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| − | ==Original meaning: 'Classical liberalism'==
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| − | The original philosophy of liberalism (now sometimes called [[classical liberalism]], or [[libertarianism]] in the US), favors many forms of freedom, such as:
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| − | *Freedom of speech
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| − | *Freedom of religion
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| − | *The right to form political parties and vote
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| − | *Freedom to invest in and use private property
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| − | *Freedom to work as one chooses
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| − | *Freedom to enter into economic contracts
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| − | *Free trade and freedom of migration
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| − | *Sexual freedom
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| − | *Equal rights independent of race or sex
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| − | This interpretation of liberalism arose during the [[Enlightenment]], and became influential throught the [[American Revolution]] and [[French Revolution]], and was also spread in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries by the [[classical economists]]<ref>[http://www.economyprofessor.com/economictheories/economic-liberalism.php]</ref>.
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| − | A prominent publication which promotes liberalism in the original sense of the word is the British newsmagazine [[The Economist]].
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| | ==Liberalism in the US today== | | ==Liberalism in the US today== |
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| | Trade unions and socialist parties often criticize politicians that promote lower taxes on business, or more flexible hiring and firing laws, by calling them 'liberals' or [[neoliberal | neoliberals]]. Thus, just like in the US, 'liberal' is often used as a term of abuse. But when someone is called 'liberal' in Europe, this is usually a way of calling them [[rightist | right-wing]], exactly the opposite of the meaning in the US. | | Trade unions and socialist parties often criticize politicians that promote lower taxes on business, or more flexible hiring and firing laws, by calling them 'liberals' or [[neoliberal | neoliberals]]. Thus, just like in the US, 'liberal' is often used as a term of abuse. But when someone is called 'liberal' in Europe, this is usually a way of calling them [[rightist | right-wing]], exactly the opposite of the meaning in the US. |
| | In fact, the US meaning of liberal is more similar to the politics of European [[socialist]] or [[social democracy | social democratic]] parties.<ref>[http://www.pes.org]</ref>. | | In fact, the US meaning of liberal is more similar to the politics of European [[socialist]] or [[social democracy | social democratic]] parties.<ref>[http://www.pes.org]</ref>. |
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| | + | ==Original meaning: 'Classical liberalism'== |
| | + | |
| | + | The original philosophy of liberalism (now sometimes called [[classical liberalism]], or [[libertarianism]] in the US), favors many forms of freedom, such as: |
| | + | |
| | + | *Freedom of speech |
| | + | *Freedom of religion |
| | + | *The right to form political parties and vote |
| | + | *Freedom to invest in and use private property |
| | + | *Freedom to work as one chooses |
| | + | *Freedom to enter into economic contracts |
| | + | *Free trade and freedom of migration |
| | + | *Sexual freedom |
| | + | *Equal rights independent of race or sex |
| | + | |
| | + | This interpretation of liberalism arose during the [[Enlightenment]], and became influential throught the [[American Revolution]] and [[French Revolution]], and was also spread in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries by the [[classical economists]]<ref>[http://www.economyprofessor.com/economictheories/economic-liberalism.php]</ref>. |
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| | + | A prominent publication which promotes liberalism in the original sense of the word is the British newsmagazine [[The Economist]]. |
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| | ==Alternative meanings of 'liberal'== | | ==Alternative meanings of 'liberal'== |