Liberalism | 8values ​​Interpretation of ideological ideology in political tests

This article will explain in detail the deep connotation and richness of liberalism, the evolution from classical to modern times, key principles, and its manifestation in personal freedom, national role and economic and social development, helping you to position your political stance more accurately through the 8values ​​political value test.

Liberalism is a political and moral philosophy rooted in individual freedom and rights. It advocates democratic politics, equality for everyone before the law, and a free market economy. However, liberalism is by no means a single fixed doctrine, but a huge ideological system with a long history, complex development and multiple branches. It presents diverse and even conflicting understandings and practices in different periods, regions, and between different thinkers. Understanding liberalism is like visiting an art gallery, which requires an open mind to appreciate its diversity, even if some parts are difficult to understand at first glance.

If you have tried the 8values ​​political test and obtained “liberal” results, or want to have a deeper understanding of this ideology that dominates the global political landscape, this article will provide you with a comprehensive, in-depth perspective.

The core essence and basic principles of liberalism

The core of liberalism lies in the commitment to individuals and the construction of a society that allows people to realize their own interests and potential. It emphasizes that human beings are first and foremost independent individuals, given reason, which requires that each individual should enjoy the maximum possible freedom without infringing on the equal freedom of others.

The universality of liberalism lies in the fact that it considers that the welfare of these freedoms belongs to each individual regardless of gender, race, place of birth, religion, sexual orientation, wealth, class, or any other accidental characteristic. This idea embodies the belief in the inherent moral equality of human individuals.

Its basic principles cover the following points:

• Individual Rights and Freedoms: Individual Rights and Freedoms have inherent rights and freedoms, such as freedom of speech, freedom of press, freedom of religion and freedom of assembly and association, etc. These rights should be protected by the government. The basis of the legitimacy of state power lies in the protection and realization of these rights.
• Consent of the Governed : The legitimacy of the government comes from the consent of the ruled. People have the right to withdraw trust in the government or even overthrow the government when it fails to serve its interests or violates social contracts.
• Equality Before the Law : All individuals, regardless of their background or social status, should be treated equally before the law and enjoy the same legal rights and protections.
• Constitutionalism and Limited Government : Government power must be restricted to prevent it from infringing on individual freedoms. The Constitution, checks and balances of power and the rule of law are the keys to protecting a free society from the threat of government tyranny.
• Rationalism : Liberals are optimistic about human nature and believe that humans are rational creatures, and can use reason and logic to judge their own interests and make effective decisions, thereby promoting the overall progress of society.
• Tolerance : Society should respect and tolerate different beliefs, lifestyles and identities as long as they do not harm others. John Stuart Mill's "hurt principle" is at the heart of this philosophy.
• Private Property Rights : Private Property Rights are regarded as a necessary component of personal freedom and economic prosperity and should be protected by law.

The historical origin and development stage of liberalism

Liberalism, as a clear political movement, took root in the Enlightenment era in the 17th century and quickly became popular among philosophers and economists in the Western world. It rejected old socio-political norms such as hereditary privileges, state religion, monarchy and divine monarchy, and strived to replace it with representative democracy and the rule of law.

• Classical Liberalism :
  • Origins and Propositions : Enlightenment thinkers such as John Locke in the 17th and 18th century are recognized as the founder of modern liberalism. Rock proposed that people have natural rights to life, freedom and property, and governments must guarantee these rights on the basis of social contracts, rather than infringement. Classical liberalism emphasizes individual freedom, private property and minimizes government intervention, and advocates achieving social progress through a free market economy and the pursuit of individual interests.
  • Important thinker : In addition to Locke, Adam Smith is also an important figure in classical liberalism. He laid the foundation for free market capitalism (or "lazy economy") through "The Wealth of Nations". Thomas Jefferson was also deeply influenced by Locke's thoughts and integrated the principles of liberalism into the US Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
  • Historical events : The Glorious British Revolution in 1688, the American Revolution in 1776, and the French Revolution in 1789 all used liberal philosophy to overthrow the monarchy.
• Modern Liberalism (Modern Liberalism / Social Liberalism) :
  • Rise and Transformation : At the end of the 19th and early 20th century, as the industrial revolution brought about gaps between the rich and the poor and social injustice, the market ideals of classical liberalism were challenged. Modern liberalism (or "social liberalism") emerged, focusing more on social fairness and welfare, and advocated that the government should actively interfere in economic and social affairs to ensure the "active freedom" and "equality of opportunity" of all citizens.
  • Important Thinker and Policy : John Stuart Mill is seen as a transitional figure connecting classical and modern liberalism. Thomas Hill Green was an early advocate of the theory of active freedom. The economic thinking of John Maynard Keynes, as well as the New Deal by US President Franklin D. Roosevelt and the construction of welfare states in the UK (such as the Beveridge Report) are typical examples of modern liberal practice. John Rawls's Theory of Justice provides a detailed philosophical basis for the modern liberal theory of social justice.
• Neoliberalism :
  • Background and Propositions : Neoliberalism that emerged in the 1970s was a response to modern liberalism, advocating a return to the principles of classical liberalism, emphasizing free markets, globalization and privatization, reducing government intervention, lowering taxation and relaxing regulation to promote economic growth.
  • Representatives : Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan are representatives of neoliberalism in political practice.
  • The difference from new liberalism : It is worth noting that although "neoliberalism" and "new liberalism" are only one word different, the two are in the same direction in terms of time and concept of the rise. "New Liberalism" refers to the social reform trend at the end of the 19th and early 20th centuries, and is an important source of the concept of welfare state.

Understanding freedom: The debate between negative freedom and positive freedom

There are significant differences in the understanding of "freedom" within liberalism, which forms an important basis for the division between classical liberalism and modern liberalism. British thinker Isaiah Berlin proposed two core concepts of freedom:

• Negative Liberty :
  • Definition : refers to freedom from coercion or interference. Individuals are free if they are not hindered or restricted by state or other external forces. Classical liberals generally hold this view that the role of government should be limited to "night watch" states, i.e., intervene only when necessary to maintain law and order, and protect private property and individual rights.
  • Representatives : John Locke and Adam Smith are advocates of negative freedom. Mill’s hurt principle also supports the vision of minimal state intervention.
• Positive Liberty :
  • Definition : refers to the freedom to do something, that is, the ability of an individual to control his own life and realize his potential. Modern liberals believe that it is not enough to have external interference, and that if an individual cannot develop his own talents due to poverty, discrimination or other social conditions, it cannot be called true freedom. Therefore, the state should take positive measures to create favorable conditions to help individuals realize their potential.
  • Representative : TH Green was an early advocate of the theory of positive freedom. John Rawls's theory of social justice is also designed to ensure that all individuals have the practical ability to achieve freedom.

The battle between the role of the country: Night Watching State and Empowering State

Liberals generally believe that the state is necessary, but they are also deeply concerned about the "evil potential" of the state's potential to violate individual freedoms. Therefore, state power must be restricted.

• Night-Watchman State :
  • Classical liberal stance : advocates the "smallest state", whose functions are limited to maintaining domestic order and personal security, resisting external threats and internal riots, but try not to interfere with citizens' personal and economic affairs. This is consistent with the principle of negative freedom.
  • Worry : Excessive government intervention not only violates freedom, it can also lead to inefficiency and stifle economic growth.
• Enabling State :
  • Modern Liberal Position : Influenced by the concepts of active liberalism and developmental individualism, modern liberalism believes that states need to intervene at some point to help the vulnerable, rather than just not interfere.
  • Responsibilities : Empowered countries should provide support in education, healthcare, social security, etc. to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to realize their potential. This means raising funds for public services through a progressive tax system, thereby actively enhancing individual freedom.

The economic concept of liberalism: free market and state intervention

Liberalism strongly supports capitalism and private property, and believes that economic freedom is an integral part of personal freedom.

• Laissez-faire Capitalism :
  • Classical liberal stance : advocates a free market economy, with minimal government intervention, including very little regulation, low government spending and low taxes. Adam Smith's "invisible hand" theory believes that individuals will naturally promote the overall well-being of society when pursuing their own interests.
  • Belief : This economic model can promote efficiency, innovation, and overall progress and build a society that is best-selected.
• Keynesianism and Enabling State :
  • Modern liberal position : Keynesianism believes that the free market capitalist economy is prone to cyclical prosperity and recession, leading to large-scale unemployment and economic instability. Therefore, it is necessary for the government to actively intervene in the economy and stimulate demand through public spending, adjusting interest rates and taxes to stabilize the economy and ensure employment.
  • Objective : Provide support to vulnerable groups through progressive taxation and welfare projects, correct economic inequality caused by markets, and ensure that all people enjoy real economic freedom.

Equality and Justice: Equality of Form and Equality of Opportunity

Liberalism emphasizes that all individuals have equal value regardless of background and should be treated fairly and unbiased.

• Formal Equality and Meritocracy :
  • Classical liberal stance : mainly supports form equality, that is, the law treats all individuals equally and is not biased. They regard society as a system that chooses the best, and success depends on individual talents and efforts.
  • Representative : Mary Wollstonecraft's advocacy for women to fight for formal equality and educational opportunities.
  • Controversy : Locke’s vision is limited primarily to white men who own property when talking about consent and freedom, which reveals the practical limitations of early liberalism.
• Equality of Opportunity and Social Justice :
  • Modern liberal stance : It is believed that society is not a natural system of merit selection and requires active action by the state to promote real equality of opportunity for all and address structural disadvantages and social prejudice.
  • Representative : The "Difference Principle" proposed by John Rawls believes that social and economic inequality is just only in the most favorable situations of society's most vulnerable groups, which aims to achieve more thorough social justice and equality of opportunity. Social liberals such as Betty Friedan advocated correcting discrimination through measures such as affirmative action.

The diversity and main branches of liberalism

The complexity of liberalism lies in the fact that there are many different schools within it, with different emphasis on issues such as personal freedom, government intervention and social welfare. In the 8values ​​political test, you will find a detailed introduction to liberalism and its related ideology .

• Classical Liberalism : emphasizes personal freedom, private property and limited government.
• Social Liberalism : Focus on social equity and welfare, advocates that the government intervenes in the market through taxes and social expenditures to reduce poverty, improve education and protect medical care. In North America, the term "liberalism" usually refers specifically to social liberalism.
• Libertarianism : An extreme form of classical liberalism that advocates minimizing government intervention, especially in the economic field, and believes that individual freedom and private property are supreme.
• Neoliberalism : It emerged in the 1970s, emphasizing free markets, globalization and privatization, and advocating the reduction of government intervention in the economic field.
• Cultural Liberalism : Emphasizes multiculturalism, freedom of speech and tolerance, and believes that society should respect and tolerate different cultures, beliefs and lifestyles.
• Conservative Liberalism : combines liberal values ​​and policies with conservative positions.

Criticism and challenges of liberalism

Although liberalism is dominant in the world, it also faces severe challenges and criticism from both the left and right factions.

• Left criticism :
  • Inequality : Socialists criticize liberalism for failing to solve inequality because it is closely related to the competitive philosophy of capitalism. Marxists completely deny the basis of liberal theory and try to overthrow the capitalist order through collectivization.
  • Formalism : Some critics believe that liberal rights and freedoms are only "formal things" and that the poor have no conditions to practice these freedoms.
  • Atomization and alienation : Communists believe that liberalism overemphasizes individuals and ignores the role of communities in the formation of individual identities and meanings, leading to social atomization and alienation.
  • Colonialism roots : Some thinkers such as Bhikhu Parekh pointed out that liberalism is rooted in European colonialism and has failed to address the structural inequality it creates.
• Rightist criticism :
  • Over-pursuing progress : Conservatives criticize liberalism for its reckless pursuit of progress and material interests, which undermine traditional social values ​​based on community and continuity.
  • State inflation : Neoliberals oppose modern liberalism leads to excessive inflation of state power and interfere with the economy.
  • Moral Relativism : Some right believe that liberalism leads to moral relativism and spiritual emptiness.
  • Tyranny of the majority : Early liberals such as Mill had worried that democracy could lead to “tyranny of the majority” and suppress the rights or personal freedom of minorities.
• Other Challenges :
  • Populism : In recent years, populist movements have emerged around the world, attacking liberal elites from the masses and failing to address the concerns of ordinary people.
  • Authoritarianism : Some authoritarian countries will promote liberalization policies economically but maintain authoritarianism politically, which poses new challenges to liberalism.

The significance of liberalism in contemporary society and international relations

Despite many challenges, liberalism remains one of the most dynamic and influential political ideologies in the world today.

• The cornerstone of democratic governance : Most countries are based on the tradition of liberal democracy, and mainstream political parties generally agree that maintaining democratic traditions and institutions, as well as protecting individual rights and freedoms.
• Promoters of international cooperation : Liberalism emphasizes interdependence and the possibility of cooperation among countries in international relations theory. It advocates the promotion of peaceful settlement of disputes, free trade and common development through international institutions (such as the United Nations, the World Bank, the World Trade Organization, the European Union) and international law.
• Democratic Peace Theory : This theory holds that military conflicts are unlikely to occur between democratic countries because they share democratic institutions and values ​​and gain common interests through economic mutual dependence and international cooperation.

Summary: Liberal Vision for Multiple Coexistence

Since its birth, liberalism has been constantly evolving its philosophy to adapt to the needs of different eras and environments. Although complex and diverse, it is always a firm commitment to personal freedom and dignity.

By gaining insight into the principles of liberalism, historical evolution and its internal complexity, you will be able to better understand the contemporary political landscape and have a clearer understanding of your political stance. You may wish to visit 8values ​​political coordinate spectrum analysis again. Combined with the interpretation of this article, explore your unique position on political ideological coordinates, and further review the detailed introduction of all 8Values ​​ideological results to broaden your political horizons.

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