Liberalism: Core Ideas

This lesson examines the core ideas and principles of liberalism — one of the three core ideologies in the Edexcel A-Level Politics specification. Liberalism is arguably the most influential political ideology of the modern era, shaping democratic constitutions, human rights frameworks, and market economies around the world.

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The Origins of Liberalism

Liberalism emerged during the Enlightenment of the 17th and 18th centuries as a challenge to the established order of absolute monarchy, feudalism, and religious authority. Early liberals sought to replace arbitrary rule with reason, individual rights, and constitutional government.

Key historical contexts:

• The English Civil War (1640s) and the Glorious Revolution (1688) — which established parliamentary sovereignty and limited government.
• The American Revolution (1776) — which asserted the natural rights of individuals against tyrannical government.
• The French Revolution (1789) — which proclaimed liberty, equality, and fraternity.

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Core Principles of Liberalism

1. Individualism

Individualism is the foundational principle of liberalism. Liberals believe that the individual — not the class, the nation, or the community — is the most important political unit.

Key aspects of liberal individualism: