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| − | + | ==Original meaning: 'Classical liberalism'== | |
| − | * in | + | '''Liberal''' is a term used in politics to describe someone who favors personal [[freedom]] in all its forms<ref>Etymology [http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=liberal]</ref>, as long as it does not conflict with the freedom of others ('liber' means freedom in Latin). The philosophy 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>. 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 | ||
| + | *Sexual freedom | ||
| + | *Equal rights independent of race or sex | ||
| + | |||
| + | A prominent publication which promotes liberalism in the original sense of the word is the British newsmagazine [[The Economist]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Liberalism in the US today== | ||
| + | |||
| + | Interestingly, nowadays the word 'liberal' is used differently in different parts of the world, reflecting political debates over different types of freedom. | ||
| + | |||
| + | In the US today, 'liberal' is usually used to mean someone who is generally [[left-wing]] in his attitudes towards the government, establishment, and many other laws. In the postwar period, 'liberal' [[Democrat | Democrats]] fought for equal rights between races and sexes, and also about sexual freedom, which are all true liberal causes. At the same time, many Democrats supported government intervention in the economy and [[welfare state]] policies, which are '''not''' liberal policies in the sense of [[classical liberalism]] at all. Nonetheless, all of these [[left-wing]] policies became associated with the meaning of 'liberal' in the US today, even though they are close to the views of many [[social democratic]] parties in Europe. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Many of the following views are held by Americans who consider themselves 'liberals': | ||
| + | |||
| + | * equal responsibilities for men and women, such as equal participation by men and women in the military | ||
| + | * freedom to follow or not to follow traditional gender roles | ||
* in favor of [[abortion]] rights | * in favor of [[abortion]] rights | ||
| + | * [[same-sex marriage]] | ||
| + | * equal rights for people of any race | ||
| + | * support of [[affirmative action]] | ||
| + | * in favor of [[political correctness]], civility and sensitivity in everyday speech | ||
| + | * equal treatment for all religions | ||
* promoting secularism and the prohibition of group prayer in school | * promoting secularism and the prohibition of group prayer in school | ||
| − | * | + | * government-sponsored education provided for all school-age citizens |
| + | * increased taxpayer funding of public schools | ||
| + | * universal and taxpayer-funded rather than private medical care | ||
| + | * increased power for labor unions | ||
| + | *[[income redistribution]], with higher progressive taxation on those in the top 10% of earnings. | ||
| + | * preference for a interpretation of the constitution as a "[[living Constitution]]" instead of an unchanging Constitution | ||
| + | * in favor of [[gun control]] | ||
* government programs to [[rehabilitate criminals]] | * government programs to [[rehabilitate criminals]] | ||
| − | |||
| − | |||
* protection of natural resources and wilderness areas | * protection of natural resources and wilderness areas | ||
| − | |||
| − | |||
* [[disarmament treaties]] | * [[disarmament treaties]] | ||
| − | |||
| − | |||
* reduction of the military | * reduction of the military | ||
| − | * | + | * opposition to armed intervention in other countries |
| − | + | * opposition to current American foreign policy <ref>Stefaan Walgrave and Joris Verhulst, [http://nicomedia.math.upatras.gr/conf/CAWM2003/Papers/Verhulst.pdf The February 15 Worldwide Protests against a War in Iraq: An Empirical Test of Transnational Opportunities. Outline of a Research Programme](PDF). </ref> as one that advances human rights <ref>[http://www.forward.com/articles/the-%E2%80%98answer%E2%80%99-question-poses-difficult-choices/ "The 'Answer' Question Poses Difficult Choices for Liberals"] by Gal Beckerman, ''The Forward'', September 30, 2005. </ref><ref>[http://www.commondreams.org/views03/0118-03.htm ''Looming War Isn't About Chemical Warheads or Human Rights: It's About Oil''], Robert Fisk, Independent/UK, 18 January 2003. </ref> and democracy <ref>[http://www.un.int/usa/02_131.htm President Bush's address to the United Nations], United States Mission to the United Nations, Press Release #131(02), 12 September 2002.</ref> | |
| − | + | ||
| − | + | ==Liberalism in Europe today== | |
| − | + | ||
| − | + | In Europe, on the other hand, parties that promote economic and business freedom are often called 'liberal' by their opponents. 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 [[right-wing]], exactly the opposite of the meaning in the US. | |
| − | * | + | |
| − | + | The few parties in Europe that actually call themselves 'liberal', such as the German Free Democratic Party, or the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe<ref>http://www.alde.eu</ref>, are usually pro-business parties that support [[classical liberal]] policies in favor of all kinds of freedom. | |
| − | + | ==Alternative meanings of 'liberal'== | |
One definition of liberal is anything that is not conservative. For example, the American Heritage Dictionary includes this definition of "liberal":<ref>Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/liberal</ref> | One definition of liberal is anything that is not conservative. For example, the American Heritage Dictionary includes this definition of "liberal":<ref>Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/liberal</ref> | ||
Revision as of 09:14, April 4, 2007
Original meaning: 'Classical liberalism'
Liberal is a term used in politics to describe someone who favors personal freedom in all its forms[1], as long as it does not conflict with the freedom of others ('liber' means freedom in Latin). The philosophy 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[2]. 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
- Sexual freedom
- Equal rights independent of race or sex
A prominent publication which promotes liberalism in the original sense of the word is the British newsmagazine The Economist.
Liberalism in the US today
Interestingly, nowadays the word 'liberal' is used differently in different parts of the world, reflecting political debates over different types of freedom.
In the US today, 'liberal' is usually used to mean someone who is generally left-wing in his attitudes towards the government, establishment, and many other laws. In the postwar period, 'liberal' Democrats fought for equal rights between races and sexes, and also about sexual freedom, which are all true liberal causes. At the same time, many Democrats supported government intervention in the economy and welfare state policies, which are not liberal policies in the sense of classical liberalism at all. Nonetheless, all of these left-wing policies became associated with the meaning of 'liberal' in the US today, even though they are close to the views of many social democratic parties in Europe.
Many of the following views are held by Americans who consider themselves 'liberals':
- equal responsibilities for men and women, such as equal participation by men and women in the military
- freedom to follow or not to follow traditional gender roles
- in favor of abortion rights
- same-sex marriage
- equal rights for people of any race
- support of affirmative action
- in favor of political correctness, civility and sensitivity in everyday speech
- equal treatment for all religions
- promoting secularism and the prohibition of group prayer in school
- government-sponsored education provided for all school-age citizens
- increased taxpayer funding of public schools
- universal and taxpayer-funded rather than private medical care
- increased power for labor unions
- income redistribution, with higher progressive taxation on those in the top 10% of earnings.
- preference for a interpretation of the constitution as a "living Constitution" instead of an unchanging Constitution
- in favor of gun control
- government programs to rehabilitate criminals
- protection of natural resources and wilderness areas
- disarmament treaties
- reduction of the military
- opposition to armed intervention in other countries
- opposition to current American foreign policy [3] as one that advances human rights [4][5] and democracy [6]
Liberalism in Europe today
In Europe, on the other hand, parties that promote economic and business freedom are often called 'liberal' by their opponents. 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 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 right-wing, exactly the opposite of the meaning in the US.
The few parties in Europe that actually call themselves 'liberal', such as the German Free Democratic Party, or the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe[7], are usually pro-business parties that support classical liberal policies in favor of all kinds of freedom.
Alternative meanings of 'liberal'
One definition of liberal is anything that is not conservative. For example, the American Heritage Dictionary includes this definition of "liberal":[8]
- Not limited to or by established, traditional, orthodox, or authoritarian attitudes, views, or dogmas ...
Other definitions from the same source include:
- Favoring proposals for reform, open to new ideas for progress, and tolerant of the ideas and behavior of others; broad-minded.
- Tending to give freely; generous.
- Generous in amount; ample.
References
- ↑ Etymology [1]
- ↑ [2]
- ↑ Stefaan Walgrave and Joris Verhulst, The February 15 Worldwide Protests against a War in Iraq: An Empirical Test of Transnational Opportunities. Outline of a Research Programme(PDF).
- ↑ "The 'Answer' Question Poses Difficult Choices for Liberals" by Gal Beckerman, The Forward, September 30, 2005.
- ↑ Looming War Isn't About Chemical Warheads or Human Rights: It's About Oil, Robert Fisk, Independent/UK, 18 January 2003.
- ↑ President Bush's address to the United Nations, United States Mission to the United Nations, Press Release #131(02), 12 September 2002.
- ↑ http://www.alde.eu
- ↑ Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/liberal