Social liberalism
Social liberalism, is a reformulation of 19th century liberalism. A social liberal believes that out of control capitalism is a hindrance to true freedom. Instead of the negative freedom of classical liberalism, social liberalism offers positive freedom that would allow individuals to prosper with public assistance in health, education and welfare. This includes government intervention in the economy and provides full employment and protection of human rights. These ideas were first adopted and implemented in much of the capitalist world, particularly following the Second World War. Social liberal ideas and parties tend to be considered centrist.
A reaction to social liberalism in the late 20th century, is called neoliberalism. This led to monetary policies regarding the economy, and a reduction in government provisions. However, as governments continued to provide social services and retained control over economic policy, social liberal ideas remains in limbo.
Social liberalism is also sometimes called new liberalism. The Liberal International is the main international organization of liberal parties, which include, among other liberal variants, social liberal parties. A social liberal is considered their own party. It believes in the following principles: human rights, free and fair elections and multiparty-democracy, social justice, tolerance, social market economy, free trade, environmental sustainability and a strong sense of international solidarity.
In the eighteen seventies and the eighteen eighties, the economists Richard Ely, John Bates Clark, and Henry Carter Adams, influenced both by evangelical Protestantism and socialism, were critical of conditions caused by industrial relations and sympathetic to labor unions, but none developed a systematic political philosophy, and later abandoned sympathy to socialism. Social liberalism may also refer to simply support educational reform, civil rights, human rights, and civil liberties. Mostly a social liberal is a part of the democratic party. One can be a social liberal and conservative in other ways. American political discourse resisted this social turn in European liberalism. While the economic policies of the New Deal appeared Keynesian, there was no revision of liberal theory in favor of greater state initiative. Since America lacked an effective socialist movement, however, New Deal policies often appeared radical and were attacked by the right. A social liberal can be seen as someone that has come out of a rebellion. This rebellion is in response to the industrial issues of the mid nineteen twenties. Although nations prospered due to free trade and the move away from farming, many individuals experienced rapid poverty due to the new class structure that sun out of it all. Many people were not equipped with the necessary skill to work in all the industrial fields. Social liberalism is the belief that liberalism should include social justice. It differs from classical liberalism in asserting that a liberal state should provide jobs, health care, and education while simultaneously expanding civil rights. Under social liberalism, the good of the community is viewed as harmonious with the freedom of the individual.
