[TROI]

Liberalism isn't a political doctrine is it? I always assumed that it was a way to run a government and the opposite of authoritarianism. Also that centre leftism was refered to as democratic socialist or social democracy.

Matt

[Siberian Fox]

You should probably check out this topic: http://www.politicsforum.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1562

The Conservative or Liberal argument is very much one of ideology rather than being based on logic that will draw one inexorably to one decision or another.

See also:

[url=http://www.politicsforum.org/images/flame_warriors/flame_54.php]
Ideologue[/url]

[CasX]

Liberalism
Politics of the centre left

This seems true...for the Northern Hemisphere. Otherwise the "liberals" that I know of (like in Australia) are at least centre-right. That's when 'liberal' is actually used. It's virtually a non-entity where I am from.

[Siberian Fox]

I am all open to replacing the forum descriptions with something more accurate if someone can volentier something descriptive and consice.

[CasX]

Hmm, it's a tough one, because liberalism seems to mean different things in different parts.

Because it's really got nothing to do with active politics where I'm from, then I guess that the fact that it means something a bit different here isn't really an issue.

[briansmith]

Liberalism is usually fairly close to progressivism, or just a belief system that pushes forward for a more progressive society versus the conservative belief that we should "return to a golden age" (regressive, repressive society).

[Noumenon]

I always assumed that it was a way to run a government and the opposite of authoritarianism

Liberalism isn't the opposite of authoritarianism, that would be libertarianism. There can be liberal authoritarians just as there can be conservative authoritarians. And since liberals stand for big government, that would put them a bit more on the authoritarian side. Economically, the true liberals are the conservatives, for promoting free trade.

[briansmith]

Economically, the true liberals are the conservatives, for promoting free trade.

Well, for whatever reason, free trade is a big thing amongst neo-conservatives or at least everybody except the few populist conservatives there are left on this planet (Pat Buchanan, Alan Keyes). In actuality, though, free trade is SATAN.

[CasX]

So, actually what is this mysterious 'liberalism' thing?
And where do these 'liberals' exist?

Is this party liberal?: http://www.labour.org.nz/
Or this one?: http://www.alliance.org.nz/

[Siberian Fox]

I think you might be best taking a look a this page:

http://www.liberalhistory.org.uk/history.php

It is a brief history of the British Liberal Party, which goes back to before the revolt of the American colonies.

WRT your links, as a Labour party, by definition I would describe it as socialist. On the Alliance party website they list one of thier commitments as "everyone has a job", so again, I would describe this as a socialist rather than a Liberal Party.

[Catria]

Because it's really got nothing to do with active politics where I'm from, then I guess that the fact that it means something a bit different here isn't really an issue.

CasX,

The Liberal party in Australia is a misnomer....an ironic ruse. You know, like when they changed the name "Shark Bay" to "Safety Beach" to attract tourists. Like "Greenland" is really full of ice and and "Iceland" is really full of trees.

But liberalism as a word, has the same meaning in Australia as elsewhere.

[lookingin]

In the US, I always took liberalism, like the word 'liberal', to mean something like people who live excessively, out of boundaries, intrusive on society even. Perhaps slob-like even. Over-spenders who do as they please, never calming down, but instead are in a state of constant distraction and want for attention, using things, and people too, just for entertainment and to avoid silence out fear of boredom or their own being, just moving from one escape to the next, until they can no longer support themselves because they can't live within their means, yet after this they somehow expect sympathy and assistance from others, and don't want to be held accountable for all the excessive living they did and trouble they've caused by it. And the politicians who these people elect, also called liberals, are the one's who cater to them and tell them exactly what they want to hear, and sometimes even have these tendencies themselves as well. Liberalism seems more like an uncontrolled behavioral problem caused by lack of self-discipline than it is a political view. Well, maybe this is somewhat of a generalization.

[Mark Tyson]

Liberalism is a broad label. To me, being a liberal means helping out the unfortunate, keeping an eye on corporations, protecting the environment but generally leaving individuals alone to live their own lives. Liberalism does not necessarily mean communism, socialism or pacifism. Libertarians like to say that classical liberals like Locke, Adam Smith et al were libertarians, but actually I think that many of them would support some contemporary progressive causes.

[Boondock Saint]

Main Entry: 1lib·er·al
Pronunciation: 'li-b(&-)r&l
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin liberalis suitable for a freeman, generous, from liber free; perhaps akin to Old English lEodan to grow, Greek eleutheros free
Date: 14th century
1 a : of, relating to, or based on the liberal arts <liberal education> b archaic : of or befitting a man of free birth
2 a : marked by generosity : OPENHANDED <a liberal giver> b : given or provided in a generous and openhanded way <a liberal meal> c : AMPLE, FULL
3 obsolete : lacking moral restraint : LICENTIOUS
4 : not literal or strict : LOOSE <a liberal translation>
5 : BROAD-MINDED; especially : not bound by authoritarianism, orthodoxy, or traditional forms
6 a : of, favoring, or based upon the principles of liberalism b capitalized : of or constituting a political party advocating or associated with the principles of political liberalism; especially : of or constituting a political party in the United Kingdom associated with ideals of individual especially economic freedom, greater individual participation in government, and constitutional, political, and administrative reforms designed to secure these objectives

Main Entry: lib·er·al·ism
Pronunciation: 'li-b(&-)r&-"li-z&m
Function: noun
Date: 1819
1 : the quality or state of being liberal
2 a often capitalized : a movement in modern Protestantism emphasizing intellectual liberty and the spiritual and ethical content of Christianity b : a theory in economics emphasizing individual freedom from restraint and usually based on free competition, the self-regulating market, and the gold standard c : a political philosophy based on belief in progress, the essential goodness of the human race, and the autonomy of the individual and standing for the protection of political and civil liberties d capitalized : the principles and policies of a Liberal party

Actually ... we find people who are 'conservative' are actually 'liberal' on some issues and someone who is 'liberal' is actually 'conservative' on others ...

Here in the US the democratic party is generally associated with 'liberal' but their economic outlook is actually NOT liberal in one sense of teh word ... yet IS liberal in others ... for example, they want rapid change ... which is liberal ... but they don't want free market ... but free market would be a liberal market ...

Main Entry: 1con·ser·va·tive
Pronunciation: k&n-'s&r-v&-tiv
Function: adjective
Date: 14th century
1 : PRESERVATIVE
2 a : of or relating to a philosophy of conservatism b capitalized : of or constituting a political party professing the principles of conservatism : as (1) : of or constituting a party of the United Kingdom advocating support of established institutions (2) : PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE
3 a : tending or disposed to maintain existing views, conditions, or institutions : TRADITIONAL b : marked by moderation or caution <a conservative estimate> c : marked by or relating to traditional norms of taste, elegance, style, or manners <a conservative suit>
4 : of or relating to Conservative Judaism
- con·ser·va·tive·ly adverb
- con·ser·va·tive·ness noun

Main Entry: con·ser·va·tism
Pronunciation: k&n-'s&r-v&-"ti-z&m
Function: noun
Date: 1835
1 capitalized a : the principles and policies of a Conservative party b : the Conservative party
2 a : disposition in politics to preserve what is established b : a political philosophy based on tradition and social stability, stressing established institutions, and preferring gradual development to abrupt change
3 : the tendency to prefer an existing or traditional situation to change

So, looking at the definitions I would say a lack of knowledge has led to the common belief that left leaning is libarlism and right leaning is conservatavism ...

But like someone else said ... its an ideological not political view ...

Lets look at the gun rights issue ...

Generally speakig those on teh left want strict guns laws ... they are usually here in the US termed 'liberals' ... where as the 'conservatives' don't want strict gun laws put in place. Now, on both sides one can see liberal and conservative ...

The left wants quick change ... this is liberal ... at the same time they wish to take away personal freedoms ... this is not liberal.

The right wants to keep the laws as is ... that is conservative they also want to allow a higher level of personal freedoms (on this particular issuu) ... that is liberal.

So the way 'liberal' and 'conservative' are tossed out there is wrong.

Because todays liberal is tomorrows conservative.

[Comrade Ogilvy]

Liberalism is a political ideology like any other.

Originally it was a belief in freedom and liberty with its roots in the works of Locke, Rosseau, etc.

It was like this from the time of Enlightenment through the 19th century until an alteration occured at the start of the 20th century. At this time, liberals felt that people in society should possess positive freedoms in addition to negative ones emphasised by classical liberals in the 19th century. Also, liberals advocated aiding the poorer elements of society and reducing economic inequality. In essence, liberalism become freedom mixed with social democracy.

Most modern liberal parties in Europe still promote this form of liberalism. However the term liberal has a different meaning in the US and Europe. In the USA a liberal is one who favours big government and aiding the vulnerable members of a society. In Europe the term is still used in its traditional context (,i.e. a belief in liberty and freedom). As for libertarianism, well (in my opinion) its simply the contemporary form of 19th century classical liberal belief. By studying both, one would see very little difference between the two.