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Michael Sandel is one of the leading communitarian social philosophers. He criticized Rawls in his book Liberalism and the Limits of Justice. Later, he wrote a more historical and practical critique of modern liberalism called Democracy's Discontents.

Sandel believes that modern liberalism has tried to construct a political philosophy that assumes a certain kind of person or 'self.' That self is "unencumbered" by obligations unless it has freely accepted them (except for the obligation to respect similar freedom for others). The liberal political philosophy also attempts to keep government from pursuing any particular concept of the good or the good life. As much as possible, it is expected to remain neutral with regard to competing ideas of the good. And it is not expected to try to develop the character of its citizens in any particular way. According to Sandel, this political philosophy has more or less triumphed in 20th century America. He refers to it as "procedural liberalism."

Sandel also believes that this notion of the self is inadequate because it does not capture the moral experience of most people. People do feel bound by obligations that they have not chosen. Furthermore, he argues that this philosophy ill equips us to deal with the problems that we face today as a society.

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