Liberalism is the advocacy for human rights and freedoms so long as they don’t impede upon the rights and freedoms of others. In practice it requires a democratic state to enforce equal treatment and freedoms. Examples such as making slavery and segregation illegal, mandating equal housing and employment opportunity, or covering the expenses of impoverished citizen’s medical and education.
It’s had the similar definition of “promotes freedom” for thousands of years and in early 20th century France the words liberalism and neoliberalism were commonly used to describe a system of fair and regulated markets distinctly distant from laissez-faire and socialism.
The most common opponents to Liberalism and Liberals are Tankies, who support eastern bloc dictatorships, and Conservatives, who support western bloc dictatorships. Because of this I automatically assume people who use liberal or neoliberal as a slur are opponents of human rights.
redballooon@lemmy.world 1 day ago
Akchually! That’s neo liberals. Liberals wants freedom for all individuals, but sometimes is