Liberalism has come to be seen as a conservative ideology but its roots are based in Rousseau and the French Revolution, focused on individual freedom and limited government. Matt McManus argues that "Cold War" liberals reshaped it to favor elites and stifle more radical calls for equality. Liberalism's true heritage is rooted in a commitment to social justice and egalitarianism, advocating for a version of liberalism that extends democratic principles and counters the populist revival.