liberalism
Pro-freedom political stance
Liberalism is a political philosophy emphasizing individual liberty, constitutional government, and protection of civil rights.
In American usage, liberal typically means left-of-center—favoring government intervention in the economy and progressive social policies.
In classical or European usage, liberalism stresses free markets and limited government.
Her liberalism showed in her support for universal healthcare.
The term's meaning shifts with context and country.
Rule by the people
- votingFormally registering a choice
- suffrageRight to cast ballots
- parliamentNational legislative assembly
- senateLegislative governing body
legislature · constitution · representative · electorate · ballot · referendum · coalition · campaign
Profound spiritual awakening
- rationalismReason as knowledge source
- humanismPhilosophy prioritizing earthly reason
- secularismSeparation of faith, state
- utilitarianismGreatest-happiness moral theory
individualism · progressivism · egalitarianism · Montesquieu · Voltaire · Kant
Coexistence of differing views
- diversityState of varied elements
- inclusivityPractice of welcoming all
- multiculturalismCoexistence of diverse traditions
- open-mindednessAcceptance of differing viewpoints
acceptance · cosmopolitanism · coexistence · respect · secularism · integration · interfaith · broad-mindedness
Improve by correcting faults
- feminismAdvocacy for sex equality
- environmentalismAdvocacy for nature protection
- equalitySame status for all
- progressivismPhilosophy advocating societal reform
Justified claims to freedoms
- autonomyIndependent decision-making capacity
- emancipationRelease from legal bondage
- self-determinationControl over one's fate
- independenceFreedom from external control
choice · sovereignty · noninterference · consent · privacy
Unregulated private exchange
- capitalismPrivate profit-based economy
- privatizationState sells public assets
- deregulationRemoving governmental business restrictions
- laissez-faireNoninterference in commerce
globalization · competition · entrepreneurship · austerity · monetarism · commercialism · meritocracy · commodification
democracy
Rule by the people
- votingFormally registering a choice
- suffrageRight to cast ballots
- parliamentNational legislative assembly
senate · legislature · constitution · representative · electorate · ballot · referendum · coalition · campaign · policy
enlightenment
Profound spiritual awakening
- rationalismReason as knowledge source
- humanismPhilosophy prioritizing earthly reason
- secularismSeparation of faith, state
utilitarianism · individualism · progressivism · egalitarianism · Montesquieu · Voltaire · Kant
pluralism
Coexistence of differing views
- diversityState of varied elements
- inclusivityPractice of welcoming all
- multiculturalismCoexistence of diverse traditions
open-mindedness · acceptance · cosmopolitanism · coexistence · respect · secularism · integration · interfaith · broad-mindedness · live-and-let-live
reform
Improve by correcting faults
- feminismAdvocacy for sex equality
- environmentalismAdvocacy for nature protection
- equalitySame status for all
rights
Justified claims to freedoms
- autonomyIndependent decision-making capacity
- emancipationRelease from legal bondage
- self-determinationControl over one's fate
independence · choice · sovereignty · noninterference · consent · privacy
free-market
Unregulated private exchange
- capitalismPrivate profit-based economy
- privatizationState sells public assets
- deregulationRemoving governmental business restrictions
laissez-faire · globalization · competition · entrepreneurship · austerity · monetarism · commercialism · meritocracy · commodification · supply-side
- political ideologiesconservatism, conservative, anarchism, socialism, socialist
- political sciencepolitical science, political theory, political behavior, political economy, political institutions
- -ismsatomism, postmodernism, feminism, Marxism, Darwinism
- ideologiescapitalism, communism, conservatism, socialism, anarchism
- Liberal RevolutionsFrench Revolution, American Revolution, Hungarian Revolution, Greek War of Independence, Haitian Revolution
- NetherlandsAmsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht, tulips
liberalismconservatism
Preference for existing institutions
right · neoconservatism · traditionalism · paleoconservatism · Toryism
liberalismreactionism
Opposition to social progress
conservatism · traditionalism · reactionaryism · obscurantism · regression
liberalismilliberalism
Opposition to open society
intolerance · narrow-mindedness · closed-mindedness · antiliberalism · bigotry
- classical liberalismDoctrine of minimal governance
- political liberalismPhilosophy prioritizing civil freedoms
liberality, liberalize, liberalized, liberalizing, liberalization, liberalizes, neoliberalism, illiberalism, liberalizations