LIBERALISM

 

LIBERALISM

Liberalism is a prominent feature of democratic societies. The word liberal means  broad-minded, enlightened, un-biased, un-prejudiced, tolerant, flexible, non-restrictive, permissive, humanistic, advanced, progressive, forward-looking, reformist, etc.

In multi-cultural and multi-religious societies, it is an indispensable feature,  where pluralism and inclusiveness rather than exclusiveness are the key to peace and prosperity.

The opposite of liberalism is fanaticism, conservatism, fundamentalism, rigidity, etc.

 Liberalism allows quick social and political change. It stands for modernisation, nationally as well as internationally.

In a liberal  society individuals enjoy freedom of thought, speech, expression and action according to their culture, religion, social, economic and political beliefs.  They have the right to dissent, oppose and protest in a peaceful manner. 

            A liberal society is a tolerant society.  It is constitutionally, socially, economically and  culturally a free society where an individual enjoys a number of rights guaranteed by its  laws. By and large such a society is democratic and secular.

            The rights of an individual in a liberal society are natural rights. For example, freedom of thought, speech and expression are as natural as his/her birth on this planet. By nature, every person is unique.  He/she thinks according to his/her mindset with which he/she is born.

            The economic aim of liberalism stands for  removal of legislative restrictions on freedom of trade and industry. It implies maximum freedom to traders and  business community  and minimum control and interference of government. It believes in the theory of free exchange of goods in a competitive market.

            Free trade or economic liberalism is now the order of the day. It allows all countries to specialise in producing products in which they have a comparative advantage. It also allows the maximisation of world production, making it possible for each consumer in the world to consume more goods than he/she could do without free trade. One of the advantages of free trade or economic liberalism is that it raises the level of national income. Globalisation in recent times is also an upshot of economic liberalism.  It has internationalised the exchange of  goods and services.

            The business and industrial enterprises of foreigners in any country today have become possible only because that country permits liberalism in Its economic systems. 

Most of the developed  and developing countries now follow the policy of liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation. The advantages are cost and qualitative competitiveness well as the utilisation of the maximum utilisation of domestic resources. Moreover, it has unified the world, decreased isolation and increased inter-dependence which is good for world peace. There is also upgradation and  modernisation of infrastructure of each liberal society. The foreign exchange through exports too has gone up.