1The Enlightenment thinkers, such as Rousseau and Locke, were instrumental in shaping the concept of individualism that underpins modern liberal democracies.
2Critics of neoliberalism argue that its emphasis on individualism has led to the erosion of social welfare systems and the exacerbation of economic inequality.
3The tension between individualism and collectivism is a recurring theme in American cultural and intellectual history, from the frontier spirit to the civil rights movement.
4In her influential work, 'The Death of the Heart', Elizabeth Bowen explores the disintegration of individualism in the face of war and social upheaval.
5There is a growing concern that the cult of individualism in modern capitalist societies has contributed to the decline of civic engagement and the fragmentation of community life.