Liberalism

Definition of Liberalism

The Canada social science dictionary [1] provides the following meaning of Liberalism: An ideology that upholds private property, individual rights, legal equality, freedom of choice and democratic government. Liberalism suggests that the essence of freedom is to be free from constraint. Liberalism is an ideology that supports capitalism and advocates the principle of free markets, left largely undirected by governments. While liberalism upholds free markets, it also places great value on equal of opportunity and is strongly opposed to ascriptive processes in society, since they restrict individual choice and deny equal access to satisfaction. In the twentieth century, a more active view of the state’s role in creating improved equality of opportunity in society became important within liberalism. (This trend in liberalism was also a reaction to the development of trade unions and of socialist and populist movements.) There was a massive expansion in state -provided education, social programs etc. from the end of the 19th century until the 1960’s and 1970’s. In the 1980’s and 1990’s a more classical view of liberalism has returned to prominence, one that advocates a much smaller role for the state and increased reliance on the workings of the free market. In making this argument, classical liberals claim that intervention in the market rarely, if ever, promotes choice, but frustrates the market adjustments that ultimately improve efficiency, the wealth of society and the ability of individuals to make choices. See: CLASSICAL LIBERALISM / NEO-LIBERALISM in this legal dictionary and in the world encyclopedia of law.

Liberalism: Resources

Notes and References

• Drislane, R., & Parkinson, G. (2016). (Concept of) Liberalism. Online dictionary of the social sciences. Open University of Canada

Grammar

This term is a noun.

Etimology of Liberalism

(You may find liberalism at the world legal encyclopedia and the etimology of more terms).

liberal principles, especially the political principles of a liberal party, 1819, from liberal (adj.) in the political sense + -ism.

Hierarchical Display of Liberalism

Politics > Political framework > Political ideology
Politics > Political framework > Political philosophy > Democracy
Economics > Economic policy > Economic policy > Economic liberalism
Politics > Political party > Political parties > Liberal Party

Meaning of Liberalism

Overview and more information about Liberalism

For a more comprehensive understanding of Liberalism, see in the general part of the online platform.[rtbs name=”xxx-xxx”]

Resources

Translation of Liberalism

• Spanish: Liberalismo
• French: Libéralisme
• German: Liberalismus
• Italian: Liberalismo
• Portuguese: Liberalismo
• Polish: Liberalizm

Thesaurus of Liberalism

Politics > Political framework > Political ideology > Liberalism
Politics > Political framework > Political philosophy > Democracy > Liberalism
Economics > Economic policy > Economic policy > Economic liberalism > Liberalism
Politics > Political party > Political parties > Liberal Party > Liberalism

See also

• Democracy
• Participatory democracy
• Representative democracy
• Deliberative democracy
• Direct democracy
• Economic liberalism
• Liberal Party