Exciting news has come from Europe this week as European Students For Liberty announces its first essay contest! The topic is one that most SFL-ers are familiar with—making the case for liberty to conservatives or progressives. If you choose to enter, your task is to compose an open letter to your conservative or progressive friends advocating the libertarian position. If you win, you’ll have a chance to be published in The Freeman or Anything Peaceful!

Where do classical liberals fit in the modern political spectrum? It’s a question that has stumped political philosophy for quite a long time. Some would argue that libertarianism is at root a liberal and perhaps even progressive tradition. Women’s rights, the abolitionist movement, anti-imperialism, and the fight against aristocratic privileges—all of these historical movements were heavily influenced by classical liberal thought.

But the libertarian approach to economics and concern with such issues as religious freedom and the right to self defense fit well with conservative thought. History complicates the issue. Until the rise of socialism, conservatism was the political opposite of liberalism. But isn’t it possible to defend well-established traditions from within the view of classical liberalism?

The life and thought of F.A. Hayek illustrates the point well. Classically liberal through and through, Hayek both endorsed the idea of a guaranteed minimum income (a fairly progressive idea) and sang the praises of tradition. As libertarians, we have the two-fold challenge of arguing to both the left and right. So, take advantage of this opportunity to hone your arguments and think deeply about what it means to be a classical liberal.

Your submission should be 1,200 words maximum, and the deadline is August 15. A jury will choose one winner addressing conservative students and one winner addressing progressive students, each receiving a prize of €250. Again, winners will have a chance to have their work published in The Freeman or on Anything Peaceful pending approval and edits from the publications’ editors.

The jury will take into account both style and content. Style matters, because an open letter that is boring or offensive will receive little attention. And content matters since facts and theories shape an argument. It’s acceptable and encouraged to reference academic work that supports your argument, but the main goal is to translate your arguments into a nice, interesting and fun open letter to your friends.

Please send your submissions to Academic Programs Director Nur Baysal.

Formal qualifications:

Max 1200 words

No footnotes

Helvetica, size 12

Spacing 1.5

Deadline: August 15, 2015