#### Definition
Liberalism is a political and moral philosophy based on individual rights, liberty, consent of the governed, political equality, private property, and equality before the law.
#### Core Principles
- Individual rights and freedoms: Civil liberties, rule of law, and limited government.
- Market economies and private property.
- Equality and secularism: Gender, racial equality, and separation of church and state.
- Democratic institutions: Representative democracy and universal suffrage.
#### Historical Origins and Development
Developed during the Enlightenment, replacing hereditary privilege and absolute monarchy. Spread through revolutions like the American and French. In the 19th century, liberal governments emerged; in the 20th, it influenced welfare states and civil rights.
#### Key Thinkers or Figures
- John Locke: Natural rights and social contract.
- Adam Smith: Free markets and invisible hand.
- John Stuart Mill: Liberty and utilitarianism.
- John Maynard Keynes: Interventionist policies.
#### Notable Variants
- Classical liberalism: Laissez-faire economics.
- Social liberalism: Regulated markets and welfare.
- Conservative liberalism: Centre-right blend.
- Liberal feminism: Gender equality through reform.
#### Criticisms or Controversies
Criticized by anarchists for creating oppressive states, conservatives for undermining traditions, fascists for materialism, and Marxists for maintaining exploitation.