The Future Tasks of Liberalism - a political agenda 2010-2020

Now that's a title with gravitas, no?

Here in Vancouver, a workshop with that title has just gotten under way. You guys at home may be talking of Gurkhas and possible Labour defections, but here it's all about deep philosophical thoughts, of the rise of Chinese military power, of the future of international co-operation, of defence of the free market. All done with simultaneous translation in a windowless box with an enormous cruise ship outside.

That cruise ship is a metaphor for Liberal International in many ways. Everyone is heading in the same direction, although occasionally new passengers get on, and old passengers either die or decide that, for them, the trip towards a liberal future is not where they would like to make. The crew and passengers speak a jumble of languages and operate in a multi-cultural atmosphere.

The keynote speaker is Dr Ing-Wen Tsai, Chairwoman of the Democratic Progressive Party of Taiwan, speaking on behalf of Asia. The DPP are, to Liberal Democrat tastes, a bit too right of centre, keen on deregulation and a light touch in terms of state participation (especially state subsidy). However, one suspects that the contributions from Europe, Africa (the Parti Constitutional of Morocco) and the Americas (the Liberal Party of Canada) will balance the discussion somewhat, displaying the full spectrum of international liberal thinking.

I'm particularly confident about the European contribution, as it comes from the President of the Liberal Democrats...