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The Role Of Contemporary Liberalism In Modern Society

1997 Words8 Pages

Introduction
Liberalism is one broad ideology or rather a philosophy that is founded on the ideas of equality and liberty. This Ideology came as a revolt against certain ideologies and was then seen as an alternative to other ideologies, and now regarded as the leading if not the most prevailing ideology of the contemporary world (Gray, 1995:6). Liberalism, just like any other ideology cannot be well understood without the allowance of examination, improvement and progress. The theories of liberalism in the present society are more concerned and advocate a society in which elements such as individualism, equality and freedom can be displayed and uphold. This paper draws attention to contemporary liberalism and present society, although this …show more content…

The practical dominance of Liberalism

Before one starts to look at how dominant liberalism is, the first crucial consideration should be that of its background and history. Historically liberalism is diligently connected to the shaping and formation of the modern world (Browning, Webster, et al., 2000:154). This is the belief in freedom and equal rights generally associated with such thinkers as John Locke, Hobbes and Montesquieu (Anon., 2011). Liberalism as a political ideology spans the better part of the last four centuries with its theorists’ analysis of the logic of political authority and power in terms of consent and assent by individuals. With reference to Gould (1999:17) the supremacy of liberalism …show more content…

To make Liberalism more dominant was the establishment of an updated version of classical political economy known as Neoliberalism that was developed in the writings of free market economist such as Friedrich Hayek and Milton Friedman and philosophers such as Robert Nozick Heywood (2007:52). The central pillars of neo-liberalism are the market and individual, with the belief that unregulated markets will deliver efficiency, growth and widespread prosperity. On the other hand Nozick argued for a minimal state intervention and a society in which the rights of individuals will be seen as

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