Progressive Perspectives: Liberal Approaches

Abstract

Liberalism is one of two great progressive philosophical traditions to have come out of the European Enlightenment, the other being Marxism. Its ideas have had a profound impact on the political shape of all modern industrial societies. Liberalism has championed limited government and scientific rationality, believing individuals should be free from arbitrary state power, persecution and superstition. It has advocated political freedom, democracy, human and constitutionally guaranteed rights, and privileged the liberty of the individual and equality before the law. Liberalism has also argued for individual competition in civil society and claimed that market capitalism best promotes the general welfare of all by most efficiently allocating scarce resources. To the extent that its ideas have been realised in recent democratic transitions in both hemispheres and manifested in the globalisation of the world economy, liberalism remains a powerful and influential doctrine.

I have never known much good done by those who affected to trade for the public good. It is an affectation, indeed. Not very common among merchants, and very few words need be employed in dissuading them from it.

(Adam Smith, An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations)

Jesus Christ is Free Trade and Free Trade is Jesus Christ.

(John Bowring, English diplomat, cited in B. Anderson, The Alfred Deakin Lectures)