Liberalism

Liberalism

Disclaimer: I'm not a history professor or an expert in political theory. However, I hope this will at least be a step above the only other article on liberalism, which is...well, not true. This is a work in progress, feel free to add on.

Liberalism is a political idealogy, opposed on a political scale to conservatism. Liberal ideals are broad, but generally favor personal freedom, equality, secularism, progressivism, and some degree of socialism. Liberalism in the economic sense refers mostly to a socialist ideal, one where fairness and equality is an enforced principle. Liberalism in the social sense refers mostly to an anti-authoritarian and anti-oppressionist ideal: all humans are equal and have equal rights to personal choice and opportunity. Socially liberal ideals are generally radical, as socially conservative ideals tend to be more traditional. Examples of liberal changes include seperation of church and state, democracy, freedom of speech, abolition, women and black's suffrage, etc. It is important to recognize that much of today's society is based on radical changes to traditional ideals. As liberal ideals tend to be radical and progressive, what was liberal a hundred years ago may be conservative today: one could argue that the American founding fathers were radically liberal for founding a nation ruled by its people, even though today they would be seen as extremely conservative for allowing slavery, denying women the right to vote, etc. As liberal thought progresses and becomes more accepted, what was once acceptable becomes unacceptable and too conservative, like racism and sexism.

Brief History of Liberalism

Liberalism has it's beginnings in the Age of Enlightenment, when philosophers began to reject traditional beliefs such as the divine right of kings to rule. As stated above, one could argue that the founding fathers of America were liberal in thought, compared to their peers. Thinkers who influenced the creation of the United States as well as the French Revolution often spoke of believing in all men being created equal, and having equal rights. Liberalism's progression in the world led to women and blacks being given the right to vote, equal opportunity, worker's rights, universal healthcare, complete seperation of church and state such as in Norway, etc.