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Liberalism is a idealist [[ideology]] that promotes [[free market]] principles, [[individualism]], and [[fundamental rights]] (also known as [[Bourgeoisie|bourgeois]] privileges). Liberalism emerged as the ideological component of [[capitalism]], and gained administrative power as a result of the [[Bourgeois revolution|bourgeois revolutions]] of the 18th and 19th centuries in [[North America]] and [[Europe]]. Liberalism, the philosophy behind the [[dictatorship of the bourgeoisie]], has consistently changed over the centuries, as a result of advancement in the productive forces and the development of the [[Feudalism|feudal]] serfdom into the industrial [[proletariat]], and has now turned into [[neoliberalism]], as a result of the consolidation of capital into the hands of the few, and to protect the [[ruling class]] from [[socialism]], which is currently in the process of replacing capitalism as the primary [[mode of production]]. | |||
== History == | == History == | ||
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Liberalism developed as an ideology and was adopted by members of society as capitalism (or the premises of capitalism) developed. This is generally exemplified by the [[base and superstructure]]; as the material conditions develop and factories emerge, there is a need for the superstructure to provide the institutions required for the base to survive. Since capitalism requires the free market to exist, there needed to be a guiding ideology that would allow the free market to exist and justify the existence of capitalism, the base. | Liberalism developed as an ideology and was adopted by members of society as capitalism (or the premises of capitalism) developed. This is generally exemplified by the [[base and superstructure]]; as the material conditions develop and factories emerge, there is a need for the superstructure to provide the institutions required for the base to survive. Since capitalism requires the free market to exist, there needed to be a guiding ideology that would allow the free market to exist and justify the existence of capitalism, the base. | ||
Liberalism became codified during the [[Age of Enlightenment]], which lasted from about the mid 17th century to the late 18th century, and culminated perhaps with the bourgeois [[French Revolution]] of 1789. Some notable liberal theorists include | Liberalism became codified during the [[Age of Enlightenment]], which lasted from about the mid 17th century to the late 18th century, and culminated perhaps with the bourgeois [[French Revolution]] of 1789. Some notable liberal theorists include René Descartes, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, or economist Adam Smith. | ||
In this sense, both | In this sense, both social-democrats and classical liberals, who may seem at the opposite ends of a spectrum, are liberals since both will strive towards establishing capitalism. | ||
=== Modern times === | === Modern times === | ||
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== Idealist component == | == Idealist component == | ||
Liberalism is considered to be an [[Idealism|idealist]] ideology, as opposed to a materialist ideology, because it claims that ideas shape the material world, as opposed to the material world shaping ideas. In their pursuit for the cult of the individual, liberal philosophers used to embrace the Great Man theory of history, which states that progress is driven by great people who have high natural abilities. Therefore they had progressive ideas, and these ideas shaped the material world. As such, in classical liberal reasoning, | Liberalism is considered to be an [[Idealism|idealist]] ideology, as opposed to a materialist ideology, because it claims that ideas shape the material world, as opposed to the material world shaping ideas. In their pursuit for the cult of the individual, liberal philosophers used to embrace the Great Man theory of history, which states that progress is driven by great people who have high natural abilities. Therefore they had progressive ideas, and these ideas shaped the material world. As such, in classical liberal reasoning, Napoleon Bonaparte was instrumental in spreading capitalism and destroying the old order. | ||
In Marxist theory, which is a materialist philosophy, we understand that material conditions drive change (the [[Dialectics|dialectic]]) and will influence the ideas that people have and how they act on them. In Marxist reasoning, we hold that capitalism was instrumental in creating a Napoleon Bonaparte and that, if he had not existed, someone else would have taken his place. | |||
After the impact of [[scientific socialism]] in Europe, liberal thinkers started moving away from such idealist notions and co-opted some materialist theory so as to reinforce theirs and prevent communism from becoming a major ideology in the world. As such, even liberal theorists today have to admit that, to some extent, change is driven by ''forces'' at large. Liberals admit that the Industrial Revolution largely affected our daily life, in a way that completely modified it from what existed previously (e.g. the division of the work day and the importance it has in a worker's life as compared to the feudal journeyman's). However, they see this progress as an abstract, without relation to the base or superstructure, and would rather focus on the abstract consequences than the material causes. If life changed so much for the average worker after the introduction of the steam engine, it is precisely because the mode of production at large changed and required new policies to create more surplus value. | After the impact of [[scientific socialism]] in Europe, liberal thinkers started moving away from such idealist notions and co-opted some materialist theory so as to reinforce theirs and prevent communism from becoming a major ideology in the world. As such, even liberal theorists today have to admit that, to some extent, change is driven by ''forces'' at large. Liberals admit that the Industrial Revolution largely affected our daily life, in a way that completely modified it from what existed previously (e.g. the division of the work day and the importance it has in a worker's life as compared to the feudal journeyman's). However, they see this progress as an abstract, without relation to the base or superstructure, and would rather focus on the abstract consequences than the material causes. If life changed so much for the average worker after the introduction of the steam engine, it is precisely because the mode of production at large changed and required new policies to create more surplus value. | ||
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=== Free market === | === Free market === | ||
Perhaps best laid down by Adam Smith, though already existing before his work [[The Wealth of Nations | Perhaps best laid down by [[Adam Smith]], though already existing before his work [[The Wealth of Nations]], free market policies encompass a large range of principles and laws that govern trade inside and outside a nation, so as to remove as many barriers as possible to trade. | ||
Free trade was originally required by the bourgeoisie to destroy the old order of the nobility, who used to own monopolies and form cartels to reinforce their power. Today, free trade is also used as a vector for imperialism, notably in the [[Opium Wars]] that sought to dismantle | Free trade was originally required by the bourgeoisie to destroy the old order of the nobility, who used to own monopolies and form cartels to reinforce their power. Today, free trade is also used as a vector for imperialism, notably in the [[Opium Wars]] that sought to dismantle China's protectionist trade policies in the late 19th century. | ||
=== Individualism === | === Individualism === | ||
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Fundamental rights, in liberal philosophy, are rights with which all individuals are imbued with on the grounds of being human. They are more aptly described as privileges the bourgeois reluctantly allows the proletariat to enjoy. | Fundamental rights, in liberal philosophy, are rights with which all individuals are imbued with on the grounds of being human. They are more aptly described as privileges the bourgeois reluctantly allows the proletariat to enjoy. | ||
== See | == See Also == | ||
* [[Neoliberalism]] | * [[Neoliberalism]] | ||
* [[Dictatorship of the bourgeoisie]] | * [[Dictatorship of the bourgeoisie|Dictatorship of the Bourgeoisie]] | ||
* [[Compatible Left]] | * [[Compatible Left|The Compatible Left]] | ||
* [[Libertarianism]] | * [[Libertarianism]] | ||
* [[Liberalism:Quotes]] | * [[Liberalism:Quotes]] | ||
[[Category:Political ideology]] | [[Category:Political ideology]] | ||
[[Category:Right-wing ideologies]] | [[Category:Right-wing ideologies]] | ||