What Is Liberalism?

Liberalism is a political doctrine that treats protecting and enhancing individual freedom as the central problem of politics. Liberals typically see government as necessary to protect people from harm by others, while recognizing that… The Atlas covers 13 liberal ideologies, listed below with their estimated positions.

Liberalism explained

Liberalism is a political doctrine that treats protecting and enhancing individual freedom as the central problem of politics. Liberals typically see government as necessary to protect people from harm by others, while recognizing that government itself can threaten liberty.

Core ideas

• Individual rights.
• Separation of powers and periodic elections, which link liberalism and democracy.
• Classical liberalism favors limited government intervention in markets; modern liberalism accepts more intervention and greater equality of wealth and income.
• Civil rights and social issues.

Origins

Britannica traces liberalism from classical liberalism through the 19th century to the modern liberal program shaped by World War I and the Great Depression.

Associated thinkers

John Locke, Adam Smith, James Madison, John Stuart Mill

Based on Britannica: Liberalism (checked October 20, 2026).

Types of liberalism on the Atlas

Economic: 0 collective/planned – 100 market. Social: 0 progressive – 100 traditional. Authority: 0 libertarian – 100 authoritarian. How these are calculated.

Average position of the family

Simple average of the 13 ideologies above; the family is a grouping used by the Atlas, not a single doctrine.