The liberal order in complex societies marred by climate change

In this essay, I develop a complexity-oriented research program outlining an approach to classical liberal thought that highlights how rule-of-law institutions enable cooperation even in the face of intricate political and economic pressures from activist groups, diverse stakeholders, firms, and the general public. This research program outlines how government-imposed constraints, when guided by stable and uniformly applicable frameworks, can help shape group agency and collective choice—social features essential to tackling social and environmental externalities caused by human action, such as climate change. To ground this discussion, I adopt a lens focused on heterodox economics through incorporating methods from anthropological legal theory and the history of economic thought—namely their Austrian and classically liberal dimensions. By addressing different facets of traditional classical liberalism—decentralized decision-making, social choice, and the need for robust, free market institutions—this essay sets the stage for a broader inquiry into how development efforts, both in emerging and developed country contexts, can align with the ideals of republican social order and economic stability through changing political conditions. My conclusion will argue that stochastic economic and political shocks, which originate in worsening climate change, impair efforts for international development and create additional feedback loops which slow progress in areas like social justice, global inequality, and international cooperation across countries and communities at varying levels of wealth and income. This combination deserves greater academic attention.