IDEOLOGY Liberalism Resulted from Breakdown of feudalism in Europe and the emergence of capitalist society. -Liberalism reflected the aspirations of middle class -liberal ideas were radical -17th century The English Revolution and American and French Revolutions of the 18 th century embodied liberal elements.

Liberals advocated constitutional or representative government in place of absolutism. Liberals criticised the political and economic privileges of landed aristocracy Liberlas supported the freedopm of conscience in religion and questioned the authority of established church.

Liberals advocated an industrialised and market economic order free from government interference. The system of industrial capitalism first developed in the UK from the mid 17. century onwards and and was well established by the early 19th century, subsequently spread to North America and throughout Europe.

Later to developing countries of Africa, Asia and Latin America. Western political systems liberal ideas and values liberal democracies. These systems are both constitutional and representative. The link between liberalism and capitalism?

Marxists criticised liberal ideas as being reflection of the economic interests of a ‘ruling class’ of property owners within capitalist society. Recently liberalism has became increasingly conservative, instead of reform and change, advocated the existing institutions. Classical liberalism: less state interference Modern liberalism: Government should be responsible from the welfare services.

Central themes of Liberalism The Individual: In feudal times people were seen as members of the social groups to which they belonged: their family, village, local community or social class. In market-oriented societies rational and scientific explanations displaced traditional religious theories So society was understood from the viewpoint of the human individual. Individuals were seen as invested with a set of God-given, natural rights defined by John Locke as life-liberty- property. Atomism: Individuals seen as isolated atoms, see the society as collection of individuals, each seeking to satşsfy her own needs and interests