POLITICAL IDEOLOGIES

LIBERALISM liberty, equality, and fraternity and became an

Liberalism is a political ideology that emphasizes important influence on liberal thought.
individual rights, liberty, and limited
Liberalism became a dominant force in European
government. It is based on the idea that
and North American politics in the 19th and early
individuals have certain inherent rights, such as
20th centuries, and it continues to be a major
the right to life, liberty, and property, and that
influence on political thought and policy today.
the role of government is to protect these
However, it has faced various criticisms and
rights.
challenges over the years, including from rival
Liberalism also emphasizes free markets and ideologies such as conservatism and socialism.
free trade, and advocates for the rule of law and
THE CORE TENETS OF LIBERALISM
limited government intervention in economic and
The main ideas and principles of liberalism
social affairs.
include:
Liberalism has had a significant influence on the
1. Individual rights and liberty:
development of modern democratic systems, and
Liberalism holds that individuals have
it is often associated with ideas like individualism,
inherent rights, such as the right to life,
progress, and the Enlightenment.
liberty, and property, and that the role of
BRIEF HISTORY OF LIBERALISM government is to protect these rights.
The origins of liberalism can be traced back to the This means that the government
Enlightenment era in the 18th century, a should not be able to dictate how
period of intellectual and philosophical ferment in people live their lives or what they
Europe. can and cannot do.

During this time, a number of influential thinkers 2. Limited government: In order to protect
emerged who laid the foundations for liberal John individual rights and liberty, liberals
Locke, an English philosopher, argued that believe in limited government. They
individuals have natural rights to life, liberty, and argue that the role of government
property, and that the role of government is to should be restricted to certain
protect these rights. Locke's ideas had a profound essential functions, such as maintaining
influence on the American Revolution and the law and order, protecting property rights,
development of the United States Constitution. and providing basic public goods like
education and infrastructure. Anything
Adam Smith, a Scottish Economist, is often beyond these core functions is seen
referred to as the "father of capitalism." In his as an unnecessary intrusion into
influential work "The Wealth of Nations," Smith people's lives.
argued that free markets, guided by the
"invisible hand" of competition, would lead to This reveals that liberals advocate for a
economic growth and prosperity. government that is strong enough to
maintain order and uphold the rule of law,
The French Revolution, which began in 1789, but not so powerful that it infringes
was a key moment in the spread of liberal ideas. upon the rights and liberties of its
The revolution overthrew the monarchy and citizens.
established a constitutional monarchy in its place,
and it also inspired similar movements in other 3. Free markets and free trade:
countries. Liberalism emphasizes free markets and
free trade, and holds that economic
The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of freedom is closely tied to political
the Citizen, which was adopted by the National freedom. A free-market system allows
Assembly in 1789, enshrined the principles of individuals to pursue their own
economic interests and create wealth,
 and liberals argue that this leads to 2. Limited government intervention:
economic growth and prosperity. Critics on the left also argue that
liberalism's emphasis on limited
4. The rule of law: Liberalism places a government intervention can be harmful,
strong emphasis on the rule of law, especially in cases where the market fails
which means that everyone, including to address important social and economic
the government, must be subject to issues. For example, they may argue
the same legal rules and principles. In that the government needs to play a
other words, “no one is above the more active role in addressing
law” The rule of law ensures that poverty, inequality, or environmental
individuals are treated fairly, and that the problems.
government does not have arbitrary power
to infringe on people's rights. 3. Promotion of self-interest: Some critics
argue that liberalism's emphasis on
DEMOCRACY individual rights and economic freedom
Liberalism and democracy are often seen promotes a culture of self-interest and
as closely related, and liberal principles greed, and that it is incompatible with the
have played a significant role in shaping idea of the common good. They may
modern democratic systems. In a liberal argue that a more collectivist
democracy, individual rights and liberty are approach is needed to address
protected, and the government is accountable societal problems.
to the people through regular elections and 4. Critiques from the right: Critics on the
the rule of law. However, it's important to note right, such as conservatives, may argue
that democracy and liberalism are not that liberalism is too permissive and that it
the same thing, and there are many non- undermines traditional values and social
liberal democracies in the world. order. They may also argue that
liberalism's emphasis on limited
government is harmful, and that the
LIBERALISM AND DEMOCRACY government has a role to play in
Liberalism and democracy are closely linked promoting certain moral or social values.
but distinct concepts. Liberal democracy While liberalism has had a significant
protects individual rights, upholds the rule influence on political thought and
of law, and ensures government policy, it is not without its detractors,
accountability through elections. However, and there are ongoing debates about
not all democracies are liberal—some have the strengths and limitations of the
strong central control or weak protection of ideology.
rights. Likewise, some non-democratic
regimes uphold liberal values. Thus, while CONCLUSION
they often coexist, liberalism and democracy are In conclusion, liberalism is a political ideology
not synonymous and can exist independently. that emphasizes individual rights, liberty,
and limited government. It originated in the
CRITICISMS Enlightenment era and had since become a
Liberalism has faced various criticisms and dominant force in modern political thought.
challenges over the years, including from rival
ideologies such as conservatism and The core tenets of liberalism include individual
socialism. Some of the main criticisms of rights and liberty, limited government, free
liberalism include: markets and free trade, and the rule of law.
Liberalism and democracy are often seen as
1. Lack of attention to social justice and closely related, and liberal principles have played
equality: Some critics on the left argue a significant role in shaping modern democratic
that liberalism is too focused on individual systems.
rights and not enough on social justice and
equality. They argue that a pure focus on However, liberalism has faced various criticisms
individual liberty can lead to social and challenges over the years, including from
and economic inequality, and that the rival ideologies such as conservatism and
government has a role to play in socialism. Despite these criticisms, liberalism
addressing these issues. remains an influential force in
contemporary political discourse, and its
ideas continue to shape political systems and
policies around the world.