Authors: Nohlen
Summary: In approximately 1500 words the entry places liberalism within the context of other political ideologies, identifies central elements of liberal thought, contrasts liberalism as a theoretical construct with liberalism as praxis in historical and national perspective, and categorizes the extensive political-science literature. Liberalism is identified as the first modern comprehensive political ideology that analytically developed in debates with conservatism and socialism, but also anarchism and fascism. Central elements of liberal thought are identified as individualism and self- determination, limited state power and economic freedom. The entry distinguishes four developmental periods for the liberal ideology. The early or revolutionary form, beginning in the middle of the 18th century, developed the ideal of a class-less society. The bourgeois liberalism of the late 19th century lead to the foundation of liberal parties within divergent national political contexts. During the downturn phase until the 1930s did in some countries conservative in others social-democratic ideas and political movements take center stage. In the period after 1945, finally, many liberal ideas have been taken up by other political parties so that liberalism has lost its movement character and is described as a central systemic structure both domestically and internationally. The entry concludes with a lengthy overview of the extensive political science literature. Central concerns are the development of liberal ideas in historical perspective, the incorporation of liberal ideals into democratic constitutions, the fate of liberal parties, and societal and socio-structural aspects of the development of liberalism from a political movement to a central component of the domestic and international political structures in the period after World War II.