Examening the Behavioural Drivers of Political Legitimacy
Innate Moral Preferences
Moral Alignment
Drives Legitimacy
Stability and Competitiveness
People experience legitimacy as a feeling before they rationalise it. Institutions are judged through alignment with basic moral preferences — fairness, trust, care, and belonging — which shape whether citizens feel included and respected.
When political systems reflect these preferences, they secure more than passive consent. They generate active commitment — the sense that the system is ours, worth defending and sustaining. This emotional legitimacy is the foundation of durable authority.
Political systems experienced as legitimate are stronger and more adaptive. They avoid the costs of coercion, foster cooperation, and unlock human potential — producing greater stability at home and competitiveness abroad.
From Insight to Institutional Design
By finding a firmer foundation for political form, this book gives reformers, thinkers, and engaged citizens the tools to:
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Diagnose with clarity — identify where existing systems fail to align with human needs and moral expectations.
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Reframe politics — move debate beyond ideology, grounding it in evidence about how people actually live and cooperate.
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Design for legitimacy — build institutions that feel fair, foster belonging, and encourage voluntary cooperation.
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Enable renewal — create systems that adapt over time, strengthening resilience against illiberal drift and systemic failure
About the Author
Nathan J. Murphy is a political thinker working at the intersection of political theory, science, and philosophy. His work explores how evidence-based thinking can strengthen democracy in an age of crisis. He is the author of The Ideas That Rule Us and founder of Prepolitica — an organisation that applies science to political renewal.