Liberalism

What does it mean to be free? In today's polarized world, the definition of liberalism holds the key.

 

The terms “liberalism” and "liberal" originate from the Latin word "liber," meaning both book and free. Therefore, across many languages, "liberal" consistently describes “believing in or allowing a lot of personal freedom.”

 

What is freedom?  

 

Freedom is a complex concept, but at its core, it refers to the ability to make choices and take responsibility for them. Freedom requires tolerance, or the “willingness to accept behaviour and beliefs that are different.” 

 

Without tolerance, freedom is impossible; intolerant individuals seek to change others’ behavior and beliefs, whereas tolerant individuals aim to protect others’ freedom to think and act independently. Thus, in addition to freedom, the term liberal consistently describes anything “understanding, respectful, and tolerant.”

 

The Tolerance Test

 

Liberalism prescribes widespread tolerance, but some actions are not tolerable. Homicide, for example, is intolerable for the victim. Similarly, other noxious acts like theft, vandalism, rape, kidnapping, and fraud are not reasonably tolerated, and therefore require robust legal responses in a liberal society.

 

Whether an action is tolerable, therefore, poses an invaluable test to determine whether an action is justifiably limited by a liberal government. Prohibiting an action or freedom often requires fining or imprisoning those who take part in that action, making limiting freedom a costly act. While murder may justify risking the lives of police officers to enforce a prohibition, other actions, like allowing a neighbor to smoke marijuana, are more easily tolerated than not. 

 

Democracy and Liberalism

 

Democracy remains a foundational principle of liberalism and a critical means to protecting freedom. Liberalism, however, tolerates mixed forms of government and has long sought to make peace with traditionally authoritarian forms of government like monarchism by combining “the monarchical principle with the democratic.” Contemporary Belgium and Spain, for example, effectively embody the idea of a democratic government mixed with monarchy. 

 

Limited Power

 

In addition to democracy, liberalism prescribes “limiting the intervention of the State and public powers” to protect freedom and enshrine tolerance into the law. The key to understanding the liberal outlook on state intervention lies in the word “limited” – as opposed to “widespread” or “nonexistent.” 

 

At one extreme, anarchism advocates a nonexistent government, but at another extreme, fascism supports severe cultural regimentation. Liberalism seeks a middle path between extremes, balancing a belief “that government is necessary to protect individuals from being harmed by others” while “also recogniz[ing] that government itself can pose a threat to liberty.”

 

For example, in liberal societies like Spain and the United States, the police need judicial approval to search homes or detain suspects of crimes. This cautious approach ensures individual rights are protected, balancing the need for government intervention with the risk of overreach. While liberals are conservative when delegating power to the government and cautiously contemplate government intervention, they simultaneously view government as having "a crucial role in relieving social inequities."

 

The U.S. Civil Rights Act of 1964

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The U.S. Civil Rights Act of 1964 embodies the liberal idea of limited state intervention. Aimed at addressing longstanding racial disparities, the Act empowered the federal government to mitigate racial segregation using financial incentives and lawsuits rather than absolute power, such as directly managing local affairs or using violence against segregationists. This approach respected local autonomy while promoting equality.

 

The tolerance test also helps to resolve the underlying question of whether government action is justified to limit segregation. The Civil Rights Act limited the freedom to segregate, but segregation limited the freedom to integrate. Taking tolerability into account, segregation proved intolerable for its victims, who couldn’t access essential services like transportation, the justice system, and even access to water fountains. Integration, meanwhile, has proven tolerable if unpleasant for segregationists who retain access to fundamental services like food and housing. 

 

Who are liberals? 

 

The term liberal also describes an adherent of liberalism: the liberal “political philosophy.” Freedom is the central focus of liberalism, which “postulates individual and social freedom” coupled with limited government intervention, especially in “the economy and culture.” Nearly every political philosophy claims to enable freedom, but liberalism is distinct in advocating freedom and tolerance in culture, the economy, politics, and beyond. 

 

By contrast, conservatism aims to conserve existing freedoms rather than focusing directly on freedom itself. Likewise, communism claims to pursue economic freedom while severely limiting individuals' financial choices and freedoms. Liberalism stands out for its consistent prioritization of freedom and limited government intervention across every aspect of society. 

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Common Misconceptions 

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More often than not, Americans misappropriate the word "liberal" to describe anyone on the political left. In reality, liberals can appear on either side of the political spectrum so long as they support the core tenets of liberalism: freedom, tolerance, democracy, and limited government. In fact, most Americans on the political right are also liberals and, it could be argued, are more liberal than the left. 

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The variation in the use of the term "liberal," despite a precise definition, demonstrates that liberalism incorporates a wide variety of ideas and outlooks. Moreover, freedom and democracy are popular values that liberalism has made a reality for millions. Thus, liberalism remains a popular and contested ideology that people on both sides of the political spectrum attempt to redefine daily.

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The Future of Liberalism 

 

While politicians like Argentina’s Javier Milei and Canada’s Justin Trudeau may seem to have nothing in common, both claim to pursue a liberal society. Even though neither perfectly follows the dictionary definition of liberalism, liberalism unites them and others, from American Presidents Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton to Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te. 

 

Still, clarifying liberalism's outer limits is essential to achieving its goals. Without a clear understanding of liberalism, politicians from both sides will continue to misappropriate the term to justify limiting freedom and degrading democracy. 

 

Understanding liberalism alone is insufficient to accomplish this daunting task, however. Various related terms, from freedom to fascism, must also be clearly defined and understood to safeguard the liberal values of freedom and peace.