The concept of liberalism. Liberals are free-thinking people

" and "liberal" come from the Latin liberalis and literally mean "having to freedom." When we talk about a liberal as a supporter of a socio-political movement, it is assumed that this person stands on a platform that welcomes the deepening and development of political freedoms in the broadest sense of the word. As a rule, liberal ideology unites supporters of democratic parliamentarism, as well as those who stand for freedom of private enterprise.

In everyday life, the label “liberal” is most often given to those who show unnecessary and inappropriate tolerance for other people’s behavior that violates generally accepted norms and rules. It is believed, for example, that excess in the upbringing of the younger generation negatively affects the development of a teenager’s personality. Often the public is asked to put an end to liberalism in relation to criminals and malicious violators of social norms.

in politics

Who can be classified as liberal in the field of activity? We are talking about public figures who support and fully approve of the idea of ​​​​limiting any interference of government agencies in social relations. The main principles of the liberal value system were formed at a time when bourgeois relations based on free enterprise arose and strengthened in society.

A liberal considers personal, economic and political freedom to be the highest priority in social and political life. For a liberal, rights and freedoms become a kind of basis and starting point for the formation of a political position. According to liberal politicians, it is the free development of any social that makes it possible to build a truly democratic state.

The ideal of many Western politicians is liberal democracy. However, today there is little left in it of the former free-thinking and freethinking. The main emphasis of Western liberals is not so much on expanding the actual freedoms of citizens, but on removing restrictions that hinder the development of the private sector. Political scientists and sociologists note that Western traditions are penetrating more and more deeply into the economy, politics and culture of developing countries.

What is liberalism? Each person will answer this question differently. Even dictionaries give different definitions of this concept. This article explains what liberalism is in simple words.

Definitions

Several of the most precise definitions of the concept of “liberalism” can be identified.

1. Ideology, political movement. It unites admirers of parliamentarism, democratic rights and free enterprise.

2. Theory, a system of political and philosophical ideas. It was formed among Western European thinkers in the 18th-19th centuries.

3. The worldview characteristic of ideologists from among the industrial bourgeoisie, who defended freedom of enterprise and their political rights.

4. In the primary sense - freethinking.

5. Excessive tolerance, condescension, conciliatory attitude towards bad deeds.

Speaking about what liberalism is, in simple words, it should be noted that this is a political and ideological movement, whose representatives deny revolutionary methods of struggle in achieving certain rights and benefits, and advocate free enterprise and the introduction of democratic principles into life.

Basic principles of liberalism

The ideology of liberalism differs from other theories of political and philosophical thought in its special principles. They were formulated by scientists back in the 18th-19th centuries, and representatives of this movement are still striving to bring them to life.

1. Human life is an absolute value.
2. All people are equal to each other.
3. The will of the individual does not depend on external factors.
4. The needs of one person are more important than the collective. The category “personality” is primary, “society” is secondary.
5. Every person has natural inalienable rights.
6. The state should arise on the basis of general consensus.
7. Man himself creates laws and values.
8. The citizen and the state are responsible to each other.
9. Power sharing. The dominance of the principles of constitutionalism.
10. The government must be elected through fair democratic elections.
11. Tolerance and humanism.

Ideologists of classical liberalism

Each ideologist of this movement understood what liberalism was in his own way. This theory is represented by many concepts and opinions, which can sometimes contradict each other. The origins of classical liberalism can be seen in the works of S. Montesquieu, A. Smith, J. Locke, J. Mill, T. Hobbes. It was they who laid the foundations of the new movement. The basic principles of liberalism were developed during the Enlightenment in France by Charles Montesquieu. He spoke for the first time about the need for separation of powers and recognition of individual freedom in all spheres of life.

Adam Smith substantiated what economic liberalism is, and also identified its main principles and characteristics. J. Locke is the founder of the theory of the rule of law. In addition, he is one of the most prominent ideologists of liberalism. J. Locke argued that stability in a society can only exist if it consists of free people.

Features of liberalism in the classical sense

The ideologists of classical liberalism focused on the concept of “individual freedom”. Unlike absolutist ideas, their concepts denied the complete subordination of the individual to society and social orders. The ideology of liberalism defended the independence and equality of all people. Freedom was perceived as the absence of any restrictions or prohibitions on the implementation of conscious actions of an individual within the framework of generally accepted rules and laws. The state, according to the fathers of classical liberalism, is obliged to ensure the equality of all citizens. However, a person must independently worry about his financial situation.

Liberalism proclaimed the need to limit the scope of state activities. Its functions should be reduced to a minimum and consist of maintaining order and ensuring security. Power and society can only exist if they obey the laws.

Models of classical liberalism

The fathers of classical liberalism are considered to be J. Locke, J.-J. Russo, J. St. Mill, T. Payne. They defended the ideas of individualism and human freedom. In order to understand what liberalism is in the classical sense, one should consider its interpretations.

1. Continental European model. Representatives of this concept (F. Guizot, B. Constant, J.-J. Rousseau, B. Spinoza) defended the ideas of constructivism, rationalism in interaction with nationalism, and attached greater importance to freedom within society than for individuals.
2. Anglo-Saxon model. Representatives of this concept (J. Locke, A. Smith, D. Hume) put forward the ideas of a rule of law, unlimited trade, and were convinced that freedom is more important for an individual than for society as a whole.
3. North American model. Representatives of this concept (J. Adams, T. Jefferson) developed the ideas of inalienable human rights.

Economic liberalism

This trend of liberalism was based on the idea that economic laws operate in the same way as natural ones. Government intervention in this area was considered unacceptable.

A. Smith is considered the father of the concept of economic liberalism. His teaching was based on the following ideas.

1. The best incentive for economic development is personal interest.
2. Government measures for regulation and monopolies, which were practiced within the framework of mercantilism, are harmful.
3. Economic development is directed by the “invisible hand”. The necessary institutions must arise naturally without government intervention. Firms and resource providers that are interested in increasing their own wealth and operating within a competitive market system are supposedly guided by the "invisible hand" to help meet social needs.

The emergence of neoliberalism

Considering what liberalism is, a definition must be given to two concepts - classical and modern (new).

By the beginning of the 20th century. in this direction of political and economic thought, crisis phenomena begin to appear. In many Western European countries, workers' strikes are taking place, and industrial society is entering a period of conflict. Under such conditions, the classical theory of liberalism ceases to coincide with reality. New ideas and principles are being formed. The central problem of modern liberalism is the issue of social guarantees of individual rights and freedoms. This was largely due to the popularity of Marxism. In addition, the need for social measures was considered in the works of I. Kant, J. St. Mill, G. Spencer.

Principles of modern (new) liberalism

The new liberalism is characterized by an orientation towards rationalism and targeted reforms with the aim of improving existing government and political systems. A special place is occupied by the problem of comparing freedom, justice and equality. There is a concept of “elite”. It is formed from the most worthy members of the group. It is believed that society can achieve triumph only thanks to the elite and dies with it.

The economic principles of liberalism are defined by the concepts of “free market” and “minimal state”. The problem of freedom acquires an intellectual connotation and is translated into the area of ​​morality and culture.

Features of neoliberalism

As a social philosophy and political concept, modern liberalism has its own characteristics.

1. Government intervention in the economy is necessary. The government must protect freedom of competition and the market from the possibility of monopoly.
2. Support for the principles of democracy and justice. The broad masses must actively participate in the political process.
3. The state is obliged to develop and implement programs aimed at supporting low-income segments of the population.

Differences between classical and modern liberalism

History of the development of Russian liberalism

In Russia already in the 16th century. an understanding of what liberalism is is emerging. Several stages can be distinguished in the history of its development.

1. Government liberalism. It arose in the highest circles of Russian society. The period of government liberalism coincides with the reign of Catherine II and Alexander I. In fact, its existence and development spanned the era of enlightened absolutism.
2. Post-reform (conservative) liberalism. Prominent representatives of this era were P. Struve, K. Kavelin, B. Chicherin and others. At the same time, zemstvo liberalism was being formed in Russia.
3. New (social) liberalism. Representatives of this trend (N. Kareev, S. Gessen, M. Kovalevsky, S. Muromtsev, P. Milyukov) defended the idea of ​​​​creating decent living conditions for every person. At this stage, the prerequisites for the formation of the Cadets Party were formed.

These liberal trends not only differed from each other, but also had many differences with Western European concepts.

Government liberalism

Previously, we looked at what liberalism is (definition from history and political science, characteristics, features). However, authentic directions of this movement have formed in Russia. A prime example is government liberalism. It reached the peak of its development during the reign of Alexander I. At this time, liberal ideas spread among the nobility. The reign of the new emperor began with a series of progressive changes. It was allowed to freely cross the border, import foreign books, etc. On the initiative of Alexander I, a Secret Committee was created, which was involved in developing projects for new reforms. It included those close to the emperor. The plans of the leaders of the Secret Committee included reforming the state system, creating a constitution, and even abolishing serfdom. However, under the influence of reactionary forces, Alexander I decided on only partial reforms.

The emergence of conservative liberalism in Russia

Conservative liberalism was quite widespread in England and France. In Russia, this direction has taken on special features. Conservative liberalism dates back to the assassination of Alexander II. The reforms that the emperor developed were only partially implemented, and the country still needed transformation. The emergence of a new direction is due to the fact that in the highest circles of Russian society they began to understand what liberalism and conservatism are, and tried to avoid their extremes.

Ideologists of conservative liberalism

In order to understand what post-reform liberalism in Russia is, it is necessary to consider the concepts of its ideologists.

K. Kavelin is the founder of the conceptual approach to this direction of political thought. His student, B. Chicherin, developed the foundations of the theory of conservative liberalism. He defined this direction as “positive,” the goal of which is to implement reforms necessary for society. At the same time, all segments of the population must defend not only their ideas, but also take into account the interests of others. According to B. Chicherin, society can be strong and stable only if it relies on power. At the same time, a person must be free, since he is the beginning and source of all social relations.

P. Struve was involved in the development of the philosophical, cultural and methodological foundations of this direction. He believed that only a rational combination of conservatism and liberalism could save Russia in the post-reform period.

Features of post-reform liberalism

1. Recognition of the need for government regulation. At the same time, the directions of its activities must be clearly identified.
2. The state is recognized as the guarantor of stability of relations between various groups within the country.
3. The realization that during a period of increasing failures of reformers, it becomes possible for authoritarian leaders to come to power.
4. Transformations in the economy can only be gradual. The ideologists of post-reform liberalism argued that it was necessary to monitor society's reaction to each reform and carry them out with caution.
5. Selective attitude towards Western society. It is necessary to use and accept only what meets the needs of the state.

The ideologists of this direction of political thought sought to implement their ideas through an appeal to mass values ​​that were formed in the process of historical development of society. This is precisely the goal and hallmark of conservative liberalism.

Zemsky liberalism

Speaking about post-reform Russia, one cannot fail to mention what zemstvo liberalism is. This direction emerges at the end of the 19th - beginning of the 20th centuries. At this time, modernization was taking place in Russia, which led to an increase in the number of intelligentsia, in whose circles an opposition movement was formed. A secret circle “Conversation” was created in Moscow. It was his work that laid the foundation for the formation of the ideas of the liberal opposition. Members of this circle were zemstvo leaders F. Golovin, D. Shipov, D. Shakhovsky. The magazine “Osvobozhdenie,” which was published abroad, became the mouthpiece of the liberal oppositionists. Its pages spoke of the need to overthrow autocratic power. In addition, the liberal opposition advocated for the expansion of rights and opportunities for zemstvos, as well as for their active participation in public administration.

New liberalism in Russia

The liberal trend in Russian political thought acquired new features by the beginning of the 20th century. The direction is being formed in an atmosphere of sharp criticism of the concept of “rule of law”. That is why liberals set themselves the task of justifying the progressive role of government institutions in the life of society.
It is important to note that in the 20th century. Russia is entering a period of social crisis. The new liberals saw its cause as ordinary economic instability and spiritual and moral catastrophe. They believed that a person should have not only the means to subsist, but also leisure, which he would use to improve himself.

Radical liberalism

Speaking about what liberalism is, we should note the existence of its radical direction. In Russia it took shape at the beginning of the 20th century. The main goal of this movement was the overthrow of the autocracy. A striking example of the activities of radical liberals was the Constitutional Democratic Party (Cadets). Considering this direction, it is necessary to highlight its principles.

1. Downplaying the role of the state. Hopes are placed on spontaneous processes.
2. Achieving your goals in various ways. The possibility of using coercive methods is not denied.
3. In the economic field, only rapid and deep macro-reforms are possible, which cover as many aspects as possible.
4. One of the main values ​​of radical liberalism is the combination of the experience of world culture and developed European states with the problems of Russia.

Modern Russian liberalism

What is modern liberalism in Russia? This issue still remains controversial. Researchers put forward different versions about the origins of this trend, its principles and features in Russia.
Scientists highlight some features of modern liberalism in Russia. Let's take a closer look at them.

1. Discussions about the political system often go beyond the boundaries of liberalism.
2. Justification of the need for the existence of a market economy.
3. Promotion and protection of private property rights.
4. The emergence of the question of “Russian identity”.
5. In the field of religion, most liberals advocate a tolerant attitude towards other faiths.

conclusions

Today, there are many currents in the liberal direction of political thought. Each of them has developed its own principles and special features. Recently, there has been debate in the world community about what innate liberalism is and whether it exists at all. It should be noted that even the French enlighteners argued that freedom is a right, but understanding its necessity is not available to everyone.

In general, we can say that liberal ideas and reforms are an integral feature of modern life.

Today, on television and in general on the Internet, many people say: “Here they are liberals, liberal-minded citizens...” Also, modern liberals are called even worse: “liber@stams”, liberoids, etc. Why did these liberals not please everyone who complains? What is liberalism? Now we will explain in simple words, and at the same time we will determine whether it is worth scolding modern liberals and why.

History of liberalism

Liberalism is an ideology - a system of ideas about the structure of society and the state. The word itself comes from the word Libertas (Latin) - which means freedom. Let us now find out what relation he has to freedom.

So, imagine the harsh Middle Ages. You are a craftsman in a European medieval city: a tanner, or generally a butcher. Your city is in the possession of a feudal lord: a county, barony or duchy. And the city pays him rent every month for what is on his land. Suppose a feudal lord wanted to introduce a new tax—for example, on air. And he will introduce it. And the townspeople will not go anywhere - they will pay.

Of course, there were cities that bought their freedom and themselves already established more or less fair taxation. But those were extremely rich cities. But yours, such an average city, cannot afford such luxury.

If your son wants to become a doctor or a priest, it will simply be impossible. Because state law determines the life of each class. He can only do what you do - be a butcher. And when the tax burden ruins the city, then, probably, he will rise and overthrow the power of the feudal lord. But the royal troops, or the troops of the feudal lord, of a higher rank, will come and punish such a rebellious city.

By the end of the Middle Ages, this order of things was tired primarily of the city dwellers: artisans, merchants - in a word, those who really make money from their hard work. And Europe was swept by bourgeois revolutions: when the bourgeoisie began to dictate its terms. In 1649 there was a revolution in England. And what are the interests of the bourgeoisie?

Definition of liberalism

Liberalism is an ideology whose key elements are: personal freedom, the idea of ​​public good, and a guarantee of legal and political equality. This is what the bourgeoisie needs. Freedom: if a person wants to do business, let him do what he wants - that’s his right. The main thing is that he does not harm other people and does not encroach on their freedom.

Equality- a very important idea. Of course, all people are not equal: in their intelligence, perseverance, physical abilities. But! We are talking about equal opportunities: if a person wants to do something, no one has the right to stop him on the basis of racial, social or other prejudices. Ideally, any person can become a leader and “rise” with hard work. Of course, not everyone will rise, because not everyone can and wants to work long and hard!

Common Good: means a reasonable structure of society. Where the state guarantees the rights and freedoms of the individual, protects this individual from all kinds of threats. The state also protects the rules of life in society: it monitors compliance with laws.

Another very important basis of liberalism: idea of ​​natural rights. This idea was developed by English thinkers John Locke and Thomas Hobbes. It lies in the fact that a person is born with three rights: the right to life, to private property and to the pursuit of happiness.

No one has the right to take a person’s life, except perhaps the state and only by law. The right to private property was examined in detail. The pursuit of happiness means the same freedom of action, of course within the framework of the law.

Classical liberalism died for a long time in 1929, when a crisis arose in the United States as a result of which tens of thousands of banks went bankrupt, millions of people died of hunger, and all that. Today we are talking about neoliberalism. That is, under the influence of various factors, liberalism has changed: it has transformed into neoliberalism.

We analyze in detail what neoliberalism is.

Why are liberals in Russia today so “bad” that everyone criticizes them? The fact is that people who call themselves liberals defend not so much the ideology of liberalism as the idea that Europe and the United States are the best countries and that it is them that we need to focus on: join the European Union, NATO, in a word, bend to the West. At the same time, if you say that you don’t think it’s right, they prove to you that you’re completely wrong. That is, they deliberately violate your right to the same freedom of speech, freedom of opinion, and position.

Why do we need Europe if they have a crisis economy? After all, all crises begin in the West. Look at the countries that are members of the European Union: Greece, Romania. Romanians now go to Germany to clean German toilets - they cannot work at their bus factories - they were closed because Germany supplies the buses. And Greece - several years in the European Union brought this country to financial collapse, not even a crisis - collapse.

Looking at all this, you can’t help but think, why do we need to be in the EU? So that we could at least destroy what else is still working somewhere? Therefore, if I would call modern Russian “liberals” (those people who advocate reckless European integration) liberals, then only with quotation marks.

In conclusion, I quote a common joke. To the question: “Should we leave?” the patriot answers “Who?”, and the liberal “Where?” 🙂

I hope you have received a comprehensive answer to the question “What is liberalism”, like it, write in the comments about all this.

Best regards, Andrey Puchkov

(from the Latin liberalis - free) first appeared in literature in the 19th century, although it formed as a current of socio-political thought much earlier. The ideology arose in response to the disenfranchised position of citizens under an absolute monarchy.

The main achievements of classical liberalism are the development of the “Social Contract Theory”, as well as the concepts of natural rights of the individual and the theory of separation of powers. The authors of “The Theory of Social Contract” were D. Locke, C. Montesquieu and J.-J. Rousseau. According to it, the origin of the state, civil society and law is based on agreement between people. The social contract implies that people partially renounce their sovereignty and transfer it to the state in exchange for ensuring their rights and freedoms. The key principle is that a legitimate governing body must be obtained with the consent of the governed and it has only those rights that are delegated to it by the citizens.

Based on these characteristics, supporters of liberalism did not recognize absolute monarchy and believed that such power corrupts, because it has no limiting principles. Therefore, the first insisted on the expediency of the separation of powers into legislative, executive and judicial. Thus, a system of checks and balances is created and there is no scope for arbitrariness. A similar idea is described in detail in the works of Montesquieu.

Ideological liberalism developed the principle of natural inalienable rights of a citizen, including the right to life, freedom and property. Possession of them does not depend on belonging to any class, but is given by nature.

Classical liberalism

In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, a form of classical liberalism emerged. His ideologists include Bentham, Mill, and Spencer. Supporters of classical liberalism placed individual interests rather than public interests at the forefront. Moreover, the priority of individualism was defended by them in a radical extreme form. This distinguished classical liberalism from the form in which it originally existed.

Another important principle was anti-paternalism, which assumed minimal government intervention in private life and the economy. State participation in economic life should be limited to the creation of a free market for goods and labor. Freedom was perceived by liberals as a key value, the main guarantee of which was private property. Accordingly, economic freedom had the highest priority.

Thus, the basic values ​​of classical liberalism were individual freedom, the inviolability of private property and minimal state participation. However, in practice, such a model did not contribute to the formation of the common good and led to social stratification. This led to the spread of the neoliberal model.

Modern liberalism

In the last third of the 19th century, a new movement began to take shape -. Its formation was due to the crisis of liberal teaching, which came as close as possible to conservative ideology and did not take into account the interests of a widespread stratum - the working class.

Justice and harmony among the governed were proclaimed as the leading virtues of the political system. Neoliberalism also sought to reconcile the values ​​of equality and freedom.

Neoliberals no longer insisted that a person should be guided by selfish interests, but should contribute to the formation of the common good. And although individuality is the highest goal, it is possible only with a close relationship with society. Man began to be perceived as a social being.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the need for government participation in the economic sphere for a fair distribution of benefits also became apparent. In particular, the functions of the state included the need to create an education system, establish a minimum wage and control working conditions, provide unemployment or sickness benefits, etc.

In contrast to them are libertarians who advocate the preservation of the basic principles of liberalism - free enterprise, as well as the inviolability of natural freedoms.

Liberalism- this is where the principle of limited intervention in social relations is implemented.

The liberal content of social relations is manifested in the presence of a system of checks on pressure from political authorities, designed to guarantee individual freedom and ensure the protection of the rights of citizens. The basis of the system is private enterprise, organized on market principles.

The combination of liberal and democratic principles of social relations allows us to distinguish a political system called “ liberal democracy" Modern Western political scientists believe that this concept denotes an ideal that has not yet been realized, therefore they propose to designate the regimes of democratically developed countries with the term “Western polyarchy” (rule of the many). In other political systems it is implemented liberal-authoritarian mode. In principle, we are talking only about a greater or lesser degree of manifestation in all political systems.

Liberalism and neoliberalism

Liberalism emerged as an independent ideological movement (worldview) at the end of the 17th century. thanks to the works of such scientists as J. Locke, III. Montesquieu, J. Mill, A. Smith and others. The fundamental ideas and guidelines of classical liberalism were formulated in the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen of 1789 and the French Constitution of 1791. The very concept of “liberalism” entered the socio-political lexicon at the beginning of the 19th century V. In the Spanish parliament (Cortes), a group of nationalist legate deputies were called “liberals”. Liberalism as an ideology was finally formed by the middle of the 19th century.

The basis of liberal ideology is the concept of the priority of personal rights and freedoms over all others (society, state). At the same time, of all freedoms, preference is given to economic freedoms (freedom of entrepreneurship, priority of private property).

The fundamental features of liberalism are:

• individual freedom;
• respect and observance of human rights;
• freedom of private ownership and entrepreneurship;
• priority of equality of opportunity over social equality;
• legal equality of citizens;
• contractual system of state education (separation of the state from civil society);
• separation of powers, the idea of ​​free elections of all institutions of power;
• non-interference of the state in private life.

However, following the classical model of liberal ideology led to the polarization of society. Unlimited liberalism in economics and politics did not ensure social harmony and justice. Free, unrestricted competition contributed to the absorption of weaker competitors by stronger competitors. Monopolies dominated all sectors of the economy. A similar situation developed in politics. The ideas of liberalism began to experience a crisis. Some researchers even began to talk about the “decline” of liberal ideas.

As a result of lengthy discussions and theoretical searches in the first half of the 20th century. certain basic principles of classical liberalism were revised and an updated concept of “social liberalism” was developed - neoliberalism.

The neoliberal program was based on ideas such as:

• consensus between managers and managed;
• the need for mass participation in the political process;
• democratization of the procedure for making political decisions (the principle of “political justice”);
• limited government regulation of economic and social spheres;
• state restrictions on the activities of monopolies;
• guarantees of certain (limited) social rights (the right to work, to education, to benefits in old age, etc.).

In addition, neoliberalism involves protecting the individual from the abuses and negative consequences of the market system.

The core values ​​of neoliberalism were borrowed by other ideological movements. It is attractive because it serves as the ideological basis for the legal equality of individuals and the rule of law.