Localism. Countless location iterations of “that”, framed within the context of very general but absolute human rights. This is the true point of Liberalism, which is MUCH, MUCH, MUCH more interesting intellectually than the entirety of Marxist and following dogma piled high.
I honestly don’t get why intellectuals are drawn to the left wing. Actually, that’s not true. They are drawn, not because of the integrity, coherence, and vitality of the ideas–the right has a monopoly those–but rather because there they are RELEVANT. Intellectuals of the right exist solely to protect the freedom of non-intellectuals, which is to say ACTUALLY useful people.
No academic can be routinely expected to find a world interesting which does not find them interesting. That would require far more honesty and humility than most of them possess.