Moderation is a contested concept that, with surprisingly few exceptions, is absent from our public debates. Today, the single famous line that people sometimes may remember belongs to Barry Goldwater: “Extremism in the pursuit of liberty is no vice, moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.” His witty words continue to provoke and invite us to rethink the nature of moderation and examine its eclecticism. The latter can be explored by looking at the many faces of moderation and the various agendas and principles moderates of all types advanced over time. 

The lecture will address the following questions: What kind of virtue is political moderation and how can we study it? What does it mean to be a moderate voice in politics? What are the limits and benefits of moderation? Finally, can moderation be a winning card in our hyper-polarized political world?

Craiutu is the Arthur F. Bentley Professor and Chair of the Department of Political Science at Indiana University, Bloomington. His most recent book is Why Not Moderation? Letters to a Young Radical (Cambridge University Press, 2024). His talk is sponsored by the Political Economy Project and the Rockefeller Center.