History of Liberalism

Liberalism has been derived from a Latin word “Liber” which means free. This is a concept of social, economical and political liberty. Liberalism support the freedom of conscience and stresses to provide the liberty to every citizen according to their desire.

In liberalism, the authority of a state comes to an end where one’s personal life is affected. I t gives the lesson of tolerance. It provides the opportunity to welcome other styles in respect to not hurt the belief and feeling of others. Everyone has its own life style , mind set and thinking level on which he would like to lead his life and other have no right to interfere in it.

Liberalism summarizes its four basic principles as are given in the following.

1: Freedom against the state.

2: Freedom to self_ determination based on responsibility and reason.

3: Limitation on political power.

4: Economic self regulation based on private property.

Liberals deem democracy as the most reasonable system to reach its destination in order to secure the individual liberty as it gives much importance to the freedom of belief , individual point of view.

The Philosophy of liberalism emerged in 17^th and 18^th centuries from Europe and North America, though the word “liberalism” was used for the first time in Spain in 19^th century. They demanded for human basic rights like freedom of individual action, tolerance to faith and believe and freedom of Press. They said that government is responsible for the welfare of the public. They demanded from the state to ensure provision of all basic necessities and secure their future.

So liberalism, firstly, strived to get political liberation .They voiced for the freedom of individual and limitation of governmental political influence upon the of citizens.

The philosophy of Liberals was that political power should be restricted to the freedom of the individual, which at itself is limited by the freedom of the others.

But one point must be clear that it doesn't mean to deny the importance of the state. The state must have its constitution to run the system.

One of the important founder of Liberals John Locke (1632-1704) says in his publication “ Two treaties of Govt” that freedom live and private property are unalienable human rights which should be secured by a liberals constitution against discretionary governmental interventions.

Hence Charles De Montesquieu (1689-1755), the father of the idea if separation of Power asked for the division of governmental power in executive power, legislative and Judicative should control each other. Liberals as a principal was first implemented with the bill of rights in England ,in 1689,and 1787 in United State and declaration of human right during the French revolution in 1789. After that, with the passage of time individual right and rule of law was introduced in Europe.

Freiburg School which play a massive role in developing social market economy, tried to counteract exceeding concentration of Power in the economy by regulative politics, says that political power must be downsized as well as social differences must be compensated to reach equality of opportunity. According to them both social and economic liberalism are united.

In nutshell the movement of liberalism is always in motion. Liberalism always change according to the circumstances as the life style is changing with the passage of time.

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