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Home » Society » Politics » Liberalism Liberalism
The word "liberalism" is derived from the Latin liber, free. As the name indicates, liberalism is traditionally a political ideology emphasizing the personal liberty of each individual, including freedom of thought, conscience, religion, opinion, expression, assembly, association, movement, enterprise, occupation, contract, etc. which the state should not violate, except to protect the rights of others. Classical liberalism emerged first in the seventeenth century Europe, and was represented during the following centuries by such thinkers as John Locke, Voltaire, Adam Smith, Immanuel Kant and John Stuart Mill. Beside personal liberty, classical liberalism also advocated economical liberty, the right of property, capitalism and free markets. In the beginning of the twentieth century, however, the meaning of the word "liberalism" became altered in North America. The "New Liberalism" demanded a much stronger role of state in protecting personal liberty and social justice, in expense of economical liberty. This variant of liberalism is also known as "welfare liberalism" or "social liberalism" or "liberal egalitarianism". Its most famous theorists include American philosophers John Rawls and Ronald Dworkin and British economist John Maynard Keynes. As the default meaning of the word "liberal" changed in North America, began the American classical liberals call their philosophy "libertarianism" or "market liberalism". Its most notable modern representatives include Austrian economists Ludwig von Mises, Friedrich von Hayek, American economist Milton Friedman and American philosopher Robert Nozick. In Europe and other parts of the world "liberalism" usually still refers to its more or less classical meaning. Therefore a liberal encountered in Europe more likely supports free market, and a liberal in America more likely defends welfare state. The former would be called a libertarian in America, the latter a social liberal or a social democrat in Europe. In most other languages than English the word "liberalism" refers almost solely to the free market variant of the word. Because of the varying meanings of the word "Liberalism" this category is divided to two subcategories, "Social Liberalism", which refers to the meaning of liberalism more common in North America, and "Libertarianism", which refers to the meaning of liberalism more common in Europe and other parts of the world.
Sub-Categories:
| Liberalism - Gerald F. Gaus outlines the general philosophical theory of liberalism.
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| | What is Liberalism? - Dr. Razeen Sally explores the intellectual foundations of liberal thought.
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| | Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD) - Information about CALD, member parties, publications, resolutions and activities.
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| | European Liberal Youth (LYMEC) - Organization for European liberal youth. Introduction, manifesto, discussion forum, links, and news.
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| | Liberalism - Written by Hayek in 1973 for the Italian Enciclopedia del Novicento where the article appeared in an Italian translation and later reprinted as Chapter Nine of Hayek's New Studies in Philosophy, Politics, Economics and the History of Ideas.
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| | Liberal International - The worldwide federation of liberal parties, ranging from left-liberal to moderate libertarian. Site provides information about the functions of the organization, shopping, links to member parties and organizations, news releases, and event calendar.
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| | Liberals and Libertarians - Points out similarities between the issue positions of U.S. left-liberals and libertarians. Also gives quotes, reading list, and related links.
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| | International Federation of Liberal Youth (IFLRY) - The youth organization of Liberal International. Calendar of Events round the world, program of action, campaigns and publications.
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| | Guide to Classical Liberal Scholarship - Concise introduction to the history and theory of classical liberalism.
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| | The Two Wings of Liberalism - Terrence Cook compares "right liberalism" and "left liberalism" in chart form.
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| | Parti européen des libéraux, démocrates et réformateurs (ELDR) - Actualités, présentation des instances, historique, programmes électoraux, réseaux de partis membres et affiliés, calendrier d'événements.
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| | Liberalism Under the Microscope - Michael Cain considers three volumes of essays on liberal economic and political thought in Central Europe.
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| | The Demonisation of Market Liberalism - Speech by Samuel Brittan to the EU Seminar on Europe in 21st Century (April 14 2000). Brittan is a leading economic commentator and Financial Times columnist.
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| | Classical Liberalism - Wikipedia - Encyclopedia article examines the classical liberal school and notes distinctions between it and other schools of thought within liberalism such as libertarianism and New Liberalism.
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| | Liberalism - Wikipedia - Encylopedia article outlining the history of the ideology and explaining different forms of liberalism.
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| | Falling Down: The decline of liberalism in Central and Eastern Europe - Considers why most liberal parties in Central and Eastern Europe disappeared from the political scene after a promising beginning in the early 1990s. Published in Central Europe Review .
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| | Initiative of South East European Liberals - ISEEL - Network open to all liberal youth organizations from the countries of the Stability Pact as well as to individuals from all over the world.
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