Social liberalism

Social liberalism (new liberalism, reform liberalism), a development of liberalism in the late 19th and early 20th century, is a label used by progressive liberal parties in order to differentiate themselves from market liberal parties, especially when there are two or more liberal parties in a country. Additionally, it also means social progressivism, usually when contrasted with social conservatism.

Social liberalism is a political philosophy that emphasizes mutual collaboration through liberal institutions, rather than the threat and use of force, to solve political controversies. Social liberalism, as a branch of liberalism, contends that society must protect liberty and opportunity for all citizens, and advocates some restrictions on economic competition, such as anti-trust laws and price controls on wages ("minimum wage laws.") It also expects governments to provide a basic level of welfare, supported by taxation, intended to enable the best use of the talents of the population, to prevent revolution, or simply "for the public good."

Rejecting both radical capitalism and the revolutionary elements from the socialist school, modern liberalism emphasized positive liberty, seeking to enhance the freedoms of the poor and disadvantaged in society.

Like all liberals, social liberals believe in individual freedom as a central objective - but also believe that lack of economic opportunity, education, healthcare etc. can be just as damaging to liberty as can an oppressive state. As a result, social liberals are generally the most outspoken defenders of human rights and civil liberties, and combine this with support for a mixed economy, with an enabling state providing public services to ensure that people's social rights as well as their civil liberties are upheld.

1 Social Liberalism versus Neoliberalism
2 Social Liberalism versus Social Democracy
3 Social Liberal Parties
4 Social Liberal Thinkers

[edit]

Social Liberalism versus Neoliberalism

Social liberalism is very different from the ambiguous term neoliberalism, a name given to various proponents of the free markets and also to some conservative opponents of free markets, such as mercantilistic conservatives, in the late 20th century's global economy. Neoliberalism has been used to describe the policies of Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher. As a body of thought, neoliberalism advocates positions contrary to many of those taken by social liberals, especially with regard to the former's commitments to unqualified free trade, undermining of social programs, and deregulation.

[edit]

Social Liberalism versus Social Democracy

The basic difference between social liberalism and social democracy is in picture of human nature and values. Social democracy stems literally from democracy, and (especially in democratic socialist forms) from a community-based view. Social democrats believe in the moral right of the majority to regulate everyone and everything. Social liberals see democracy and parliamentarianism as mere political systems which legitimize themselves only through the amount of liberty they promote. Thus, democracy is not the highest value to social liberals. Social liberals set liberty, individual rights, and private property in highest priority. Social liberals tend to trust that individuals are capable in deciding their own affairs and generally do not need steering towards happiness. Social democrats believe in control and leave themselves licence towards steering deviants toward more self-productive behavior, i.e., through bans on smoking, or punitive taxation upon fatty foods.

[edit]

Social Liberal Parties

Some more or less explicitly social liberal parties are:

Canada: Liberal Party of Canada
Denmark: Danish Social Liberal Party (Det Radikale Venstre)
Finland: Swedish People's Party
Lithuania: New Union (Socialliberals)
Netherlands: Democrats 66
Norway: Venstre
Portugal: Movimento Liberal Social
Slovenia: Liberal Democracy of Slovenia
Sweden: Liberal People's Party
United Kingdom: Liberal Democrats

Many liberal parties, despite not labelling themselves as social liberal, fit in this definition. Though the French Parti Radical de Gauche doesn't label itself as a (social) liberal party, it fits into the defintion.

[edit]