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Liberalism is a political and moral philosophy based on the rights of the individual, liberty, consent of the governed, political equality, ...
Generally, a supporter of the political philosophy liberalism. Liberals may be politically left or right but tend to be centrist. An adherent of a Liberal Party (See also Liberal parties by country) Classical liberalism; Liberalism (international relations) Sexually liberal feminism; Social liberalism
In the United States, classical liberalism, also called laissez-faire liberalism, [92] is the belief that a free-market economy is the most productive and government interference favors a few and hurts the many [original research?] —or as Henry David Thoreau stated, "that government is best which governs least". Classical liberalism is a ...
In Europe, liberalism usually means what is sometimes called classical liberalism, a commitment to limited government, laissez-faire economics. This classical liberalism sometimes more closely corresponds to the American definition of libertarianism, although some distinguish between classical liberalism and libertarianism. [41]
To define the system in practice, liberal democracies often draw upon a constitution, either codified or uncodified, to delineate the powers of government and enshrine the social contract. A liberal democracy may take various and mixed constitutional forms: it may be a constitutional monarchy or a republic.
Classical liberalism, contrary to liberal branches like social liberalism, looks more negatively on social policies, taxation and the state involvement in the lives of individuals, and it advocates deregulation. [2] Until the Great Depression and the rise of social liberalism, classical liberalism was called economic liberalism.
Liberal philosopher Thomas Hill Green began to espouse a more interventionist government approach. Green's definition of liberty, influenced by Joseph Priestley and Josiah Warren, was that the individual ought to be free to do as he wishes unless he harms others. [67] Mill was also an early proponent of feminism.
The Liberal Party is any of many political parties around the world. The meaning of liberal varies around the world, ranging from liberal conservatism on the right to social liberalism on the left.