The Narrow Corridor takes us on an exciting journey through all continents and across human history to discover the critical ingredient of freedom.

The ultimate conclusion is that it depends on each one of us: this ingredient is the commitment we have as citizens to support democratic values. In times like today, there could not be a more important message.

According to a Western myth, political freedom is a resilient construct that is realized through a process of "enlightenment." This static view expresses nothing but a fantasy, the authors argue. In reality, the corridor to freedom is narrow, and to remain open, it requires a fundamental and ongoing struggle between the state and society.

One of the greatest paradoxes of political history is the trend observed over the last ten thousand years, on one hand, towards a move away from small tribes and on the other towards the development of strong centralized states that enable societies of millions of people to function.

But how can a strong state reconcile with the idea that its citizens enjoy freedom? And, on the other hand, what position should we take regarding the current challenges facing our democracies?

This book is about freedom, how and why human societies have succeeded or failed to achieve it. It also concerns the consequences of this success or failure, particularly in relation to welfare.

It is evident that freedom is rare in history and that it is equally rare today. Every year, millions of people in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Central America leave their homeland, risking their lives and physical integrity, not because they seek higher income or greater comforts, but because they are trying to protect themselves and their families from violence and fear.

Philosophers have proposed many definitions of freedom. But at the most fundamental level, as Locke recognized, freedom must begin at the point where people are liberated from violence, terror, and other degrading situations. People must be free to choose the life they will live and have the means to realize their choices, without the threat of irrational punishments and draconian social sanctions.