John A. Hobson. Un liberalismo eretico contro la supremazia dello spirito economico

This essay intends to investigate John A. Hobson’s theory of liberal- ism from a political perspective, starting from his declaration of the death of liberalism, analysing his writings on social problems to ex- plain his so called science of human welfare. In particular, the essay focuses on some crucial knots around which his revision of liberalism moves: 1. the need for an ethical vision of economy; 2. the conception of society, subjectivity and the state in the face of the crisis of individualism and laissez faire; 3. his conception of an a «organic plan of social progress» and its political meaning. The analysis of these aspects of his work shows his importance for the history of political thought also beyond his famous study on imperialism and shows the rise of a new concept of liberal democracy, bringing into light its problems and contradictions.