I think the most appropriate category is “classical liberalism”, which encompasses positions ranging from most forms of social-democracy (roughly corresponding to mainstream US liberals, if I understand US politics correctly) to most forms of neoliberalism (Thatcherism-Reaganism) and libertarianism. From Wikipedia: ”Liberalism is a political philosophy or worldview founded on ideas of liberty and equality.[1] Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally they support ideas such as free and fair elections, civil rights, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, free trade, and private property.”
This excludes fascism, theocracy, oligarchy, absolute monarchy, neoreaction (a mixture of the previous items), most forms of communism, and some extreme forms of social justice (the dreaded SJWs).
“classical liberalism”, which encompasses positions ranging from most forms of social-democracy (roughly corresponding to mainstream US liberals, if I understand US politics correctly) to most forms of neoliberalism (Thatcherism-Reaganism) and libertarianism.
I think you’re treating it much too widely. I don’t consider the European social democrats or the US progressives to fall under “classical liberalism”.
Classical liberalism is more pro-market than social democrats or mainstream US progressives are. As I’ve seen it used, it has three common meanings:
Pre-20th century libertarians and proto-libertarians.
Modern libertarians who aren’t minarchists, anarchists, or social conservatives. Sometimes they’re called “moderate libertarians”, though they aren’t necessarily moderate. At other times they’re called “pragmatic libertarians”, which may be somewhat more accurate.
A general ideology that encompasses classical liberals of the first two definitions as well as minarchists and anarcho-capitalists.
I think the most appropriate category is “classical liberalism”, which encompasses positions ranging from most forms of social-democracy (roughly corresponding to mainstream US liberals, if I understand US politics correctly) to most forms of neoliberalism (Thatcherism-Reaganism) and libertarianism.
From Wikipedia:
”Liberalism is a political philosophy or worldview founded on ideas of liberty and equality.[1] Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally they support ideas such as free and fair elections, civil rights, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, free trade, and private property.”
This excludes fascism, theocracy, oligarchy, absolute monarchy, neoreaction (a mixture of the previous items), most forms of communism, and some extreme forms of social justice (the dreaded SJWs).
I think you’re treating it much too widely. I don’t consider the European social democrats or the US progressives to fall under “classical liberalism”.
Classical liberalism is more pro-market than social democrats or mainstream US progressives are. As I’ve seen it used, it has three common meanings:
Pre-20th century libertarians and proto-libertarians.
Modern libertarians who aren’t minarchists, anarchists, or social conservatives. Sometimes they’re called “moderate libertarians”, though they aren’t necessarily moderate. At other times they’re called “pragmatic libertarians”, which may be somewhat more accurate.
A general ideology that encompasses classical liberals of the first two definitions as well as minarchists and anarcho-capitalists.