Americans for Democratic Action
The best known pressure group for contemporary liberalism
Classical liberalism
A view, dating from the nineteenth century that government should play a minimal role in society and should permit maximum economic freedom for the individual
Conservatism
A defense of the political and economic status quo against forces of change, holding that established customs, laws, and traditions should guide society
Contract theory
Theory holding that the state gains its legitimacy from the consent of the governed and is formed primarily to protect the rights of individuals to life, liberty, and property
Democratic socialism
- Public ownership of basic industries, banks, agricultural enterprises, and communications systems
- Wage and price controls
- Redistribution of wealth to achieve true economic equality
- Expanded welfare programs
Industrial policy
Proposals for partnership in economic decision-making among government officials, corporate leaders, union officials, and public interest groups
Laissez-faire economics
French for “leave things alone”; the view in economics that government should not interfere in the workings of the economy
Liberalism
A ideology that regards the individual as a rational being capable of overcoming obstacles to a better world and supporting changes in the political and economic status quo
Libertarianism
- Minimal government
- Protection of property rights and freedom of individuals
- No governmental regulation of the economy
- Non-interventionist foreign policy
- Drastic reduction in defense spending
Neoconservatism
- Skepticism of government’s ability to solve social and economic problems
- Acceptance of a modest welfare state
- Opposition to racial and gender quotas to redress discrimination
- Creation, not redistribution of wealth
- Assertive foreign policy
Neoliberalism
A pragmatic form of liberalism that emphasizes such beliefs as:
- promotion of wealth rather than its redistribution
- reform of military practices rather than the simple reduction of military spending
- free trade
- reform in entitlement spending
Progressivism
An urban reform movement of the late nineteenth century and early twentieth centuries influential for Roosevelt and Wilson that called for:
- direct primaries
- restrictions on corporations
- improved public services
- ban on child labor
- regulation of banks and corporations
Social Darwinism
A set of ideas applying Charles Darwin’s theory of biological evolution to society and holding that social relationships occur within a struggle for survival in which only the fittest survive
Populism
Democratization of government; Economic reform
Contemporary liberalism
- Solving problems collectively through government
- Programs that provide economic well-being of nation
- Tolerance of various lifestyles
- Believe in strong central government
Early American Conservatism
- Sanctify private property
- Distrust of unchecked popular rule
- Duty of government to promote healthy economic environment and virtuous citizenry
Industrial Age Conservatism
- Laissez-faire economy
- Individualism
- Social Darwinism
- Ideology of America’s business class
Contemporary Conservatism
- Reduce spending on social programs
- Strong military defense
- Little positive action to redress racial and gender discrimination
- revamping of tax policies to encourage economic growth
