Rainbow Liberty: Liberal Political Economy and Queer Freedom

This volume uses classical liberal thought to present new theoretical and empirical perspectives on freedom of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) individuals and communities.

Rainbow Liberty emphasizes the institutions that sustain tolerance, pluralism, and freedom of association, which empower marginalized communities to build civil associations in the face of social and political pressures. Classical liberal methodological and normative studies on LGBTQ life have been conspicuously absent in scholarly literature but are applied in this volume to explore the circumstances and implications of queer agency and freedom. The ideas of Adam Smith, F. A. Hayek, James M. Buchanan, and Vincent and Elinor Ostrom, among other thinkers in the classical liberal tradition, give a unique and underappreciated perspective on LGBTQ issues.

This volume is an invaluable resource for scholars exploring sexuality and gender from a variety of disciplines, including economics, political science, philosophy, sociology, and related fields. Rainbow Liberty appeals more broadly to anyone interested in how queer freedoms have shaped, and continue to shape, our world.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1041016441
• ISBN13: 9781041016441
• Release Date: September 2026
• Publisher: Routledge
• Length: 256 Pages