Difference between revisions of "Liberalism"

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-<blockquote>''The following article describes the term "liberalism" as it is used today. For the historical meaning of liberalism, see [[Classical liberalism]].''</blockquote>
-'''Liberalism''' can refer to a number of political philosophies.  In this article the [[United States of America|American]] political platform referred to as "liberal" within the United States is contrasted with other meanings of the word, particularly in [[Europe]] and in other [[Parliamentary democracy|parliamentary democratic]] systems.
-== United States ==
-[[Image:Liberal Brain.jpg|thumb|250px|top|<center>A satirical conception of the liberal brain.</center>]]
-In the U.S. the word ''liberal'' is usually used to describe the platform espoused by the [[Democratic Party]], that is, support of [[social welfare]] systems, redistribution of wealth, and government regulation of the economy - combined with a certain brand of individual [[libertarianism]], emphasizing social equality, and (to a certain extent) rejection of traditional [[Judaism|Judeo]]-[[Christianity|Christian]] standards of [[morality]] as a proper foundation for [[law]].
-The [[economic]] aspects of this ideology are to a large extent a product of the [[New Deal]] policies of the [[Great Depression]] era, as well as [[Lyndon B. Johnson]]'s "[[Great Society]]."  The Democratic Party's idea of social liberty and equality, though, came much later, partly as a result of the [[Civil rights movement|civil rights]] and [[counterculture]] movements of the late 20<sup>th</sup> century.  It continues to be fueled by various youth movements and the interests of numerous special interest groups.
-== Europe and elsewhere ==
-In Europe, ''liberalism'' refers to a political position that leans toward greater individual liberties and less government intervention in general.  In short, this is the philosophy closest to [[classical liberalism]], and is commonly referred to in the United States as [[libertarianism]].  In Europe and elsewhere, then, the opposite of liberalism is not [[conservatism]], but [[authoritarianism]].
-Because of this, the terms "conservative liberalism" and "liberal conservatism", which are seen as contradictory in the U.S., are not so in Europe.  "Conservative liberalism" simply refers to a less radical libertarian philosophy, and is often referred to as "law-and-order liberalism."  Liberal conservatism is simply a variant of conservatism willing to allow for individual liberties, and, in a way, describes the ideology of the American [[Republican Party]].
-[[Category:Liberalism]]

Difference between revisions of "Liberalism"

Revision as of 21:42, May 17, 2009

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