Liberalism is a political philosophy or worldview founded on the belief that everyone has the right to personal freedom and equal rights under the law. It emphasizes individual rights, democracy, and free market economics.
Liberalism has its roots in the Age of Enlightenment in the 17th and 18th centuries.
The term 'liberal' was first used in the early 19th century to describe political ideas centered on individual freedoms.
In the 20th century, classical liberalism evolved into modern liberalism with more focus on social justice and government intervention to address social and economic inequality.
Modern liberalism is also known as progressivism or social liberalism.
Conservatism is a political philosophy that emphasizes traditional values, limited government intervention, and a strong national defense.
Socialism is a political philosophy that emphasizes that the means of production, distribution, and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a whole.
Fascism is a political philosophy that emphasizes authoritarian government, extreme nationalism, and the suppression of individual freedoms.
Classical liberalism emphasizes personal freedom, individual property rights, and free market capitalism.
Modern liberalism emphasizes government intervention in the economy and society to address social and economic inequality.
Neoliberalism emphasizes free market capitalism, deregulation, and reducing the size and scope of government intervention in the economy.
Classical liberalism emphasizes personal freedom and individual property rights while modern liberalism emphasizes government intervention in the economy and society to address social and economic inequality.
Modern liberalism is sometimes called progressivism or social liberalism, but not all progressive or social liberal ideas fall under the umbrella of liberalism as a whole.
Conservatives believe in more limited government intervention, traditional values, and free market economics, which can be at odds with liberal ideas of government intervention to address social and economic inequality and expanding rights to marginalized groups.
Liberalism is usually considered to be a left-wing ideology in contemporary political discourse, but it has elements that can be seen as centrist or even right-wing depending on the context and specific beliefs of the individual.
Libertarianism is a political philosophy that emphasizes individual freedoms, free market capitalism, and limited government intervention in the economy and society. While liberalism shares some of these values, it also emphasizes government intervention in certain contexts, which can put it at odds with libertarianism.