Liberalism

:This article discusses liberalism as a major political ideology, not the usage of the term in specific countries. For links to articles about varieties of liberalism and liberal parties around the world, see Liberalism in various countries, below.

Usage of the word liberalism

The word liberalism has several different, but generally related, political meanings. In its original political meaning, the term "liberal" refers to a political philosophy, founded on the principles of the Enlightenment and to a lesser extent the Idealist parts of the Romantic, that tries to circumscribe the limits of political power and to define and support individual rights. In the present, a variety of ideologies attempt to claim the mantle of 19th century liberalism, from American liberalism to libertarianism to social-liberalism.

Related Topics:
American liberalism - Libertarianism - Social-liberalism

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Liberals throughout the world understand liberalism as embracing a tradition rooted in the Enlightenment, the American War of Independence, the more moderate bourgeois elements of the French Revolution, and the European Revolutions of 1848, with philosophical roots going back to the Renaissance traditions of empiricism (Sir Francis Bacon), humanism (Erasmus), and pragmatism (Niccolò Machiavelli).

Related Topics:
Enlightenment - American War of Independence - Bourgeois - French Revolution - Revolutions of 1848 - Renaissance - Sir Francis Bacon - Erasmus - Pragmatism - Niccolò Machiavelli

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The original Enlightenment thinkers, such as John Locke and Baron de Montesquieu, attempted to establish limits on existing political powers by asserting that there were natural rights and fundamental laws of governance that not even kings could overstep without becoming tyrants. This was combined with the idea that commercial freedom would best benefit the whole of the political order, an idea that would later be associated with the advocacy of capitalism, and which was drawn from the works of Adam Smith and David Ricardo. The next important piece of the triad of ideas of liberalism, was the idea of popular self-determination. Most liberals support a combination of these ideas, although many would ascribe more importance to one of them than to the other two.

Related Topics:
John Locke - Baron de Montesquieu - Tyrants - Capitalism - Adam Smith - David Ricardo

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Beginning in the late 18th century, liberalism became the governing ideology in various countries, e.g. in the United Kingdom. At the same time, liberalism became a major ideology in virtually all developed countries. As a result of being so widespread, the term "liberalism" began to evolve rapidly, and took on different meanings in different countries and schools of thought. To some, liberalism remained in its late 18th century form: limiting the role of states as actors within the economy, except to the extent of providing a stable political, legal and monetary frame work - which included being responsible for protecting against threats from abroad and enforcing civil order at home, along with maintaining a stable currency, based on a "sound money" policy. Such minimalistic states are sometimes called night watchman states. With the coming of industrialization, part of the liberal thinkers focused on government institutions that are perceived to encourage "social progress," developing social liberalism as a current inside liberalism. Each of the various groups have continued to claim the name of "liberal" as their own. Disputes regarding both the right to the name "liberal" and the true meaning of "classical" liberalism continue into the 21st century.

Related Topics:
United Kingdom - Night watchman state - Social liberalism

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