Why do libertarians sometimes call themselves classical liberals?
In the 19th century, the term “liberal” generally meant someone who favored individual liberty and opposed the expansion of state power. In Europe and in much of the rest of the world, it still means that. But in America, the term “liberal” was adopted by people who favored extensive government intervention in the economy — people who elsewhere in the world would have been called progressives, social democrats, or socialists. Meanwhile, “conservative” continued to refer to people who favored the use of state power for the preservation of certain religious and cultural practices. The original liberals were thus left without a label. People who still cleave to the ideal of individual liberty in all spheres of life, like the 19th century liberals, now usually call themselves either libertarians or classical liberals.
Related Questions
- Many liberals and libertarians say that drug abuse is a victimless crime and should not be illegal, and that people are free to make their own bad choices. Does this mean we should legalize all drugs, including cocaine and heroin?
- Why do libertarians sometimes call themselves classical liberals?
- Do classical liberals support privatization of the public lands?
