Liberalism

Liberalism is a political philosophy or worldview founded on ideas of liberty and equality. The former principle is stressed in classical liberalism while the latter is more evident in social liberalism. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally they support ideas and programs such as freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, free markets, civil rights, democratic societies, secular governments, and international cooperation.

Liberalism first became a distinct political movement during the Age of Enlightenment, when it became popular among philosophers and economists in the Western world. Liberalism rejected the notions, common at the time, of hereditary privilege, state religion, absolute monarchy, and the Divine Right of Kings. The 17th-century philosopher John Locke is often credited with founding liberalism as a distinct philosophical tradition. Locke argued that each man has a natural right to life, liberty and property, while adding that governments must not violate these rights based on the social contract. Liberals opposed traditional conservatism and sought to replace absolutism in government with representative democracy and the rule of law.

Liberalism (book)

Liberalism (original German title: Liberalismus) is an influential book by Austrian School economist and libertarian thinker Ludwig von Mises, containing economic analysis and indicting critique of socialism. It was first published in 1927 by Gustav Fischer Verlag in Jena and defending classical liberal ideology based on individual property rights. Starting from the principle of private property, Mises shows how the other classical liberal freedoms follow from property rights and argues that liberalism free of government intervention is required to promote peace, social harmony and the general welfare. The book was translated into English by a student of Mises, Ralph Raico, but its first English edition in 1962 was titled The Free and Prosperous Commonwealth rather than Liberalism, as Mises thought that the literal translation would create confusion because the term liberalism after the New Deal and especially in the 1960s became widely used in the United States to refer to a centre-left politics that supports degrees of government intervention, in opposition to Mises' central premise. The English translation was made available online by the Ludwig von Mises Institute in 2000.

Liberalism in the United States

Liberalism in the United States is a broad political philosophy centered on the unalienable rights of the individual. The fundamental liberal ideals of freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of religion for all belief systems, and the separation of church and state, right to due process, and equality under the law are widely accepted as a common foundation across the spectrum of liberal thought.

Modern liberalism in the United States includes issues such as same-sex marriage, voting rights for all adult citizens, civil rights, environmental justice, and government protection of freedom from want. National social services such as: equal education opportunities; access to health care; and transportation infrastructure are intended to meet the responsibility to "promote the general welfare" of all citizens. Some American liberals, who call themselves classical liberals, fiscal conservatives, or libertarians, support fundamental liberal ideals but disagree with modern liberal thought, holding that economic freedom is more important than equality, and that providing for the general welfare exceeds the legitimate role of government

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Latest News for: liberalism

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Modern liberalism on trial: The death of reason and the rise of American darkness

The Washington Times 22 Apr 2025
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Video shows man removing Liberal branding from truck that hit voting centre

Sydney Morning Herald 22 Apr 2025
The early voting centre in Sydney’s northwest is closed today as authorities assess the damage ....
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Natural News 22 Apr 2025
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Mark Carney urges strong mandate to counter Trump, liberals leading April 28 polls

India Today 22 Apr 2025
Mark Carney urges strong mandate to counter Trump, liberals leading April 28 polls ... .
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China Expands Pilot to Liberalize Service Sector Amid Trade Tensions

Caixin Online 22 Apr 2025
... 15 provincial regions, aimed at liberalizing sectors from telecom to healthcare and finance.
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Do the Liberals have a hope of reclaiming Regina-Wascana this election?

CBC 22 Apr 2025
Liberal MP Ralph Goodale held Regina-Wascana for more than 25 years. Can the Liberals win it back? ... .
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Hogan, Abbott to square off in CBC Liberal leadership debate Wednesday

CBC 22 Apr 2025
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Korea’s liberal party embraces Hungary's solution to depopulation

Korea Times 22 Apr 2025
The liberal Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is embracing Hungary's approach to the birthrate crisis, reviewing the idea of offering loans to newlywed couples with the promise that the debts will be forgiven once they have three children.
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Korea’s liberal party embraces Hungary's approach to depopulation

Korea Times 22 Apr 2025
The liberal Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is embracing Hungary's approach to the birthrate crisis, reviewing the idea of offering loans to newlywed couples with the promise that the debts will be forgiven once they have three children.
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U.S. Steel Merger More Important after ‘Liberation Day’

Scrap Monster 22 Apr 2025
At its core, “Liberation Day” is an effort to protect American industries, ranging from microchips to auto makers to steel and aluminum production, by placing tariffs on the import of foreign-made products.
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