Danilo Taino on Ralf Dahrendorf as a liberal European

In its obituary on sociologist Ralf Dahrendorf, who passed away earlier this week, the liberal-conservative daily Corriere della Sera underlines his role as a mediator in Europe and his importance for liberalism, as well as his weakness for England: "Dahrendorf, born in Hamburg, is a piece of Europe's culture and political history forming a link between several disciplines – as a sociologist, economist and practicing politician - but above all between two different worlds: the proof that continental Europe can benefit from its closeness to the UK. He loved the kingdom on the other side of the English Channel for its openness and originality, its universities and perhaps for one or two of its political leaders. … The study of social democracy was to remain an important field for Ralf Dahrendorf, but he never converted to it. He walked onto the political stage, the Bundestag [the lower house of the German parliament], in 1969 as a liberal with the FDP (Free Democratic Party). … And Europe, too, would always be among his main interests: he was a convinced European yet sceptical about the rhetoric and bureaucratisation of the European Community."

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