In 2012, the efforts of the Russian Center for Public Opinion (VTsIOM) conducted a survey in which the Russians were asked to explain who is liberal.More than half of the participants in this test (or rather, 56%) found it difficult with the disclosure of the term.Hardly a few years the situation has changed dramatically, and therefore let us consider what principles professed liberalism and what it actually is a socio-political and philosophical trend.
What is a Liberal?
In very general terms we can say that a person who is a supporter of this movement, welcomes and endorses the idea of limited government intervention in social relations.The basis of this system is based on private entrepreneurial economy, which, in turn, is organized on market principles.Answering the question of who is a liberal, many experts argue that it is he who the freedom of political, personal and economic considers the highest priority in the life of state and society.For supporters of the ideology of freedom and rights of every person are some legal basis on which, in their opinion, should be built economic and social order.We now consider who the Liberal Democrat.This is a man who, defending freedom, an opponent of authoritarianism.Liberal democracy, in the opinion of Western political scientists - is the ideal sought by many developed countries.However, on this term can talk not only in terms of policy.In its original meaning of this word called all freethinkers and libertines.Sometimes their number fell and those who are in the community was inclined to excessive indulgence.
Modern liberals
As an independent outlook, considered ideological trend emerged in the late 17th century.The basis for its development were the works of famous authors such as Montesquieu, John. Locke, Adam Smith and John. Mill.At the time, it was believed that the freedom of business and non-interference of the state in private life will inevitably lead to the prosperity and welfare of society.However, as it turned out, the classical model of liberalism did not pay off.Free, uncontrolled state competition has led to the emergence of monopolies, which inflated the price.In politics, there were interest groups lobbying.All this made it impossible for legal equality and significantly reduces the possibility for all those who wish to do business.In 80-90 years.19th century liberal ideas began to experience serious crisis.As a result of lengthy theoretical searches in the early 20th century it has been developed a new concept, called neo-liberalism or social liberalism.Its proponents advocate the protection of the individual from the negative effects and abuse of the market system.In classical liberalism, the state has been something of a "night watchman".Liberals today admitted that it was a mistake, and included in its program ideas such as:
- limited state intervention in social and economic spheres;
- state control over the activities of monopolies;
- mass participation in politics;
- guarantee a number of limited social rights (old-age benefit, the right to education, work, etc.);
- consensus manage and control;
- political justice (the democratization of decision-making in politics).
Russian liberals
polytypic In modern discussions of the Russian Federation, this calls for a great deal of controversy.For some liberals - a conformist, to play along with the West, but for others - a cure that can save the country from the absolute power of the state.Such inconsistency in no small part due to the fact that in Russia at the same time there are several varieties of this ideology.The most notable of these are liberal fundamentalism (representative - Alexei Venediktov, chief editor of the station "Echo of Moscow"), neoliberalism (representative - Andrei Illarionov), social liberalism (the party "Yabloko") and legal liberalism (the Republican Party and the party Parnas).
