Ideological Perspectives Under Liberalism

Introduction

Liberalism is a term that applies to a set of ideals that form the guiding principles for most democracies. Yet within democracies, there can still be room for a considerable variety of viewpoints on politics and government. You may know people who consider themselves liberals. You may know others who, though they support the fundamental democratic ideals associated with liberalism, refer to themselves as “conservatives”. How is it possible for someone who says they’re not a liberal to exist comfortably under a governmental system based on liberalism?

An understanding of the subtleties of the terms “liberalism”, “liberal” and “conservative” will be essential to avoiding confusion as you continue through the course. Moreover, knowledge of what it means to be a liberal or a conservative within a liberal democracy will serve you well as you proceed further in the course and continue to develop an understanding of your ideological perspective.

In this lesson, you will explore the question: What ideological perspectives exist under the umbrella of liberalism and liberal democracy?

Use and Misuse of the Term Liberal

The terms: liberal; Liberal; and "liberal" can be misused, especially in US culture and media.

• A liberal is a person that believes in liberalism. Therefore, even conservatives are liberals because conservativism is one branch of liberalism.
• In Canada, the Liberal Party and the Conservative Party both believe in liberalism (just different kinds of liberalism) and liberal democracy. Technically, and in academic writing, both are liberals.
• When we speak about Liberals - note the upper case - we are talking about members or supporters of the Liberal Party of Canada (or a political party called the Liberal Party in another country).
• The term "liberal" is frequently used incorrectly, especially in the USA but increasingly here) to describe only those liberals on the left, or collectivist, side of the liberal spectrum (eg. members of the Democratic Party in the USA are labeled as "liberals" by conservatives in the Republican Party). The label "liberals" in US politics is increasingly but incorrectly used to suggest socialists. Republicans, on the right side of the liberal spectrum, are referred to as conservatives, and classical or neo-liberals (more on this later). Both US political parties are liberals and both support liberal principles.

What does this mean? It means you must pay attention to the context in which the term is being used.

Ideologies Under the Umbrella of Liberalism

View this 17-minute video, Under the Umbrella of Liberalism. It explains the ideologies found within liberalism.

Viewing a video can often be a passive activity. However, research has shown that you are much more likely to understand the information presented, and your brain is more likely to store that information in long-term memory if you are required to manipulate the information in some way.

While you view the video - make a concept map that illustrates the concepts discussed in the video. Move back and forth through the video as necessary to find the information you need. In your concept map, include some examples that illustrate the perspectives presented. You may be asked to discuss liberal and conservative perspectives in a future position paper—the ability to clarify your points with examples will be crucial, as well on the diploma exam.

Did you notice the colours used in the video you watched? Certain colours are often associated with particular ideologies and particular political parties. Having an understanding of what various colours symbolize concerning politics is helpful in understanding political maps and discussions between political commentators. It will also allow you to better understand the humour presented in many late-night comedy programs that poke fun at politics and politicians.

Summary

From this lesson, you have worked to develop a clearer understanding of the terms “liberalism”, “liberal” and “conservative” and how they are used. You should be aware that the term liberalism can be applied to the broad set of values associated with democracy. The word liberal can also be associated with a narrower interpretation of how those values should be implemented. Often in opposition to those, are conservative interpretations of how a liberal democracy should function.

As you begin to look at the history of liberalism in subsequent sections, you will continue to build on your understanding of these terms. You will also discover how their meaning and the beliefs associated with them have evolved.