liberalism
n. uncountablen. a political and social belief system that values individual freedom, equal rights, and democracy. It usually supports the idea that governments should protect personal choices and ensure fair treatment for everyone.
n. a political and moral philosophy based on individual rights, liberty, consent of the governed, and equality before the law. In economic contexts, it historically advocates for free markets, whereas modern political usage frequently encompasses support for social welfare programmes.
The new leader promised to return the country to the principles of liberalism.
Classical liberalism emphasises free markets and limited government intervention, while modern versions often support stronger social safety nets.
The tension between economic liberalism, which champions deregulation, and social liberalism, which demands state intervention to correct inequalities, remains a defining feature of contemporary Western democracies.
Capitalised when referring to a specific political party; otherwise lowercase. Often modified by adjectives like 'classical', 'economic', or 'social' to specify the ideological branch.