Liberalism worldwide
Encyclopedia
This article gives information on liberalism
in diverse countries around the world. It is an overview of parties that adhere more or less (explicitly) to the ideas of political liberalism and is therefore a list of liberal parties around the world.
party is defined as a political party
that adheres to the basic principles of political liberalism
. This is a broad political current, that includes both right of center
(or free market
) liberals and left of center
liberals (or mixed economy
). All liberal parties emphasize individual rights
, but they differ in their opinion on an active role for the state.
After liberals have gained power and realized their first reforms, one often sees a divergence within their ranks:
Many liberal or similar parties are members of the Liberal International
and/or of its regional partners, like the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party
and the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats
. Generally, membership in these international organizations is an indication that a party is indeed liberal. Therefore, all members are listed. However, some of them are quite centrist parties whose liberal character is disputed by some.
. Traditionally it only existed more or less in Egypt
, Senegal
and especially South Africa
.
) and separation of church and state
. At times, the anti-clerical and secularist stances promoted by Latin American liberals have resulted in limitations on the civil rights of clergy or others associated with the Church (as in Mexico, where law still prohibits priests from public office). Liberalism in North America has a different background.
is a political movement that supports a broad tradition of individual liberties and constitutionally-limited and democratically accountable government. This usually encompasses the belief that government should act to alleviate poverty and other social problems, but not through radical changes to the structure of society. European liberals are divided on the degree of government intervention in economy, but generally they favor limited intervention.
In most European countries, particularly in northern European countries, Liberalism refers to somebody who emphasizes individual liberty in economical, social, cultural and ethical topics and a free market policy with some degree of government intervention. It generally does not have the particular connotations of radicalism that the word carries in the United States, though it does not exclude them either.
In France and in some southern European countries, the word is used either to refer to the traditional liberal anti-clericalism
or to economic liberalism
. However, in recent years in France, the word is being increasingly used by proponents of laissez-faire
capitalism and minarchists
to describe themselves; in reaction, ultra-libéral is a pejorative term aimed by a large section of the French left-wing against those whom they regard as having extreme capitalist views. The more moderate form of political liberalism in France was long associated more with the Radical Party, leading to the use of the term radicals to refer to political liberals. The French Radicals tend to be more statist than most European liberals, but share the liberal values on other issues.
In France and in some southern European countries, the word liberal does not always include the suggestion of general support for individual rights that it carries in northern Europe due to its historic matters. More, in those countries liberalism is associated with the right-wing, as it is also in Germany
, the Netherlands
, Denmark
and Switzerland
, while it is more closely associated with the left-wing in the United Kingdom
, which has a political history in some ways similar with that of the United States
, and in some Scandinavia
n countries. Anyway it is to remember that, before the rise of democratic socialism
and of social democracy
, liberals were the left-wing opposed to the right-wing conservatives
. In many countries liberals were replaced by social-democrats or pulled towards the centre or the right-wing. Liberal ideas were absorbed by the conservatives concerning the economy and the individualist vision of men and society, especially in those countries in which liberals disappeared as an independent political force.
In general European liberals are divided between conservative liberals
, social liberals
and liberals combining both elements of conservative liberalism (especially on economic issues) and social liberalism (especially on moral issues). In European countries, liberals tend to label themselves either as liberals, or as radicals, centrists or democrats (though some would dispute the liberal character of the Northern European centrist parties). The European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party
(ELDR) is a mixture of all these brands of liberalism.
and New Zealand
.
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
in diverse countries around the world. It is an overview of parties that adhere more or less (explicitly) to the ideas of political liberalism and is therefore a list of liberal parties around the world.
Introduction
The definition of liberal party is highly debatable. In the list below, a liberalLiberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
party is defined as a political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
that adheres to the basic principles of political liberalism
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
. This is a broad political current, that includes both right of center
Right-wing politics
In politics, Right, right-wing and rightist generally refer to support for a hierarchical society justified on the basis of an appeal to natural law or tradition. To varying degrees, the Right rejects the egalitarian objectives of left-wing politics, claiming that the imposition of equality is...
(or free market
Free market
A free market is a competitive market where prices are determined by supply and demand. However, the term is also commonly used for markets in which economic intervention and regulation by the state is limited to tax collection, and enforcement of private ownership and contracts...
) liberals and left of center
Left-wing politics
In politics, Left, left-wing and leftist generally refer to support for social change to create a more egalitarian society...
liberals (or mixed economy
Mixed economy
Mixed economy is an economic system in which both the state and private sector direct the economy, reflecting characteristics of both market economies and planned economies. Most mixed economies can be described as market economies with strong regulatory oversight, in addition to having a variety...
). All liberal parties emphasize individual rights
Individual rights
Group rights are rights held by a group rather than by its members separately, or rights held only by individuals within the specified group; in contrast, individual rights are rights held by individual people regardless of their group membership or lack thereof...
, but they differ in their opinion on an active role for the state.
After liberals have gained power and realized their first reforms, one often sees a divergence within their ranks:
- Some are satisfied and rest apart with these reforms, developing into liberal conservativesLiberal conservatismLiberal conservatism also known as progressive conservatism is a variant of political conservatism which incorporates liberal elements. As "conservatism" and "liberalism" have had different meanings over time and across countries, the term "liberal conservatism" has been used in quite different...
or simply becoming conservatives, mostly still adhering to free market policies. An example is the Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)The , frequently abbreviated to LDP or , is a centre-right political party in Japan. It is one of the most consistently successful political parties in the democratic world. The LDP ruled almost continuously for nearly 54 years from its founding in 1955 until its defeat in the 2009 election...
. These parties are not included in the overview. - The mainstream of liberalism continues on the path of gradual reforms, embraces electoral democracyDemocracyDemocracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
as a basic liberal position and organizes itself in the form of the traditional liberal parties. These parties are included in the overview.- Part of this mainstream is more right-wing, emphasizing classical liberalClassical liberalismClassical liberalism is the philosophy committed to the ideal of limited government, constitutionalism, rule of law, due process, and liberty of individuals including freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and free markets....
issues and concentrating on economic liberalismEconomic liberalismEconomic liberalism is the ideological belief in giving all people economic freedom, and as such granting people with more basis to control their own lives and make their own mistakes. It is an economic philosophy that supports and promotes individual liberty and choice in economic matters and...
. This is, for example, the origin of libertarianismLibertarianismLibertarianism, in the strictest sense, is the political philosophy that holds individual liberty as the basic moral principle of society. In the broadest sense, it is any political philosophy which approximates this view...
. Many people consider this a separate political theory/current. Others argue that these parties are still liberal parties. Therefore they are included in the overview. - Another part of the mainstream is more left-wing. It embraces and emphasizes democratic reforms and often strives for social reforms. These parties sometimes prefer to name themselves radical or progressive liberal and are generally quite positive about the role of the state in the economy, by advocating Keynesianism for example, while continuing to support a market economyMarket economyA market economy is an economy in which the prices of goods and services are determined in a free price system. This is often contrasted with a state-directed or planned economy. Market economies can range from hypothetically pure laissez-faire variants to an assortment of real-world mixed...
. United States liberalism developed out of this tradition, also referred to as social liberalismSocial liberalismSocial liberalism is the belief that liberalism should include social justice. It differs from classical liberalism in that it believes the legitimate role of the state includes addressing economic and social issues such as unemployment, health care, and education while simultaneously expanding...
. Progressive liberals tend to use labels such as "Radical", "Progressive", "Free-thinking" or simply "Democratic" instead of "Liberal". These parties are included in the overview.- For some liberals this does not go far enough: they joined social democratic parties. They are not included in the list.
- Part of this mainstream is more right-wing, emphasizing classical liberal
- Next to these development one sees the rise of new centristCentrismIn politics, centrism is the ideal or the practice of promoting policies that lie different from the standard political left and political right. Most commonly, this is visualized as part of the one-dimensional political spectrum of left-right politics, with centrism landing in the middle between...
or pragmaticPragmatismPragmatism is a philosophical tradition centered on the linking of practice and theory. It describes a process where theory is extracted from practice, and applied back to practice to form what is called intelligent practice...
parties that share liberal values and develop into liberal or similar parties. These parties are included in the overview too. - Finally one sees liberals joining parties with a broader political range. This happens especially in countries where the electoral system favors a two-party systemTwo-party systemA two-party system is a system where two major political parties dominate voting in nearly all elections at every level of government and, as a result, all or nearly all elected offices are members of one of the two major parties...
.
- Note: In some cases the liberal current has steered into a populistPopulismPopulism can be defined as an ideology, political philosophy, or type of discourse. Generally, a common theme compares "the people" against "the elite", and urges social and political system changes. It can also be defined as a rhetorical style employed by members of various political or social...
direction (e.g. the Freedom Party of AustriaFreedom Party of AustriaThe Freedom Party of Austria is a political party in Austria. Ideologically, the party is a direct descendant of the German national liberal camp, which dates back to the 1848 revolutions. The FPÖ itself was founded in 1956 as the successor to the short-lived Federation of Independents , which had...
), while in other cases populist parties have adopted the word "liberal" in their names (e.g. the Liberal Democratic Party of RussiaLiberal Democratic Party of RussiaThe Liberal Democratic Party of Russia , Liberal'no-Demokraticheskaya Partiya Rossii is a political party in Russia. Since its founding in 1991, it has been led by the charismatic and controversial figure Vladimir Zhirinovsky...
and the Lithuanian Liberal Democratic PartyLiberal Democratic Party (Lithuania)Order and Justice , formerly the Liberal Democratic Party , is a centre-right national liberal political party in Lithuania, though it self-identifies as 'left-of-centre'...
. These parties have only a tenuous connection - if any - to liberalism.
Many liberal or similar parties are members of the Liberal International
Liberal International
Liberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
and/or of its regional partners, like the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party
European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party
The European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party is a European political party mainly active in the European Union, composed of 56 national-level liberal and liberal-democratic parties from across Europe...
and the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats
Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats
The Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats is a regional organization of liberal and democratic political parties in Asia. The Council was created on October 15, 1993, in a meeting in Taipei...
. Generally, membership in these international organizations is an indication that a party is indeed liberal. Therefore, all members are listed. However, some of them are quite centrist parties whose liberal character is disputed by some.
International organizations of parties
- Liberal InternationalLiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
- ELDREuropean Liberal Democrat and Reform PartyThe European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party is a European political party mainly active in the European Union, composed of 56 national-level liberal and liberal-democratic parties from across Europe...
(ALDEAlliance of Liberals and Democrats for EuropeThe Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe is a transnational alliance between two European political parties: the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party and the European Democratic Party. It has political groups in the European Parliament, the EU Committee of the Regions, the...
) - AD
- CALDCouncil of Asian Liberals and DemocratsThe Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats is a regional organization of liberal and democratic political parties in Asia. The Council was created on October 15, 1993, in a meeting in Taipei...
- Africa Liberal NetworkAfrica Liberal NetworkThe Africa Liberal Network is an organization composed of 27 political parties from 21 African countries, and is an associated organisation of Liberal International, the political family to which Liberal Democratic parties belong...
- Liberal Network for Latin AmericaLiberal Network for Latin AmericaThe Liberal Network for Latin America is an international network founded in 2003 with the official launch taking place in Costa Rica November, 2004. It includes 45 liberal institutions from 16 Latin American countries.Members of RELIAL include political parties as well as think tanks, foundations...
- CLH
Parliamentary parties and other parties with substantial support
- This list includes also parties which were represented in the last previous legislature and still exists as well as some banned or exiles parties (Burma, Cuba). Liberals might be active in other parties, but that is no reason to include a party.
- See the remarks above about the criteria. Minor parties are listed below
Africa
Liberalism is a relatively new current for AfricaAfrica
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
. Traditionally it only existed more or less in Egypt
Liberalism in Egypt
Liberalism in Egypt or Egyptian liberalism is a political ideology that traces its beginnings to the 19th century.-Introduction:Egyptian self-government, education, and the continued plight of Egypt's peasant majority deteriorated most significantly under British occupation. Slowly, an organized...
, Senegal
Liberalism in Senegal
This article gives an overview of liberalism in Senegal. It is limited to liberal parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ means a reference to another party in that scheme...
and especially South Africa
Liberalism in South Africa
This article gives an overview of liberal parties in South Africa. It is limited to liberal parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament.-Introduction:...
.
- There are very few liberal political parties in Algeria. Ahd 54Ahd 54Ahd 54 , "Generation of '54", is a minor Algerian party led by human rights-activist Ali Fawzi Rebaine, who claims to have founded the first Algerian human rights organization. Its name is an allusion to the start of the Algerian War of Independence, in November 1954. In the 2007 election, it won...
and the Algerian Natural Law Party may be considered liberal. The main BerberBerber peopleBerbers are the indigenous peoples of North Africa west of the Nile Valley. They are continuously distributed from the Atlantic to the Siwa oasis, in Egypt, and from the Mediterranean to the Niger River. Historically they spoke the Berber language or varieties of it, which together form a branch...
party, the Rally for Culture and DemocracyRally for Culture and DemocracyThe Rally for Culture and Democracy is a political party in Algeria. It promotes secularism and has its principal power base in Kabylia, a major Berber-speaking region...
(Rassemblement pour la Culture et la Démocratie) could be considered to embrace some liberal values. - In Angola, the liberal Liberal Democratic PartyLiberal Democratic Party (Angola)The Liberal Democratic Party is a liberal party in Angola, and is a member of Liberal International. At the 1992 elections, the PLD won 2.4% of the vote, gaining three seats in parliament. However, in the 2008 legislative election, the party gained only 0.33% of the vote and no seats in Parliament...
(Partido Liberal Democratico, member LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
) is a small liberal party. - In Benin, the Rebirth Party of Benin (Parti de la renaissance du Bénin), might be considered a liberal party, but its exact profile is not available.
- In Burkina Faso, the Alliance for Democracy and FederationAlliance for Democracy and FederationThe Alliance for Democracy and Federation is a liberal party in Burkina Faso. It is part of the Alliance for Democracy and Federation-African Democratic Rally , the largest opposition party in the country.-See also:*List of liberal...
(Alliance pour la Démocratie et la Fédération), might be considered a liberal party, but it exact profile is not available. - In Cape Verde, the Movement for DemocracyMovement for Democracy (Cape Verde)The Movimento para a Democracia is a ideological liberal party in Cape Verde. It was in power between 1991 and 2001. MPD was created on March 14, 1990, and their first convention was held in November 1990. They won the first elections after the end of the one-party system in Cape Verde, with more...
(Movimento para a Democracia), might be considered a liberal party, but its exact profile is not available. - In Côte d'Ivoire, the Rally of the RepublicansRally of the RepublicansThe Rally of the Republicans is a liberal party in Côte d'Ivoire. It is presently the country's governing party; the party's leader, Alassane Ouattara, is the current President of Côte d'Ivoire....
(Rassemblement des Republicains, member LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
) is the liberal, main opposition party. - In Egypt, the Democratic Front PartyDemocratic Front Party (Egypt)-Foundation:The party was founded in 2007 by Osama Al Ghazali Harb, a former member of the Egypt's National Democratic Party and Member of the Shura Council, and Yehia El Gamal, a former minister of the Cabinet of Egypt.-Ideology:...
(Hizb al-Gabha Al-dimocratia) and the New Delegation Party (Hizb al-Wafd-al-Jadid) could be considered "liberal parties". The newest liberal party in Egypt is El-Ghad Party (Tomorrow's Party) led by the opposition leader Ayman Nour http://www.elghad.org. Also, the newly established Free Egyptians Party. See for more information: Liberalism in EgyptLiberalism in EgyptLiberalism in Egypt or Egyptian liberalism is a political ideology that traces its beginnings to the 19th century.-Introduction:Egyptian self-government, education, and the continued plight of Egypt's peasant majority deteriorated most significantly under British occupation. Slowly, an organized...
. - In Equatorial Guinea, the National Democratic Union of Equatorial GuineaNational Democratic Union of Equatorial GuineaThe National Democratic Union of Equatorial Guinea is a liberal party in exile from in Equatorial Guinea.The party is a member of Liberal International.-See also:*Liberalism*Contributions to liberal theory*Liberalism worldwide*List of liberal parties...
(Unión Democratica Nacional de Guinea Ecuatorial, member LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
) claims to be a liberal party. - In Gambia, the United Democratic Party, might be considered a liberal party, but it exact profile is not available.
- In Ghana, the New Patriotic PartyNew Patriotic Party-External links:*...
is a right of center liberal party that is unclear about its international affiliations. - In Kenya, the Liberal Democratic PartyLiberal Democratic Party (Kenya)The Liberal Democratic Party was a political party in Kenya.In the general election held on 27 December 2002, the party was a partner in the National Rainbow Coalition, which won 56.1 % of the popular vote and 125 out of 212 elected seats. The party itself took 59 of these seats...
might be considered a liberal party. - In Malawi, the liberal character of the United Democratic FrontUnited Democratic Front (Malawi)The United Democratic Front claims to be a liberal party in Malawi and is mainly strong in the southern region populated by ethnic Yao. Until 2009 the party was a member of Liberal International, which it joined at the latter's Reykjavík Congress in 1994...
is despite its membership of the LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
disputable. The Democratic Progressive PartyDemocratic Progressive Party (Malawi)The Democratic Progressive Party is the ruling political party in Malawi. The party was formed in February 2005 by Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika after a dispute with the United Democratic Front....
was formed in 2005 by President Bingu wa MutharikaBingu wa MutharikaBingu wa Mutharika is a Malawi economist who is President of Malawi. He took office on 24 May 2004 after winning a disputed presidential election...
after a dispute with the UDF. There were allegations that members of the former governing UDF did not adequately tackle corruption. It is unclear if the party will be ideological or personalist in style. - In Morocco, two center-right parties, the Constitutional UnionConstitutional Union (Morocco)The Constitutional Union is a liberal conservative political party in Morocco, aligned with the ruling monarchy.The party is a full member of Liberal International, which it joined at the latter's Dakar Congress in 2003....
(Union Constitutionnelle) and the Popular MovementPopular MovementThe Popular Movement is a conservative liberal party in Morocco established in 1957 by the Berber Caid Mahjoubi Aherdane with help from Dr. Abdelkrim al-Khatib who founded later a splinter party that became the Justice and Development Party.The present party results from a 25 March 2006 merger...
(Mouvement Populaire) are both member of the LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
. However both are conservative in social issues, something abnormal for a true liberal party. - In Mozambique, the Liberal Democratic Party of MozambiqueLiberal Democratic Party of MozambiqueThe Liberal Democratic Party of Mozambique is a liberal party in Mozambique.-See also:*Liberalism*Contributions to liberal theory*Liberalism worldwide*List of liberal parties*Liberal democracy...
(Partido Liberal e Democrático de Moçambique) and the Social Liberal and Democratic PartySocial Liberal and Democratic PartyThe Social Liberal and Democratic Party is a liberal party in Mozambique.-See also:*Liberalism*Social liberalism*Contributions to liberal theory*Liberalism worldwide*List of liberal parties*Liberal democracy...
(Partido Social-Liberal e Democrático) claim to be liberal parties, but both lost parliamentary representation. - In Senegal, the Senegalese Democratic PartySenegalese Democratic PartyThe Senegalese Democratic Party is a political party in Senegal. The party considers itself a liberal party and is a member of the Liberal International. Abdoulaye Wade, Senegal's president, is the party's leader...
(Parti Démocratique Sénégalais, member LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
) is a liberal party with a strong personalist character. See for more information: Liberalism in SenegalLiberalism in SenegalThis article gives an overview of liberalism in Senegal. It is limited to liberal parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ means a reference to another party in that scheme...
. - In Seychelles, the Seychelles National PartySeychelles National PartyThe Seychelles National Party is a liberal political party in Seychelles. Its followers emphasize active multiparty democracy, respect for human rights and liberal economic reforms. It was founded in response to what it called the "totalitarian regime" of former President France-Albert René...
(observer LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
) is a liberal party. - In South Africa, the Democratic Alliance (member LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
) is a liberal party. See for more information: Liberalism in South AfricaLiberalism in South AfricaThis article gives an overview of liberal parties in South Africa. It is limited to liberal parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament.-Introduction:...
. - In Sudan, the United Democratic Liberal Party which is not (member LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
) is a social-liberal party. - In Tanzania, the Civic United FrontCivic United FrontThe Civic United Front is a liberal party in Tanzania. Although nationally-based, most of the CUF's support comes from the Zanzibar islands of Unguja and Pemba...
(Chama Cha Wananchi), member LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
) and the United Democratic PartyUnited Democratic Party (Tanzania)The United Democratic Party is a liberal party in Tanzania.The party is an observer at Liberal International.At the 2000 legislative elections, the party 2 out of 269 seats in the National Assembly...
, observer LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
are liberal parties. - In Tunisia, the Social Liberal PartySocial Liberal Party (Tunisia)The Social Liberal Party , abbreviated to PSL, is an opposition liberal political party in Tunisia. It holds eight seats in the Chamber of Deputies, making it the fifth-largest party in the Tunisian parliament...
(Parti Social Libéral, observer LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
) is a more or less liberal party. - In Zambia, the main opposition party, the United Party for National DevelopmentUnited Party for National DevelopmentThe United Party for National Development is a liberal political party in Zambia.At the 2001 legislative elections, held on 27 December 2001, the party won 23.3% of popular votes and 49 out of 159 seats...
(observer LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
) takes a liberal position in the political spectrum. - In Zimbabwe, liberalism is not organized, but the left-leaning opposition Movement for Democratic ChangeMovement for Democratic Change – TsvangiraiThe Movement for Democratic Change Zimbabwe is a political party and the largest party in the House of Assembly of Zimbabwe. It is the main formation formed from the split of the original Movement for Democratic Change in 2005.-Foundation:...
includes liberals and social democrats opposed to President Robert MugabeRobert MugabeRobert Gabriel Mugabe is the President of Zimbabwe. As one of the leaders of the liberation movement against white-minority rule, he was elected into power in 1980...
.
The Americas
In many Latin American countries, liberalism and radicalism have been associated with generally left-of-center political movements such as Colombia's Liberal Party, historically concerned mostly with effecting government decentralization and regional autonomy (liberals were influential in the total dissolution of at least two defunct countries, the United Provinces of Central America and Gran ColombiaGran Colombia
Gran Colombia is a name used today for the state that encompassed much of northern South America and part of southern Central America from 1819 to 1831. This short-lived republic included the territories of present-day Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Panama, northern Peru and northwest Brazil. The...
) and separation of church and state
Separation of church and state
The concept of the separation of church and state refers to the distance in the relationship between organized religion and the nation state....
. At times, the anti-clerical and secularist stances promoted by Latin American liberals have resulted in limitations on the civil rights of clergy or others associated with the Church (as in Mexico, where law still prohibits priests from public office). Liberalism in North America has a different background.
- In Argentina, the Radical Civic UnionRadical Civic UnionThe Radical Civic Union is a political party in Argentina. The party's positions on issues range from liberal to social democratic. The UCR is a member of the Socialist International. Founded in 1891 by radical liberals, it is the oldest political party active in Argentina...
(Unión Civica Radical) historically was a progressive-liberal party, while nowadays it adheres to the Socialist InternationalSocialist InternationalThe Socialist International is a worldwide organization of democratic socialist, social democratic and labour political parties. It was formed in 1951.- History :...
and its platform is a combination of liberal and social democratic ideas. Recreate for GrowthRecreate for GrowthRecreate for Growth was a conservative liberal political party in Argentina, that existed from 2002 to 2009.The party was formed in March 2002, mostly by market-oriented members of the Radical Civic Union, headed by Ricardo López Murphy....
(Recrear para el Crecimiento) had been a short lived attempt to form a market liberal party and has observer status in the Liberal InternationalLiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
. This party was in alliance with conservative-liberal Republican ProposalRepublican ProposalRepublican Proposal is a right-wing political party in Argentina. It is usually referred to as PRO. PRO was formed as an electoral alliance in 2005, but was transformed into a unitary party on 3 June 2010....
(Propuesta Republicana). Also smaller parties, such as the Union of the Democratic CentreUnion of the Democratic Centre (Argentina)The Union of the Democratic Centre is a conservative political party in Argentina. It was founded in 1982 by Álvaro Alsogaray who stood for the Party in the 1983 and 1989 presidential elections....
(Unión del Centro Democrático), the Progressive Democratic PartyProgressive Democratic PartyProgressive Democratic Party may refer to:*Progressive Democratic Party , political party established in June 2006 in Gibraltar by lawyer Keith Azopardi*Progressive Democratic Party of Guadeloupe*Progressive Democratic Party...
(Partito Democrata Progresista), the Liberal Party of CorrientesLiberal Party of CorrientesThe Liberal Party of Corrientes is a liberal conservative provincial political party in Corrientes Province, Argentina. Founded in 1856, it is the oldest political party in Argentina and in Latin America, the second oldest in the Americas....
(Partito Liberal de Corrientes) and the Democratic Party of MendozaDemocratic Party (Mendoza)The Democratic Party of Mendoza is a provincial conservative party in Mendoza Province, Argentina. It was founded around 1930.Since the return of the democracy in 1983, the party has been the third political force in Mendoza, except in 1999 when it won the second position in the elections.It is a...
(Partido Demócrata Mendoza), adhere to conservative-liberal priciples. On the libertarian side, stands the Liberal Libertarian PartyLiberal Libertarian PartyThe Liberal Libertarian Party is a political party from Argentina founded on 22 June 2009. It defines itself both as a liberal and libertarian party. Its goals are to limit the power of the State reducing its influence on the individual, regarding the economical and social aspects...
(Partido Liberal Libertario), whose focus is on free markets and individual rights. - In Aruba, the character of the Aruban Liberal OrganizationAruban Liberal OrganizationThe Aruban Liberal Organization is a liberal political party in Aruba.At the last elections for the Estates, 28 September 2001, the party won 5.7 % of popular votes and 1 out of 21 seats...
(Organisacion Liberal Arubiano) is not clear. The party lost parliamentary representation in the 2005 election. - In Bahamas, the dominant party is the left of center liberal Progressive Liberal PartyProgressive Liberal PartyThe Progressive Liberal Party is a populist party in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas commonly abbreviated PLP. The PLP lies on the left of the political spectrum....
. - In Bolivia, the Liberal Party was dominant until 1952.(Main article: Liberalism in BoliviaLiberalism in BoliviaThis article gives an overview of liberal parties in Bolivia. It is limited to liberal parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ means a reference to another party in that scheme...
). - In Brazil, Liberalism (in a general, international acceptance) is currently unrepresented, and there are no mainstream parties currently holding unambiguous liberal principles nor any members of the Liberal InternationalLiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
. While at least three parties label themselves as "liberal", the Party of the Liberal Front (Partido da Frente Liberal), re-named DemocratsDemocrats (Brazil)The Democrats is a centre-right political party in Brazil, considered the main in the right-wing spectrum. Despite its former name , the party affiliates itself to the Centrist Democrat International, and the International Democrat Union. The name comes from its support to free market policies...
(Democratas) in 2007, is actually a conservativeConservatismConservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
party. The Liberal partyLiberal Party (Brazil)The Liberal Party was a conservative political party of Brazil, merged in the Republic Party. The Igreja Universal do Reino de Deus had been taking part in Brazilian elections through PL, but the church has now partially left it to create a new centrist party named Partido Republicano Brasileiro...
(Partido Liberal), re-named Republic PartyRepublic PartyThe Republic Party is a centrist Brazilian political party.It was founded on December 21, 2006 by the merge of the Liberal Party and the Party of the Reconstruction of the National Order .It is likely that in the future two other parties, the Social Christian Party The Republic Party (Partido da...
(Partido da Republica) in 2006, is a populist-conservative party with links to religious organizations, and the Social Liberal PartySocial Liberal Party (Brazil)The Social Liberal Party is a liberal party in Brazil. At the legislative elections, 6 October 2002, the party won 1 out of 513 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and no seats in the Senate. In 2006 didn't win seats in the Chamber of Deputies and in the Senate...
(Partido Social Liberal) can be considered a liberal party in the US sense.(Main article: Liberalism in BrazilLiberalism in BrazilThis article gives an overview of liberal parties in Brazil. It is limited to liberal parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ means a reference to another party in that scheme...
). - In Canada, Liberal refers mainly to the policies and ideas of the Liberal Party of CanadaLiberal Party of CanadaThe Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
/Parti Libéral du Canada (member LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
), the most frequent governing party of Canada for the last century and one of the largest liberalLiberalismLiberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
partiesPolitical partyA political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in the world. The Liberal Party of Canada has in the past generally supported a welfare state, but now is most simply regarded as a party of the centre-left. The Quebec Liberal Party and British Columbia Liberal PartyBritish Columbia Liberal PartyThe British Columbia Liberal Party is the governing political party in British Columbia, Canada. First elected for government in 1916, the party went into decline after 1952, with its rump caucus merging with the Social Credit Party for the 1975 election...
combine liberalism with more neo-liberal ideas. The Libertarian Party of CanadaLibertarian Party of CanadaThe Libertarian Party of Canada is a political party in Canada that subscribes to the tenets of the libertarian movement across Canada.-History:...
centres itself on free markets and individual liberty. (Main article: Liberalism in CanadaLiberalism in CanadaLiberalism has been a strong force in Canadian politics since the late 18th Century. While Canada has the same features of other liberal democracies in the Western democratic political tradition, it is, in some respects, an exemplar of liberalism. This article gives an overview of liberalism in...
). - In Chile, originally the Social Democrat Radical PartySocial Democrat Radical PartyThe Social Democratic Radical Party is a social democratic party in Chile.The party is a member of Socialist International....
(Partido Radical Social-Democráta, member SISocialist InternationalThe Socialist International is a worldwide organization of democratic socialist, social democratic and labour political parties. It was formed in 1951.- History :...
) was a left of center liberal party, but nowadays it is a social democratic party. (Main article: Liberalism and radicalism in ChileLiberalism and radicalism in ChileThis article gives an overview of liberal and radical parties in Chile. It is limited to liberal and radical parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ means a reference to another party in that scheme...
). - In Colombia, the liberal current developed into the Colombian Liberal PartyColombian Liberal PartyThe Colombian Liberal Party is a center-left party in Colombia that adheres to social democracy and social liberalism.The Party was founded in 1848 and, together with the Colombian Conservative Party, subsequently became one of the two main political forces in the country for over a century.After...
(Partido Liberal Colombiano, despite its name an active member of the SISocialist InternationalThe Socialist International is a worldwide organization of democratic socialist, social democratic and labour political parties. It was formed in 1951.- History :...
), which is a left of center, somewhat populist party, somewhere between liberalism and social democracy. Newer parties like Partido Cambio Radical and Social National Unity PartySocial National Unity PartyThe Social Party of National Unity , or Party of the U is a liberal conservative political party in Colombia. It attempts to unite various parliamentary supporters of Álvaro Uribe, the Uribistas, in one political party. Currently it is Colombia's largest political party.Security is the top...
have taken classical liberalClassical liberalismClassical liberalism is the philosophy committed to the ideal of limited government, constitutionalism, rule of law, due process, and liberty of individuals including freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and free markets....
ideas. (Main article: Liberalism in ColombiaLiberalism in ColombiaThis article gives an overview of liberalism in Colombia. It is limited to liberal parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ means a reference to another party in that scheme...
). - In Costa Rica, the Libertarian Movement Party (Partido Movimiento Libertario, observer LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
) is a classical liberal (libertarian) party. - In Cuba, it have been legal to form political partiesPolitical PartiesPolitical Parties: A Sociological Study of the Oligarchical Tendencies of Modern Democracy is a book by sociologist Robert Michels, published in 1911 , and first introducing the concept of iron law of oligarchy...
since 1992, but only the Communist Party of CubaCommunist Party of CubaThe Communist Party of Cuba is the governing political party in Cuba. It is a communist party of the Marxist-Leninist model. The Cuban constitution ascribes the role of the Party to be the "leading force of society and of the state"...
is allowed to be the ruling party. The three liberal parties Liberal Democratic PartyLiberal Democratic Party (Cuba)The Liberal Party of Cuba was a major political party in Cuba from 1910 until the Cuban Revolution the late 1950s.-History:The party first contested elections in 1910, when it won 23 of the 41 seats in mid-term elections...
(Partido Liberal Democratico, observer LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
), Democratic Solidarity PartyDemocratic Solidarity PartyThe Democratic Solidarity Party is a political liberal party in Cuba. Although changes to the Cuban constitution in 1992 decriminalized the right to form political parties other than the Communist Party of Cuba, these parties are not permitted to campaign or engage in any public political...
(Partido Solidaridad Democratica, observer LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
), Cuban Liberal UnionCuban Liberal UnionThe Cuban Liberal Union is a liberal party in Cuba. The party is a member of Liberal International.-See also:*Liberalism*Contributions to liberal theory*Liberalism worldwide*List of liberal parties*Liberal democracy*Liberalism in Cuba...
(Unión Liberal Cubana, member of the Liberal InternationalLiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
) and the Cuban Liberal MovementCuban Liberal MovementThe Cuban Liberal Movement is a liberal party in Cuba, founded in 2004. The party's Headquarters are in Havana.-See also:*Liberalism*Contributions to liberal theory*Liberalism worldwide*List of liberal parties...
(Movimiento Liberal Cubano) is are existing and got their location in HavanaHavanaHavana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
, but they are not allowed to get in elections. - In Dominican Republic, the originally left-wing Dominican Liberation PartyDominican Liberation PartyThe Dominican Liberation Party is one of the main political parties of the Dominican Republic, and has a centrist position.The party has been elected into office thrice now with Leonel Fernández as President of the Dominican Republic in the 1996, 2004 and 2008 elections, though losing in 2000...
(Partido de la Liberacíon Dominicana) developed into a center liberal party. - In Ecuador, the Alfarista Radical FrontAlfarista Radical FrontThe Alfarista Radical Front is a centrist liberal party in Ecuador, founded in 1972. One of its best known figures is former acting president Fabián Alarcón....
(Frente Radical Alfarista) and the Ecuadorian Radical Liberal PartyEcuadorian Radical Liberal PartyThe Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party is a liberal party in Ecuador and the oldest existing political party in Ecuador....
(Partido Liberal Radical Ecuatoriana) are two small remainders of the traditional liberal current. (Main article: Liberalism and radicalism in EcuadorLiberalism and radicalism in EcuadorThis article gives an overview of liberalism and radicalism in Ecuador. It is limited to liberal and radical parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ means a reference to another party in that scheme...
). - In Greenland, the Feeling of Community Party (Atássut) is a right of center liberal party, as are the DemocratsDemocrats (Greenland)The Democrats are a liberal and social-liberal, political party in Greenland. At the legislative elections on the fifteenth of November 2005, the party won 22.8% of the popular vote, and seven out of 31 seats, rising from 2002 totals of 15.6% of the popular vote and five out of 31 seats...
. - In Grenada, the National Democratic CongressNational Democratic Congress (Grenada)The National Democratic Congress is a liberal centre-left political party in Grenada. Tillman Thomas is the party's leader, Nazim Burke is its deputy leader, and Peter David is its General Secretary...
is a center liberal party. - In Honduras, the Liberal Party of HondurasLiberal Party of HondurasThe Liberal Party of Honduras is a centre-left liberal political party in Honduras that was founded in 1891. The party is a member of the Liberal International...
(Partido Liberal de Honduras, member LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
) is the traditional center liberal party. (Main article: Liberalism in HondurasLiberalism in HondurasLiberalism in Honduras, as a form of Latin American liberalism, has old historical roots. Influenced by the French revolutionaries in the 1790s, the door was opened for ideas of positivism...
). - In Mexico, liberalism is represented by the Partido Nueva AlianzaNew Alliance Party (Mexico)The New Alliance Party is one of the newest political parties in Mexico.Its creation was proposed by the Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores de la Educación , the largest trade union in Latin America, led by Elba Esther Gordillo, the controversial former general secretary of the Institutional...
(New Alliance Party, member LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
and Liberal Network for Latin AmericaLiberal Network for Latin AmericaThe Liberal Network for Latin America is an international network founded in 2003 with the official launch taking place in Costa Rica November, 2004. It includes 45 liberal institutions from 16 Latin American countries.Members of RELIAL include political parties as well as think tanks, foundations...
). "(Main article: Liberalism in MexicoLiberalism in MexicoThis article gives an overview of liberalism in Mexico. It is limited to liberal parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament....
)." - In Nicaragua, the liberal character of the right-wing Constitutional Liberal PartyConstitutional Liberal PartyThe Constitutionalist Liberal Party is an opposition political party in Nicaragua. At the legislative elections, held on 5 November 2006, the party won 25 of 92 seats in the National Assembly....
(Partido Liberal Constitucionalista, former member LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
) is disputable. (Main article: Liberalism in NicaraguaLiberalism in NicaraguaThis article gives an overview of liberalism in Nicaragua. It is limited to liberal parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ means a reference to another party in that scheme...
). - In Panama, the National Liberal PartyNational Liberal Party (Panama)The National Liberal Party was a liberal party in Panama. At the last legislative elections, 2 May 2004, the party won 5.2 % of the popular vote and 3 out of 78 seats...
(Partido Liberal Nacional), observer LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
is a right of center liberal party, as is the Nationalist Republican Liberal MovementNationalist Republican Liberal MovementThe Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement is a center-to-right, pro-business liberal political party in Panama....
(Partido Movimiento Liberal Republicano Nacionalista). (Main article: Liberalism in PanamaLiberalism in PanamaThis article gives an overview of liberalism in Panama. It is limited to liberal parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ means a reference to another party in that scheme...
). - In Paraguay, the Authentic Radical Liberal PartyAuthentic Radical Liberal PartyThe Authentic Radical Liberal Party is a liberal party in Paraguay.The party is an observer member of Liberal International. At the last legislative elections, 27 April 2003, the party won 25.7 % of the popular vote and 21 out of 80 seats in the Chamber of Deputies of Paraguay and 24.3 %, leading...
(Partido Liberal Radical Auténtico, member LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
) is a left of center liberal party. (Main article: Liberalism and radicalism in ParaguayLiberalism and radicalism in ParaguayThis article gives an overview of liberalism and radicalism in Paraguay. It is limited to liberal and radical parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ means a reference to another party in that scheme...
). - In Peru, the only political party from classical liberalism roots is Liberal Party of Peru, founded in April 2003. Other parties as the Popular Action (Acción Popular) and the Union for PeruUnion for PeruUnion for Peru is a Peruvian political party. UPP was founded by Javier Pérez de Cuéllar, ex UN Secretary General, in 1994. UPP was originally a liberal or centrist political party....
(Unión por el Perú) are more or less liberal parties. (Main article: Liberalism in PeruLiberalism in PeruThis article gives an overview of liberalism in Peru. It is limited to liberal parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ means a reference to another party in that scheme...
). - In Puerto Rico, the Popular Democratic PartyPopular Democratic Party of Puerto RicoThe Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico is a political party that supports Puerto Rico's right to self-determination and sovereignty, through the enhancement of Puerto Rico's current status as a commonwealth....
(Partido Popular Democrático) is a left of center liberal party. - In Suriname, the Democratic Alternative '91Democratic Alternative '91The Democratic Alternative '91 is a liberal party in Suriname. The party took originally its programme from the programme of the Dutch party Democrats 66....
(Democratisch Alternatief '91) is a center liberal party. - In the United States, the primary use of the term liberal is at some variance with European and worldwide usage. In the United States today it is most associated with the definition of modern liberalism which is a combination of social liberalismSocial liberalismSocial liberalism is the belief that liberalism should include social justice. It differs from classical liberalism in that it believes the legitimate role of the state includes addressing economic and social issues such as unemployment, health care, and education while simultaneously expanding...
, public welfare and a mixed economyMixed economyMixed economy is an economic system in which both the state and private sector direct the economy, reflecting characteristics of both market economies and planned economies. Most mixed economies can be described as market economies with strong regulatory oversight, in addition to having a variety...
, which is in contrast to classical liberalismClassical liberalismClassical liberalism is the philosophy committed to the ideal of limited government, constitutionalism, rule of law, due process, and liberty of individuals including freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and free markets....
. In the 19th century it was not a common term in American philosophy or politics, partially because the two main parties were a mixture of populistPopulismPopulism can be defined as an ideology, political philosophy, or type of discourse. Generally, a common theme compares "the people" against "the elite", and urges social and political system changes. It can also be defined as a rhetorical style employed by members of various political or social...
and nationalist elements (indeed, conservatism was not a common term until the mid-20th century as well). The Democratic Party was the party of free trade, low tariffs and laissez-faire entrepreneurialism, while the Republican Party advocated national citizenship, transparency and government efforts to stabilize the currency. Liberalism in the United States was primarily defined by the self-proclaimed liberal presidents Woodrow WilsonWoodrow WilsonThomas Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, from 1913 to 1921. A leader of the Progressive Movement, he served as President of Princeton University from 1902 to 1910, and then as the Governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913...
and Franklin Roosevelt. While the emphasis on mutual collaboration through liberal institutions as an alternative to the threat and use of force remained consistent with international liberalism, United States liberals also claimed that individuals have a right to expect the government to guarantee social justiceSocial justiceSocial justice generally refers to the idea of creating a society or institution that is based on the principles of equality and solidarity, that understands and values human rights, and that recognizes the dignity of every human being. The term and modern concept of "social justice" was coined by...
. This was in part a consequence of the influence of the ideas of British economist John Maynard KeynesJohn Maynard KeynesJohn Maynard Keynes, Baron Keynes of Tilton, CB FBA , was a British economist whose ideas have profoundly affected the theory and practice of modern macroeconomics, as well as the economic policies of governments...
on Franklin D. RooseveltFranklin D. RooseveltFranklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
's New DealNew DealThe New Deal was a series of economic programs implemented in the United States between 1933 and 1936. They were passed by the U.S. Congress during the first term of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The programs were Roosevelt's responses to the Great Depression, and focused on what historians call...
. The New Deal had the effect of stealing the thunder of social democratic forces and the necessity to prevent social unrest strengthened this development. As McCarthyismMcCarthyismMcCarthyism is the practice of making accusations of disloyalty, subversion, or treason without proper regard for evidence. The term has its origins in the period in the United States known as the Second Red Scare, lasting roughly from the late 1940s to the late 1950s and characterized by...
gave the terms socialismSocialismSocialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
and even social democracySocial democracySocial democracy is a political ideology of the center-left on the political spectrum. Social democracy is officially a form of evolutionary reformist socialism. It supports class collaboration as the course to achieve socialism...
a meaning synonymous with communismCommunismCommunism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
in the U.S., many to the left of center moderated their views, aligning with the New Deal liberals. The Democratic PartyDemocratic Party (United States)The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
is identified as the liberal party within the broader definition of liberalismLiberalismLiberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
thus putting it in contrast with most other parties listed here. Democrats advocate more social freedoms, affirmative actionAffirmative actionAffirmative action refers to policies that take factors including "race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation or national origin" into consideration in order to benefit an underrepresented group, usually as a means to counter the effects of a history of discrimination.-Origins:The term...
, and a mixed economy (and therefore modern liberalism). The Republican PartyRepublican Party (United States)The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
supports strong free-market and libertarianLibertarianismLibertarianism, in the strictest sense, is the political philosophy that holds individual liberty as the basic moral principle of society. In the broadest sense, it is any political philosophy which approximates this view...
views on the economy (and therefore economic liberalismEconomic liberalismEconomic liberalism is the ideological belief in giving all people economic freedom, and as such granting people with more basis to control their own lives and make their own mistakes. It is an economic philosophy that supports and promotes individual liberty and choice in economic matters and...
) mixed with strong aspects of social conservatismSocial conservatismSocial Conservatism is primarily a political, and usually morally influenced, ideology that focuses on the preservation of what are seen as traditional values. Social conservatism is a form of authoritarianism often associated with the position that the federal government should have a greater role...
. The Libertarian PartyLibertarian Party (United States)The Libertarian Party is the third largest and fastest growing political party in the United States. The political platform of the Libertarian Party reflects its brand of libertarianism, favoring minimally regulated, laissez-faire markets, strong civil liberties, minimally regulated migration...
is the third largest political party in the United States, (though still only getting 1-2% of the vote in congressional elections), and particularly centers itself on free markets and individual liberty, which is more in line with classical liberalismClassical liberalismClassical liberalism is the philosophy committed to the ideal of limited government, constitutionalism, rule of law, due process, and liberty of individuals including freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and free markets....
. (Main article: Liberalism in the United StatesLiberalism in the United StatesLiberalism in the United States is a broad political philosophy centered on the unalienable rights of the individual. The fundamental liberal ideals of freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of religion for all belief systems, and the separation of church and state, right to due process...
) - In Uruguay, liberalism organized itself in the nineteenth century in the Colorado (or Red) PartyColorado Party (Uruguay)The Colorado Party is a political party in Uruguay.- Aims :It unites Conservative, Moderate and Social democratic groups. It was the dominant party of government almost without exception during the stabilisation of the Uruguayan republic....
, (Partido Colorado) nowadays an heterogonous party, divided in factions ranging from conservatism to social democracy. Its general profile is more or less liberal. (Main article: Liberalism in UruguayLiberalism in UruguayLiberalism in Uruguay organized itself in the nineteenth century in the Colorado Party, nowadays an heterogonous party, divided in factions ranging from conservatism to social democracy. Its general profile is more or less liberal. They can differ very much in political profile...
). - In Venezuela, liberalism was a strong force in the nineteenth and beginning of the twentieth century. Nowadays there are three important classical liberal movements (still no parties): Organization for the Liberal Democracy in VenezuelaOrganization for the Liberal Democracy in VenezuelaThe Organization for the Liberal Democracy in Venezuela is a classical liberal action tank from Caracas, Venezuela, created by a group of libertarian students...
(Organización por la Democracia Liberal en Venezuela), a classical liberal, pro-capitalism think-tank; Liberal Democratic Movement (Movimiento Demócrata LiberalMovimiento Demócrata LiberalMovimiento Demócrata Liberal is a Venezuelan political organisation.The MDL is promoting autonomy statutes in at least seven Venezuelan states including Tachira, Sucre, Monagas, Bolívar, Anzoátegui, Aragua, and Falcón....
) and "Rumbo Propio para el Zulia" from Maracaibo, Zulia, a classical liberal autonomist movement. They are going to create together a political party in the next years. (Main article: Liberalism in VenezuelaLiberalism in VenezuelaThis article gives an overview of liberalism in Venezuela. It is limited to liberal parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ means a reference to another party in that scheme...
).
Asia
Liberalism has or had some tradition in some countries. Nowadays it is a growing current in East Asia, but in many of these countries liberals tend not to use the label liberal.- Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cyprus, Georgia, Russia, and Turkey are listed under Europe.
- In Bangladesh, the Bangladesh Liberal Democratic Party is a small liberal democratic party.
- In Burma, the National Council of the Union of BurmaNational Council of the Union of BurmaThe National Council of the Union of Burma is an opposition organisation in Burma , composed of representatives of armed groups and exiled political organizations...
, member CALD, is active in exile. - In Cambodia, the Kanapak Sam RainsySam Rainsy PartyThe Sam Rainsy Party is a personalist and more or less liberal party in Cambodia. The party is a member of the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats...
(Sam Rainsy Party, member CALD, claims to be a more or less liberal party, though some dispute this and consider it a xenophobic party. - In Hong Kong, the Democratic PartyDemocratic Party (Hong Kong)The Democratic Party is a pro-democracy political party in Hong Kong. It was established on 2 October 1994. The party is currently the second largest party in the Legislative Council, headed by Chairman Albert Ho Chun-yan and, following the November 2008 merger with the Frontier, had around 745...
is a liberal party, strongly emphasizing the need of democratic reforms. The Civic PartyCivic PartyCivic Party is a liberal democratic political party in Hong Kong.The Civic Party is currently the third largest political party in the Legislative Council of Hong Kong, with five members securing seats in the 2008 Hong Kong Legislative Council elections...
is also a liberal party. The Liberal PartyLiberal Party (Hong Kong)Liberal Party is a business-friendly liberal conservative political party in Hong Kong.-Party beliefs:The party is known for its conservative and business-friendly policies. Despite being a political party friendly with Beijing, it fits in the centre-right political spectrum...
is often considered to be a conservative, pro-business party. - In India, liberalism has became a strong current and nowadays it is unrepresented. (Main article: Liberalism in IndiaLiberalism in India-1757–1947: The effect of British liberal ideas:The strengthening of British influence in Bengal with the battle of Plassey in 1757 coincided with significant developments of thought in England and in the USA...
). - In Iran, liberalism is forbidden and its members have been killed in the past. The Liberal Democratic Party of Iran is forced to exist in exile (based in Sweden). (Main article: Liberalism in IranLiberalism in IranThis article provides an overview of liberalism in Iran. It is limited to the Iranian liberal movement and liberal parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in the majlis ....
). - In Israel, ShinuiShinuiShinui is a Zionist, secular and anti-clerical free market liberal party and political movement in Israel. The party twice became the third largest in the Knesset, but both occasions were followed by a split and collapse; in 1977 the party won 15 seats as part of the Democratic Movement for...
(שינוי, in English Change, member LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
) is a strongly anti-clerical, market liberal party without parliamentary representation since 2006. One of its founders, some of its members, and many of its voters joined the new KadimaKadimaKadima is a centrist and liberal political party in Israel. It was established on 24 November 2005 by moderates from Likud largely to support the issue of Ariel Sharon's unilateral disengagement plan, and was soon joined by like-minded Labor politicians...
Party. The center-right LikudLikudLikud is the major center-right political party in Israel. It was founded in 1973 by Menachem Begin in an alliance with several right-wing and liberal parties. Likud's victory in the 1977 elections was a major turning point in the country's political history, marking the first time the left had...
calls itself a "National-Liberal Party." - In Japan, the word liberal is used by the main conservative party, the Liberal Democratic PartyLiberal Democratic Party (Japan)The , frequently abbreviated to LDP or , is a centre-right political party in Japan. It is one of the most consistently successful political parties in the democratic world. The LDP ruled almost continuously for nearly 54 years from its founding in 1955 until its defeat in the 2009 election...
(Jiyu Minshuto). The Democratic PartyDemocratic Party of JapanThe is a political party in Japan founded in 1998 by the merger of several opposition parties. Its socially liberal platform is generally considered center-left in the Japanese political spectrum...
(Minshu-to) is a social-liberal/social-democratic party. The Liberal League (Jiyu Rengo) was considered to be a free-market liberal party. (Main article: Liberalism in JapanLiberalism in JapanThis article gives an overview of liberalism in Japan. It is limited to liberal parties with substantial support, proved by having had representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ means a reference to another party in that scheme...
). - In Korea, South, the disbanded Uri PartyUri PartyThe Yeollin Uri Party , generally abbreviated to Uri Party , was the briefly ruling political party in South Korea with a centrist political ideology...
(Yeollin Uri Dang), the UNDPUnited New Democratic PartyThe United New Democratic Party was a political party of South Korea. It was formed out of the Uri Party and its resulting splinter groups. Chung Dong-young was the UNDP candidate in the South Korean presidential election, 2007; he lost to Lee Myung-bak...
(Daetonghap Minju Sindang) and the Democratic PartyDemocratic Party (South Korea)The Democratic Party was a political party of South Korea.Formerly called the Millennium Democratic Party , or Saecheonnyeon Minju-dang , it changed its name to the present form on May 6, 2005.- History :...
(Min-ju-dang) and Korea Creative Party are left of center liberal parties. (Main article: Liberalism in South KoreaLiberalism in South KoreaThis article gives an overview of liberalism in South Korea. It is limited to liberal democratic parties with substantial support, mainly proven by having had a representation in parliament.-Introduction:...
). - In Lebanon, the National Liberal PartyNational Liberal Party (Lebanon)The National Liberal Party is a center-right political party in Lebanon, established by President Camille Chamoun in 1958...
(Hizb al-Ahrar al-Watani) is a liberal pro-independence party. - In Malaysia, the Malaysian People's Movement Party (Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia, member CALD) seems to be a more or less liberal party.
- In Philippines, the Liberal PartyLiberal Party (Philippines)The Liberal Party of the Philippines is a liberal party in the Philippines, founded by then senators Senate President Manuel Roxas, Senate President Pro-Tempore Elpidio Quirino, and former 9th Senatorial District Senator Jose Avelino, on November 24, 1945 by a breakaway Liberal group from the...
, member LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
, CALD) is a center liberal party. (Main article: Liberalism in the PhilippinesLiberalism in the PhilippinesThis article gives an overview of liberalism in the Philippines. It is limited to liberal parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament.-Introduction:...
). - In Singapore, due to the electoral system the liberal Singapore Democratic PartySingapore Democratic PartyThe Singapore Democratic Party is an opposition political party in Singapore.The party was founded in 1980 by Chiam See Tong, who as Secretary-General became the party's first Member of Parliament in 1984 when he was elected as MP for Potong Pasir...
(member CALD) is not represented in parliament. The less intransigent liberal Singapore People's PartySingapore People's PartyThe Singapore People's Party is a left of centre opposition political party in Singapore. The party's leader is Chiam See Tong.-Foundation:...
is represented in parliament. - In Sri Lanka, the Liberal Party of Sri LankaLiberal Party of Sri LankaThe Liberal Party of Sri Lanka began as a think-tank called the Council for Liberal Democracy, founded in 1981 by the late Dr. Chanaka Amaratunga, a longstanding member of the United National Party which was then in government....
is a small liberal party. - In Taiwan (Republic of China), the Democratic Progressive Party (Min-chu Chin-pu Tang, member LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
, CALD) is a left-of-center liberal party. The Taiwan Solidarity UnionTaiwan Solidarity UnionThe Taiwan Solidarity Union is a political party in the Republic of China which advocates Taiwan independence. It was officially founded on July 24, 2001 and is considered part of the Pan-Green Coalition. Unlike the Democratic Progressive Party, its larger companion party in the Pan-Green...
is a progressiveProgressivismProgressivism is an umbrella term for a political ideology advocating or favoring social, political, and economic reform or changes. Progressivism is often viewed by some conservatives, constitutionalists, and libertarians to be in opposition to conservative or reactionary ideologies.The...
-centristCentrismIn politics, centrism is the ideal or the practice of promoting policies that lie different from the standard political left and political right. Most commonly, this is visualized as part of the one-dimensional political spectrum of left-right politics, with centrism landing in the middle between...
party characterised primarily by its Taiwanese nationalism and derives its membership from both the Chinese Nationalist Party's former moderate and Taiwan-oriented fringe and DPP supporters disgruntled by the party's moderation on the question of Taiwanese sovereignty. Its liberal character is questionable, although it its part of the DPP's left-of-centre and pro-Taiwanese Independence Pan-Green alliance (in contrast with the conservative Chinese Nationalist Party (Kuomintang) and People First Party.) (Main article: Liberalism in TaiwanLiberalism in TaiwanThis article gives an overview of liberalism in Taiwan . It is limited to liberal parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in the Legislative Yuan .-Introduction:...
). - In Thailand, the Democratic Party (Pak Prachatipat, a member of CALD) is the liberalLiberalismLiberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
party. (Main article: Liberalism in ThailandLiberalism in ThailandThis article gives an overview of liberalism in Thailand. It is limited to liberal parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament.-Introduction:...
).
Europe
In general, liberalism in EuropeLiberalism in Europe
In general, liberalism in Europe is a political movement that supports a broad tradition of individual liberties and constitutionally-limited and democratically accountable government...
is a political movement that supports a broad tradition of individual liberties and constitutionally-limited and democratically accountable government. This usually encompasses the belief that government should act to alleviate poverty and other social problems, but not through radical changes to the structure of society. European liberals are divided on the degree of government intervention in economy, but generally they favor limited intervention.
In most European countries, particularly in northern European countries, Liberalism refers to somebody who emphasizes individual liberty in economical, social, cultural and ethical topics and a free market policy with some degree of government intervention. It generally does not have the particular connotations of radicalism that the word carries in the United States, though it does not exclude them either.
In France and in some southern European countries, the word is used either to refer to the traditional liberal anti-clericalism
Anti-clericalism
Anti-clericalism is a historical movement that opposes religious institutional power and influence, real or alleged, in all aspects of public and political life, and the involvement of religion in the everyday life of the citizen...
or to economic liberalism
Economic liberalism
Economic liberalism is the ideological belief in giving all people economic freedom, and as such granting people with more basis to control their own lives and make their own mistakes. It is an economic philosophy that supports and promotes individual liberty and choice in economic matters and...
. However, in recent years in France, the word is being increasingly used by proponents of laissez-faire
Laissez-faire
In economics, laissez-faire describes an environment in which transactions between private parties are free from state intervention, including restrictive regulations, taxes, tariffs and enforced monopolies....
capitalism and minarchists
Minarchism
Minarchism has been variously defined by sources. It is a libertarian capitalist political philosophy. In the strictest sense, it maintains that the state is necessary and that its only legitimate function is the protection of individuals from aggression, theft, breach of contract, and fraud, and...
to describe themselves; in reaction, ultra-libéral is a pejorative term aimed by a large section of the French left-wing against those whom they regard as having extreme capitalist views. The more moderate form of political liberalism in France was long associated more with the Radical Party, leading to the use of the term radicals to refer to political liberals. The French Radicals tend to be more statist than most European liberals, but share the liberal values on other issues.
In France and in some southern European countries, the word liberal does not always include the suggestion of general support for individual rights that it carries in northern Europe due to its historic matters. More, in those countries liberalism is associated with the right-wing, as it is also in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
and Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, while it is more closely associated with the left-wing in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, which has a political history in some ways similar with that of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and in some Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
n countries. Anyway it is to remember that, before the rise of democratic socialism
Democratic socialism
Democratic socialism is a description used by various socialist movements and organizations to emphasize the democratic character of their political orientation...
and of social democracy
Social democracy
Social democracy is a political ideology of the center-left on the political spectrum. Social democracy is officially a form of evolutionary reformist socialism. It supports class collaboration as the course to achieve socialism...
, liberals were the left-wing opposed to the right-wing conservatives
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
. In many countries liberals were replaced by social-democrats or pulled towards the centre or the right-wing. Liberal ideas were absorbed by the conservatives concerning the economy and the individualist vision of men and society, especially in those countries in which liberals disappeared as an independent political force.
In general European liberals are divided between conservative liberals
Conservative liberalism
Conservative liberalism is a variant of liberalism, combining liberal values and policies with conservative stances, or, more simply, representing the right-wing of the liberal movement....
, social liberals
Social liberalism
Social liberalism is the belief that liberalism should include social justice. It differs from classical liberalism in that it believes the legitimate role of the state includes addressing economic and social issues such as unemployment, health care, and education while simultaneously expanding...
and liberals combining both elements of conservative liberalism (especially on economic issues) and social liberalism (especially on moral issues). In European countries, liberals tend to label themselves either as liberals, or as radicals, centrists or democrats (though some would dispute the liberal character of the Northern European centrist parties). The European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party
European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party
The European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party is a European political party mainly active in the European Union, composed of 56 national-level liberal and liberal-democratic parties from across Europe...
(ELDR) is a mixture of all these brands of liberalism.
- In Albania, liberalism is weak. Two parties could be considered to embrace liberal values: the Democratic Alliance PartyDemocratic Alliance Party (Albania)The Democratic Alliance Party is a centrist liberal party in Albania. The party was formed in 1992 by Neritan Ceka and other dissidents of the Democratic Party of Albania. Theyopposed the leadership of the party's leader Sali Berisha. The Democratic Alliance Party became part of a socialist led...
(Partia Aleanca Demokratike, member LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
, ELDR) and the Unity for Human Rights PartyUnity for Human Rights PartyThe Unity for Human Rights Party is a centrist, liberal-inclined party in Albania. Founded in 1992, it represents Albania's minorities and is mainly related to the Greek minority as it is the political continuation of the Democratic Union of the Greek Minority .-Election results:The party usually...
(Partia Bashkimi për të Drejtat e Njeriut), which is the party of the ethnic minorities. (Main article: Liberalism in AlbaniaLiberalism in AlbaniaThis article gives an overview of liberalism in Albania. It is limited to liberal parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ denotes another party in that scheme...
.) - In Andorra, the Liberal Party of AndorraLiberal Party of AndorraThe Liberal Party of Andorra is a centre-right, conservative-liberal, political party and the largest party in Andorra. It was founded in 1992 by Marc Forné, who became Head of Government in 1994...
(Partit Liberal d'Andorra, member LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
, ELDR) is a right of center liberal party and became the dominant political party. - In Armenia, traditional liberalism does not play a role any more, but the Republican Party of ArmeniaRepublican Party of ArmeniaThe Republican Party of Armenia is a national conservative political party in Armenia. It was the first political party in independent Armenia to be founded and registered . It is the largest party of the centre-right in Armenia, and claims to have 140,000 members...
(Hayastani Hanrapetakan Kusaktsutyun) joined the ELDR group in the Council of EuropeCouncil of EuropeThe Council of Europe is an international organisation promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation...
. (Main article: Liberalism in ArmeniaLiberalism in ArmeniaThis article gives an overview of liberalism in Armenia. It is limited to liberal parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ denotes another party in that scheme...
.) - In Austria, liberalism almost disappeared, when the Liberal ForumLiberal ForumThe Liberal Forum is a small classical liberal party in Austria. The party is currently led by Angelika Mlinar, and is a member of the Liberal International and the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party.-Founding:...
(Liberales Forum, member LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
, ELDR) became a micro-party. Sometimes the name of the main right-wing populist party, the Freedom Party of AustriaFreedom Party of AustriaThe Freedom Party of Austria is a political party in Austria. Ideologically, the party is a direct descendant of the German national liberal camp, which dates back to the 1848 revolutions. The FPÖ itself was founded in 1956 as the successor to the short-lived Federation of Independents , which had...
, a former member of the LI until 1993, is wrongly translated as Liberal party of Austria. (Main article: Liberalism in AustriaLiberalism in AustriaThis article gives an overview of liberalism in Austria. It is limited to liberal parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ denotes another party in that scheme...
.) - In Belarus, liberalism is under threat. One of the main opposition parties is the liberal United Civil Party of BelarusUnited Civil Party of BelarusThe United Civil Party of Belarus is a centre-right, liberal-conservative party in Belarus. The party opposes the government of Alexander Lukashenko, generally participates in the country's elections, but doesn't have a single member in parliament...
(Abjadnanaja Hramadzianskaja Partyja Biełarusi). - The Belgian party system is divided by language. In Flanders the liberal Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats (member LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
, ELDR), comprising both market and social liberals, is one of the dominant parties. Smaller liberal parties are the Social Liberal Party, now part of Groen!, and the recent more populist right List Dedecker. In the French speaking part of the country the nowadays center-liberal Reformist MovementReformist MovementThe Reformist Movement is a French-speaking liberal political party in Belgium. The party was in coalition as part of the Leterme II Government, and was also part of the governing coalition in the Walloon Region and Brussels-Capital Region until the 2004 regional elections...
(member LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
, ELDR) is one of the mayor parties. Affiliated with this party is the German speaking Party for Freedom and ProgressParty for Freedom and ProgressThe Party for Freedom and Progress was a liberal party in Belgium which existed from 1961 until 1992 and was the successor of the Liberal Party, which had roots dating back to 1846. It was succeeded in Flanders by the Flemish Liberals and Democrats and in Wallonia by the Parti Réformateur...
. (Main article: Liberalism in BelgiumLiberalism in BelgiumThis article gives an overview of liberalism in Belgium. It is limited to liberal parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ denotes another party in that scheme...
.) - In Bosnia-Herzegovina, liberalism is weak, because of the domination by ethnic parties. A small and rather unsuccessful liberal party is the Liberal Democratic Party (Liberalno demokratska stranka, member ELDR).
- In Bulgaria, organized liberalism was initially quite unsuccessful. Liberalism is now represented by the mainly Turkish minority party Movement for Rights and FreedomsMovement for Rights and FreedomsThe Movement for Rights and Freedoms is an ethnic Turkish party in Bulgaria. The MRF is a member of the Liberal International and considers itself a liberal party, rather like the Swedish People's Party - party of the Swedish-speaking minority of Finland...
(Dviženie za prava i svobodi, observer LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
, member ELDR) and the National Movement for Stability and Progress (Nacionalno Dviženie za Stabilnost i Vazhod, member LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
, ELDR), both taking a more or less liberal position. (Main article: Liberalism and radicalism in BulgariaLiberalism and radicalism in BulgariaThis article gives an overview of liberalism and radicalism in Bulgaria. It is limited to liberal and radical parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ denotes another party in that scheme...
.) - In Croatia, liberalism is very divided. One could distinguish three parties: the center Croatian People's Party-Liberal DemocratsCroatian People's Party-Liberal DemocratsThe Croatian People's Party – Liberal Democrats is a center-left liberal party in Croatia.HNS currently has 5 representatives in the Croatian Parliament and are the fourth largest political party in Croatia and fourth in the number of representatives if the coalitions are included...
(Croatian Hrvatska narodna stranka - Liberalni Demokrati, member ELDR), the left of center Liberal PartyLiberal Party (Croatia)Liberal Party was a Croatian political party active between January 1998 and April 2006. During its existence the party ran in two general elections and in each election won two seats in the 151-seat Sabor. LS was a member of Liberal International and the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party...
(Liberalna stranka, member ELDR, observer LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
) and the right of center Croatian Social Liberal PartyCroatian Social Liberal PartyCroatian Social Liberal Party or HSLS is a conservative liberal political party in Croatia. The party is a member of Liberal International and the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party. Its current president is Darinko Kosor, elected to that post in November 2009.-Chronology:The HSLS was...
(Hrvatska socijalno liberalna stranka, member LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
, ELDR). (Main article: Liberalism in CroatiaLiberalism in CroatiaThis article gives an overview of liberalism in Croatia. It is limited to liberal parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ denotes another party in that scheme...
). - In Cyprus, the United DemocratsUnited DemocratsThe United Democrats is a liberal political party in Cyprus. The party was founded by former President of Cyprus George Vasiliou in 1993 as "Kinima Eleftheron Dimokraton"...
(Enomeni Dimokrates, member ELDR) are a left of center liberal party. In North Cyprus the left of center Peace and Democracy MovementPeace and Democracy MovementThe Peace and Democracy Movement was a social democratic political party in the de facto Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. In the last legislative elections for the House of Representatives of Northern Cyprus - 20 January 2005 - the party won 5.8 % of the popular vote and 1 out of the 50 seats...
(Bariş ve Demokrasi Hareketi), might be considered a liberal party, but it exact profile is not available. See also Liberalism in CyprusLiberalism in CyprusThis article gives an overview of liberalism in Cyprus. It is limited to liberal parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ denotes another party in that scheme...
. - In the Czech Republic, liberalism is clearly unsuccessful. . Four parliamentary liberal parties work together, the Civic Democratic AllianceCivic Democratic AllianceThe Civic Democratic Alliance was a small liberal centre-right political party in the Czech Republic, functional between years 1989 and 2007.-History:...
(Obcanska demokraticka alliance, member ELDR), the Freedom Union-Democratic Union (Unie Svobody - Demokratická unie) and the Liberal Reform PartyLiberal Reform Party (Czech Republic)The Liberal Reform Party , abbreviated to LiRA, is a small free market classical liberal political party in the Czech Republic. It had one member of the Senate, Jiří Zlatuška, who was elected to his six-year term in 2002.-External links:...
(Liberální Reformní Strana) and the Path of ChangePath of ChangePath of Change is a small liberal party in the Czech Republic. Its current president is Jiří Lobkowicz...
(Cesta zmeny, member of EDP). They were unsuccessful at the last European elections, obtained only 1,69%. At these elections the European Democrats (Evropští demokraté) proved to be a liberal alternative, but it joined the EPPEuropean People's PartyThe European People's Party is a pro-European centre-right European political party. The EPP was founded in 1976 by Christian democratic parties, but later it increased its membership to include conservative parties and parties of other centre-right perspectives.The EPP is the most influential of...
. (Main article: Liberalism in the Czech landsLiberalism in the Czech landsThis article gives an overview of liberalism in the Czech Lands. It is limited to liberal parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ denotes another party in that scheme...
). - In Denmark, all major parties support liberalism in one form or another, and three parties market themselves as liberal: The left of center Danish Social Liberal Party (Det Radikale Venstre, member LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
, ELDR), the right of center social liberal/market liberal VenstreVenstre (Denmark)VenstreThe party name is officially not translated into any other language, but is in English often referred to as the Liberal Party. Similar rules apply for the name of the party's youth wing Venstres Ungdom. , full name Venstre, Danmarks Liberale Parti , is the largest political party in Denmark...
and the right-wing market liberals Liberal Alliance (member LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
, ELDR). (Main article: Liberalism and radicalism in DenmarkLiberalism and radicalism in DenmarkThis article gives an overview of liberalism and radicalism in Denmark. It is limited to liberal and radical egalitarian parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ denotes another party in that scheme...
). - In Estonia, the Estonian Reform PartyEstonian Reform PartyThe Estonian Reform Party is a centre-right, free market liberal party in Estonia. It is led by Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip, and has 33 members in the 101-member Riigikogu, making it the largest party in the legislature...
(Eesti Reformierakond, member LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
), ELDR is a free market liberal party. The liberal character of the centrist (centre-left) Estonian Centre PartyEstonian Centre PartyThe Estonian Centre Party is a centrist, social liberal party in Estonia. Keskerakond is a member of the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party. It has the largest membership of an Estonian party, with over 12 000 members....
(Eesti Keskerakond, member LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
), ELDR) can be disputed. (Main article: Liberalism in EstoniaLiberalism in EstoniaThis article gives an overview of liberalism and centrism in Estonia. It is limited to liberal and centrist parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ denotes another party in that scheme...
). - In Faroe Islands, the Union Party (Sambandsflokkurin) and the Self-Government Party (Sjálvstýrisflokkurin) were or are aligned with the Danish liberal parties.
- In Finland, the dominant LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
and ELDR member party is the original agrarian Finnish CenterCentre Party (Finland)The Centre Party is a centrist and Nordic agrarian political party in Finland. It is one of the four largest political parties in the country, along with the Social Democratic Party , the National Coalition Party and the True Finns , and currently has 35 seats in the Finnish Parliament...
(Suomen Keskusta), however the liberal character of this party is disputed. The Swedish minority party Swedish People's Party (Svenska Folkpartiet i Finland, member LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
, ELDR) has a more clear liberal profile. The original liberal current is now organized in the LiberalsLiberals (Finland)Liberals is a free market liberal party in Finland. Founded in 1965 as a reunification of the People's Party of Finland and Liberal League. Originally named Liberal People's Party , it restyled its name as Liberals in 2000....
(Liberaalit), a very small extra-parliamentary party. At the autonomous islands of Åland the Liberals for ÅlandLiberals for ÅlandThe Liberals for Åland is a liberal political party of the Åland Islands. The party is an observer at Liberal International. At the 2007 legislative elections, the party won 10 out of 30 seats. The current party leader is Viveka Eriksson.-Elections:...
(Liberalerna på Åland) are a dominant force. (Main article: Liberalism and centrism in FinlandLiberalism and centrism in FinlandThis article gives an overview of liberalism and centrism in Finland. It is limited to liberal and centrist parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ means a reference to another party in that scheme...
). - In France, the Radical Party of the Left (Parti radical de gauche) is a member of ELDR but not of LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
. Anyway France had an important liberal tradition, generally associated to Republicanism, from which the right and the left of the political spectrum were generated. On the right-wing there were the Republicans, which organized themselves in 1901-03 in the moderate-liberal Democratic Republican AllianceDemocratic Republican AllianceThe Democratic Republican Alliance was a French political party created in 1901 by followers of Léon Gambetta, such as Raymond Poincaré who would be president of the Council in the 1920s...
and in the liberal-conservative Republican Federation; on the left-wing the Radicals, which founded the Republican, Radical and Radical-Socialist Party in 1901. After World War II, the Republicans gathered in the liberal-conservative National Center of Independents and Peasants, from which the conservative-liberal Independent RepublicansIndependent RepublicansThe Independent Republicans were a French liberal-conservative political group founded in 1962, which became a political party in 1966 . The leader was Valéry Giscard d'Estaing....
seceded in 1962. The original centre-left Radical Party was a declining force in French politics until 1972 when it joined the centre-right, causing the split of Radical-Socialist faction and the foundation of the Left Radical PartyLeft Radical PartyThe Radical Party of the Left is a minor social-liberal, and in opposition to its common understanding of its name, a moderate centre-left political party in France advocating radicalism, secularism to its french extend known as laïcité, progressivism, pro-Europeanism, individual freedom and...
, closely associated to the Socialist PartySocialist Party (France)The Socialist Party is a social-democratic political party in France and the largest party of the French centre-left. It is one of the two major contemporary political parties in France, along with the center-right Union for a Popular Movement...
. In 1978 both the Republican PartyRepublican Party (France)The Republican Party was a French right-wing political party founded in 1977. It replaced the National Federation of the Independent Republicans that was founded in 1966. It was created by former President of France Valéry Giscard d'Estaing...
(successor of the Independent Republicans) and the Radical Party were founding components, alongside with Centre of Social Democrats, of the Union for French DemocracyUnion for French DemocracyThe Union for French Democracy was a French centrist political party. It was founded in 1978 as an electoral alliance to support President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing in order to counterbalance the Gaullist preponderance over the right. This name was chosen due to the title of Giscard d'Estaing's...
, an alliance of liberal and Christian-democratic forces. The Republican Party, re-founded as Liberal DemocracyLiberal Democracy (France)Liberal Democracy was a French political party that advocated conservative liberalism and liberal conservatism, headed by Alain Madelin. The party replaced in 1997 the Republican Party, which was the classical liberal component of the Union for French Democracy .It became independent in 1998,...
in 1997 and re-shaped as a free-market libertarian party, left UDF in 1998 and merged in the conservative Union for a Popular MovementUnion for a Popular MovementThe Union for a Popular Movement is a centre-right political party in France, and one of the two major contemporary political parties in the country along with the center-left Socialist Party...
, of which it represents the libertarian wing. Also the Radical Party left UDF in 2002 in order to join UMP, of which it is the main social-liberal component, as an associate party. In some ways we can say that the Republican tradition and the Radical one are now re-composed in UMP. Anyway the lack of a true liberal and libertarian force in France led to the creation in 2006 of Liberal AlternativeLiberal AlternativeThe Liberal Alternative is a French political party created on March 1, 2006. They advocate classical liberalism against socialism or conservatism...
, whose chances of success are unclear. (Main article: Liberalism and radicalism in FranceLiberalism and radicalism in FranceLiberalism and radicalism in France do not form the same type of ideology. In fact, the main line of conflict in France during the 19th century was between monarchist opponents of the Republic and supporters of the Republic...
). - In Georgia, the United National Movement (Nacionaluri Modraoba) is a liberal pro-western party oriented on North-Atlantic integration.
- In Germany, the Free Democratic PartyFree Democratic Party (Germany)The Free Democratic Party , abbreviated to FDP, is a centre-right classical liberal political party in Germany. It is led by Philipp Rösler and currently serves as the junior coalition partner to the Union in the German federal government...
(Freie Demokratische Partei, member LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
, ELDR) is a center and market liberal party. (Main article: Liberalism in GermanyLiberalism in GermanyThis article aims to give an historical overview of liberalism in Germany. The liberal parties dealt with in the timeline below are, largely, those which received sufficient support at one time or another to have been represented in parliament. Not all parties so included, however, necessarily...
). - In Gibraltar, the Liberal Party of Gibraltar (member LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
) is a liberal party. - In Greece, the liberal current disappeared, leading to liberals joining the right-of-center New Democracy and the left wing PASOK parties. Meanwhile new liberal initiatives have been taken, like e.g. the Liberal AllianceLiberal Alliance (Greece)The Liberal Alliance is a liberal political party in Greece founded February of 2007. Its stated purpose is to cover the political ground between what it considers to constitute a conservative New Democracy and the socialist PASOK .The highest organ in Liberal Alliance is its congress, which...
(Greek: Φιλελεύθερη Συμμαχία Fileleftheri Simmakhia ). (Main article: Liberalism in GreeceLiberalism in GreeceThis article gives an overview of liberalism in Greece. It is limited to liberal parties. The sign ⇒ denotes another party in that scheme. For inclusion in this scheme it isn't necessary so that parties labeled themselves as a liberal party.-Background:...
). - In Hungary, the Alliance of Free DemocratsAlliance of Free DemocratsThe Alliance of Free Democrats – Hungarian Liberal Party is a liberal party in Hungary, led since July 2010 by Viktor Szabadai . The SZDSZ is a member of the ELDR and of Liberal International...
(Szabad Demokratak Szövetsege, member LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
), ELDR) is a center market liberal party. (Main article: Liberalism and radicalism in HungaryLiberalism and radicalism in HungaryThis article gives an overview of liberalism and radicalism in Hungary. It is limited to liberal and radical parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ denotes another party in that scheme...
). - In Iceland, the Progressive PartyProgressive Party (Iceland)The Progressive Party is an agrarian, liberal and centrist party in Iceland. The party is a member of the Liberal International. Current chairman of the party is Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson. He was elected on January 18, 2009. His predecessor was Valgerður Sverrisdóttir, who only served as...
(Framsóknarflokkurinn, member LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
) is an agrarian liberal party. The newly founded Liberal Party (Frjáslyndi Flokkurin) seems to be a liberal party. (Main article: Liberalism and centrism in IcelandLiberalism and centrism in IcelandThis article gives an overview of liberalism and centrism in Iceland. It is limited to liberal and centrist parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ means a reference to another party in that scheme...
). - In Ireland, the centre-right Progressive DemocratsProgressive DemocratsThe Progressive Democrats , commonly known as the PDs, was a pro-free market liberal political party in the Republic of Ireland.Launched on 21 December 1985 by Desmond O'Malley and other politicians who had split from Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, the Progressive Democrats took liberal positions on...
(member ELDR) were a liberal party on social and economic issues. - In Italy, liberalism became strongly divided after the shake up of the political system. Liberals are now divided over the centre-right Forza ItaliaForza ItaliaForza Italia was a liberal-conservative, Christian democratic, and liberal political party in Italy, with a large social democratic minority, that was led by Silvio Berlusconi, four times Prime Minister of Italy....
(a merger of liberal and Christian-democratic forces), the centre-left Democracy is Freedom - Daisy (a merger Christian-democratic and social-liberal forces, including a split from the Federation of Italian LiberalsFederation of Italian LiberalsThe Federation of Italian Liberals is a tiny liberal party in Italy, founded in 1994 by Raffaello Morelli and Valerio Zanone...
, only observer member of LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
), the centre-left European Republican MovementEuropean Republican MovementThe European Republicans Movement was a tiny social liberal political party in Italy.From 2007 to 2010 the party was an associate party of the Democratic Party, the leading centre-left party of the country. In 2011 the MRE was merged into the Italian Republican Party, the party from which it...
(member ELDR), the old centre-left - nowadays centre-right - Italian Republican PartyItalian Republican PartyThe Italian Republican Party is a liberal political party in Italy.The PRI is party with old roots that originally took a left-wing position, claiming descent from the political position of Giuseppe Mazzini...
(member ELDR), the alternative liberal Italian RadicalsItalian RadicalsItalian Radicals is an Italian political party which describes itself as a liberale, liberista e libertario political movement .It was...
(observer member ELDR) and their most recent split, the libertarian Liberal ReformersLiberal ReformersLiberal Reformers was a minor libertarian political party in Italy led by Benedetto Della Vedova, a former President of the Italian Radicals.-History:...
, which joined the centre-right. Also the populist-centrist Italy of ValuesItaly of ValuesItaly of Values is a centrist, populist and anti-corruption political party in Italy. The party, which is affiliated to the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party , is headed by former Mani pulite prosecutor Antonio Di Pietro, who entered politics in 1996.The party aims to gather and give...
is a member of ELDR, although it is very difficult to classify it as a liberal party in whichever sense. Most members of the late Italian Liberal PartyItalian Liberal PartyThe Italian Liberal Party was a liberal political party in Italy.-Origins:The origins of liberalism in Italy came from the so-called "Historical Right", a parliamentary group formed by Camillo Benso di Cavour in the Parliament of the Kingdom of Sardinia following the 1848 revolution...
(refounded as a very small party in 2004) and many former RepublicansItalian Republican PartyThe Italian Republican Party is a liberal political party in Italy.The PRI is party with old roots that originally took a left-wing position, claiming descent from the political position of Giuseppe Mazzini...
have joined Forza Italia, which is often presented and defined in Italy as a liberal party, and the other parties of the House of FreedomsHouse of FreedomsThe House of Freedoms , was a major Italian centre-right political and electoral alliance led by Silvio Berlusconi. It was initially composed of several political parties:*Forza Italia *National Alliance...
coalition. This is the reason why the term 'liberals' is more often used when speaking of the Centre-Right coalition, dominated by Forza Italia, which combines economic liberalism with freedom of conscience on ethical matters. (Main article: Liberalism and radicalism in ItalyLiberalism and radicalism in Italy- Background :The formation of political groups in the 19th century in divided Italy is based on personalities, like Camillo di Cavour and Giuseppe Mazzini. Both the Historical Right and the Historical Left were composed of monarchist liberals, while radicals organised themselves as the Radical...
). - In Latvia, the Latvian WayLatvian WayLatvian Way was a centre-right liberal party in Latvia. It merged with Latvia's First Party to form the Latvia's First Party/Latvian Way in 2007.It described itself as "a liberal party defending people's freedom to shape their own lives"...
(Latvian Way, member LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
, ELDR) is a right of center market liberal party. (Main article: Liberalism in LatviaLiberalism in LatviaThis article gives an overview of liberalism in Latvia. It is limited to liberal parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ denotes another party in that scheme...
). - In Lithuania, the Liberal and Centre UnionLiberal and Centre UnionThe Liberal and Centre Union , abbreviated to LiCS, is a centre-right, liberal and conservative liberal political party in Lithuania. The party has thirteen seats in the Seimas, making it the fourth-largest party in the legislature....
(Liberalų ir centro sąjunga, member LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
), ELDR) is a center liberal party and the New Union Social Liberals (Naujoji Sąjunga (socialliberalai), observer LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
), member ELDR) is a left of center liberal party. (Main article: Liberalism in LithuaniaLiberalism in LithuaniaThis article gives an overview of liberalism in Lithuania. It is limited to liberal parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ denotes another party in that scheme...
). - In Luxembourg, the Democratic PartyDemocratic Party (Luxembourg)The Democratic Party , abbreviated to DP, is the major liberal political party in Luxembourg. One of the three major parties, the DP sits on the centre-right, holding moderate market liberal views combined with a strong emphasis on civil liberties, human rights, and internationalism.Founded in...
(Demokratesch Partei//Parti Démocratique, member LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
, ELDR) is the traditional liberal party. (Main article: Liberalism in LuxembourgLiberalism in LuxembourgThis article gives an overview of liberalism in Luxembourg. It is limited to liberal parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ denotes another party in that scheme...
). - In Malta there are two liberal parties: Alleanza Liberal-Demokratika Malta and Alpha Liberal Democratic Party.
- In Moldova, liberalism is divided over the social liberal Party Alliance Our MoldovaParty Alliance Our MoldovaThe Party Alliance Our Moldova was a social liberal political party in Moldova led by Serafim Urechean, former mayor of Chişinău. It merged into the Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova in 2011.-History:...
(Partidul Alianţa «Moldova Noastră»), a merger of liberal and social democrat forces and the market liberal Social Liberal PartySocial Liberal Party (Moldova)The Social Liberal Party was a liberal political party in Moldova, led by Oleg Serebrian.At the legislative elections, 6 March 2005, the party was part of the Electoral Bloc Democratic Moldova , that won 28.4 % of the popular vote and 34 out of 101 seats. Inside the Bloc the party won 3 seats...
(Partidul Social-Liberal). (Main article: Liberalism in MoldovaLiberalism in MoldovaThis article gives an overview of liberalism in the Republic of Moldova. It is limited to liberal parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ denotes another party in that scheme...
). - In Montenegro, liberalism is organized in the Liberal Party of MontenegroLiberal Party of MontenegroThe Liberal Party of Montenegro is a centre-left liberal political party in Montenegro. The party advocated liberalism and the bringing down of Milo Đukanović's rule, seeing it as authoritarian and undemocratic...
(Liberalna Partija Crne Gore), more or less a liberal party. (Main article: Liberalism in MontenegroLiberalism in MontenegroThis article gives an overview of liberalism in Montenegro. It is limited to liberal parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ denotes another party in that scheme...
). - In the Netherlands, liberalism is divided over two parties. The center social-liberal Democrats 66Democrats 66Democrats 66 is a progressive and social-liberal political party in the Netherlands. D66 was formed in 1966 by a group of politically unaligned, young intellectuals, led by journalist Hans van Mierlo. The party's main objective was to democratise the political system; it proposed to create an...
(Democraten 66, member LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
, ELDR) and the right-of-center conservative-liberal People's Party for Freedom and DemocracyPeople's Party for Freedom and DemocracyThe People's Party for Freedom and Democracy is a conservative-liberal political party located in the Netherlands. The VVD supports private enterprise in the Netherlands and is often perceived as an economic liberal party in contrast to the social-liberal Democrats 66 alongside which it sits in...
(Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie, member LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
, ELDR). Furthermore, in 2004 the Green LeftGreen leftThe term Green left is used primarily to refer to a combination of environmentalism, feminism, socialism, and pacifism in countries where the term is used...
started profiling itself as a 'leftist liberal' party, thus possibly breaking with its socialist roots. (Main article: Liberalism in the NetherlandsLiberalism in the NetherlandsThis article gives an overview of liberalism in the Netherlands. It is limited to liberal parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament.-Background:...
). - In Norway, VenstreVenstre (Norway)The Liberal Party is a centrist liberal political party in Norway. The party is the oldest in the country, and has enacted reforms such as parliamentarism, freedom of religion, universal suffrage and free education. Since 2010, the leader of the party is Trine Skei Grande...
(litt. Left, member LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
) is a centrist liberal party. (Main article: Liberalism in NorwayLiberalism in NorwayThis article gives an overview of liberalism in Norway. It is limited to liberal parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having been represented in the Norwegian Parliament, Stortinget.-Background:...
). - In Poland, the Democratic Party (member ELDR) is a centre-liberal party. It did not succeed in entering parliament in the 2005 election. Civic PlatformCivic PlatformCivic Platform , abbreviated to PO, is a centre-right, liberal conservative political party in Poland. It has been the major coalition partner in Poland's government since the 2007 general election, with party leader Donald Tusk as Prime Minister of Poland and Bronisław Komorowski as President...
is economically liberal. (Main article: Liberalism in PolandLiberalism in PolandThis article gives an overview of liberalism in Poland. It is limited to liberal parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ denotes another party in that scheme...
). - In Portugal, liberalism was a strong force in history. The Social Democratic PartySocial Democratic Party (Portugal)The Social Democratic Party , is a centre-right liberal conservative political party in Portugal. It is commonly known by its initials, PSD; on ballot papers, its initials appear as PPD/PSD, with the first three letters coming from the party's original name, Democratic People's Party...
was once an International Liberal member, but left the organisation in 1996, and has taken a more conservative orientation since then. However, many observers still see it as a conservative-liberal party. Currently there is small movement called Movimento Liberal SocialSocial Liberal MovementThe Social Liberal Movement is a social conservative party in Switzerland. Founded in 2011, the SLB has one member of the National Council.The party was founded by Samuel Schmid on 23 April 2011...
trying to achieve the status of political party.(Main article: Liberalism in PortugalLiberalism in PortugalThis article gives an overview of liberalism in Portugal. It is limited to liberal parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ denotes another party in that scheme...
). - In the Republic of Macedonia, the liberals are divided over the Liberal Democratic PartyLiberal Democratic Party (Republic of Macedonia)The Liberal Democratic Party is a liberal party in the Republic of Macedonia. The Liberal Democratic Party was launched in April 1997 as a merger between the Liberal Party and the Democratic Party...
(Liberalna Demokraticka Partija, member LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
), part of the left of center government coalition and the Liberal Party of MacedoniaLiberal Party of MacedoniaThe Liberal Party of Macedonia is a liberal party in the Republic of Macedonia. It was formed in December 1999 after the split of some former members of the old Liberal Party from the Liberal Democratic Party. The party is a member of the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party...
(Liberalna Partija na Makedonija, member ELDR), part of the right of center opposition coalition. (Main article: Liberalism in the Republic of Macedonia). - In Romania, the National Liberal PartyNational Liberal PartyNational Liberal Party may mean:Active parties:*National Liberal Party *National Liberal Party *National Liberal Party *National Liberal Party *National Liberal Party **National Liberal Youth...
(Partidul Naţional Liberal, member LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
and ELDR) is a right-wing liberal party.(Main article: Liberalism in Romania). - In Russia, there is no actual liberal party. YablokoYablokoThe Russian United Democratic Party "Yabloko" The Russian United Democratic Party "Yabloko" The Russian United Democratic Party "Yabloko" (Russian: Росси́йская объединённая демократи́ческая па́ртия «Я́блоко» Rossiyskaya obyedinyonnaya demokraticheskaya partiya "Yabloko"; is a Russian social...
(Yabloko, Russian Democratic Party, Jabloko - Rossijskaja Demokratičeskaja Partija, member LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
) and the Right CauseRight CauseRight Cause is a political party in Russia with representatives in several local legislatures. Founded on 18 February 2009 as a merger of the Union of Right Forces, Civilian Power and the Democratic Party of Russia, the party's main policy stances are liberal free market economy, democracy and...
(Pravoye Delo, member IDUInternational Democrat UnionThe International Democrat Union, abbreviated to IDU, is a centre-right international alliance of conservative and liberal-conservative political parties. Headquartered in Oslo, Norway, the IDU comprises 45 full or associate members...
) are more or less sharing the ideas of liberalism. While YablokoYablokoThe Russian United Democratic Party "Yabloko" The Russian United Democratic Party "Yabloko" The Russian United Democratic Party "Yabloko" (Russian: Росси́йская объединённая демократи́ческая па́ртия «Я́блоко» Rossiyskaya obyedinyonnaya demokraticheskaya partiya "Yabloko"; is a Russian social...
is social liberal party, the Right CauseRight CauseRight Cause is a political party in Russia with representatives in several local legislatures. Founded on 18 February 2009 as a merger of the Union of Right Forces, Civilian Power and the Democratic Party of Russia, the party's main policy stances are liberal free market economy, democracy and...
can be seen as a democratic conservative market party, but still both of them would be rather called socialist parties when compared to the parties of Western Europe or United States of America. The so-called Liberal Democratic Party of RussiaLiberal Democratic Party of RussiaThe Liberal Democratic Party of Russia , Liberal'no-Demokraticheskaya Partiya Rossii is a political party in Russia. Since its founding in 1991, it has been led by the charismatic and controversial figure Vladimir Zhirinovsky...
is not at all liberal; it is a nationalistNationalismNationalism is a political ideology that involves a strong identification of a group of individuals with a political entity defined in national terms, i.e. a nation. In the 'modernist' image of the nation, it is nationalism that creates national identity. There are various definitions for what...
, right-wing populist party. (Main article Liberalism in RussiaLiberalism in RussiaThis article gives an overview of liberalism in Russia. It is limited to liberal parties with substantial support, namely those that have had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ denotes another party in the scheme. The listed parties didn't necessarily label themselves as...
). - In the small country of San Marino, the Popular Alliance of Sammarinese Democrats for the RepublicPopular Alliance of Sammarinese Democrats for the RepublicThe Popular Alliance is a liberal political party in San Marino.AP was born as an anti-establishment party in 1993, in parallel with the rise of Lega Nord in Italy, of which it has been long considered the Sanmarinese counterpart, but has since then become a stable political force in San Marino,...
(Alleanza Popolare dei Democratici Sammarinesi per la Repubblica) is a center liberal party. - In Serbia, the Liberal Democratic Party is the only functioning liberal party with parliamentary representation. The liberal character of the Liberals of SerbiaLiberals of SerbiaThe Liberals of Serbia was a political party in Serbia.The party was originally founded in 1990, when the Social Democratic Youth League reconstituted itself as New Democracy...
(Liberali Srbije, observer LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
, member ELDR) is disputed due to their campaign for the 2003 election, in which it lost parliamentary representation. (Main article: Liberalism in SerbiaLiberalism in SerbiaThis article gives an overview of liberalism in Serbia. It is limited to liberal parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ denotes another party in that scheme...
). - In Slovakia, the Alliance of the New CitizenAlliance of the New CitizenThe Alliance of the New Citizen is a liberal party in Slovakia. The abbreviation ANO also means YES in Slovak. It was a member of the government coalition from October 2002 to September 2005. Its leader Pavol Rusko is the founder and former owner of Markíza and he was the Minister of Economics...
(Aliancia Nového Občana, observer LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
, member ELDR) is a right of center market liberal party. (Main article: Liberalism in SlovakiaLiberalism in SlovakiaThis article gives an overview of liberalism in Slovakia. It is limited to liberal parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ denotes another party in that scheme...
). - In Slovenia, the Liberal Democracy of SloveniaLiberal Democracy of SloveniaLiberal Democracy of Slovenia is a liberal political party in Slovenia. It is led by Katarina Kresal and is a member of the Liberal International and the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party...
(Liberalna demokracija Slovenije, member LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
, ELDR) is a left of center liberal party. (Main article: Liberalism in SloveniaLiberalism in SloveniaThis article gives an overview of liberalism in Slovenia. It is limited to liberal parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ means a reference to another party in that scheme...
). - In Spain, there is a long tradition of liberalism. This ended with the Franco dictatorship. On a national level there were attempts to establish liberal parties, but they did not succeed. On a regional level, the Canarian CoalitionCanarian CoalitionThe Canarian Coalition , abbreviated to CC, is a Canarian nationalist and liberal political party in the Canary Islands of Spain. The party aim is for greater autonomy for the islands, but short of independence. The party has governed the Canary Islands since 1993...
(Coalición Canaria) and the Democratic Convergence of CataloniaDemocratic Convergence of CataloniaThe Democratic Convergence of Catalonia is a political party in Catalonia, Spain. Together with Democratic Union of Catalonia, it forms part of the Convergence and Union coalition. It is affiliated with the European Liberal, Democrat and Reform Party and with the Liberal International...
(Convergència Democrática de Catalunya) are regionalist liberal parties, but also nationalistNationalismNationalism is a political ideology that involves a strong identification of a group of individuals with a political entity defined in national terms, i.e. a nation. In the 'modernist' image of the nation, it is nationalism that creates national identity. There are various definitions for what...
. (Main article: Liberalism and radicalism in SpainLiberalism and radicalism in SpainThis article gives an overview of liberalism and radicalism in Spain. It is limited to liberal and radical parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having been represented in parliament. The sign ⇒ denotes another party in that scheme...
). - In Sweden, the Liberal People's PartyLiberal People's Party (Sweden)The Liberal People's Party is a political party in Sweden. The party advocates social liberalism and is part of the governing centre-right coalition The Alliance, which achieved a majority in the general election of 17 September 2006...
(Folkpartiet Liberalerna, member LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
, ELDR) is a center liberal party. The Center Party (Centerpartiet, member ELDR) is an agrarian party that gradually developed into a more or less liberal party. The liberal character is however disputed. (Main article: Liberalism and centrism in SwedenLiberalism and centrism in SwedenThis article gives an overview of liberalism and centrism in Sweden. It is limited to liberal and centrist parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ denotes another party in that scheme...
). - In Switzerland, both the Free Democratic Party of SwitzerlandFree Democratic Party of SwitzerlandThe Free Democratic Party was a classical liberal political party in Switzerland. It was one of the major parties in Switzerland until its merger with the smaller classical liberal Liberal Party, to form FDP.The Liberals on 1 January 2009....
(Freisinnig-Demokratische Partei der Schweiz//Parti Radical-Démocratique Suisse, member LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
), ELDR and the Liberal Party of SwitzerlandLiberal Party of SwitzerlandThe Liberal Party of Switzerland was a party with economically liberal policies. It was known as a party of the upper class. On 1 January 2009 it merged with the larger Free Democratic Party to establish FDP.The Liberals....
(Liberale Partei der Schweiz//Parti Libéral Suisse, member LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
) are right of center liberal parties. (Main article: Liberalism and radicalism in SwitzerlandLiberalism and radicalism in SwitzerlandThis article gives an overview of liberalism and radicalism in Switzerland. It is limited to liberal and radical parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ means a reference to another party in that scheme...
). - In Turkey, liberalism was never a strong force, though there were some significant liberal parties. Today only active liberal party is Liberal Democratic PartyLiberal Democratic Party (Turkey)The Liberal Democratic Party is a liberal party in Turkey. LDP was founded in 1994 as Liberal Parti by Turkish entrepreneur Besim Tibuk. Besim Tibuk was the consultant of Turgut Özal till he died in 17 April 1993...
(Main article: Liberalism in TurkeyLiberalism in TurkeyThis article gives an overview of liberalism in Turkey. It is limited to liberal parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ denotes another party in that scheme...
). - In Ukraine, the position of liberalism is unclear. The Liberal Party (Liberalna Partia, observer LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
) is a small liberal party and the Electoral Blok Juli Tymoshenko (Viborcyj Blok Julii Tymošenko) seems to develop into a more or less liberal party. A clear liberal party is the Our Ukraine (Naša Ukrajina), which should be distinguished from the People's Union Our Ukraine. (Main article: Liberalism in UkraineLiberalism in UkraineThis article gives an overview of liberalism in Ukraine. It is limited to liberal parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ denotes another party in that scheme...
). - In United Kingdom, liberalism is now organized mainly in the centre-left Liberal Democrats (member LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
, ELDR). The Liberal Democrats in Great Britain generally support social liberalism, while taking a centrist to centre-left, largely pragmatic view on economics, supporting economic freedomEconomic freedomEconomic freedom is a term used in economic and policy debates. As with freedom generally, there are various definitions, but no universally accepted concept of economic freedom...
and market competition in principle but often advocating more state/government provision or regulation to support particular policy objectives. Generally identified with the term 'Liberal' in current UK politics, they are the third largest political party, taking 23% of the vote in the last election, but due to the First Past the Post electoral system their representation in parliament is much smaller; it has around 10% of the seats at Westminster. Generally therefore, in the contemporary UK, 'Liberal' refers to an ideology advocating broad social freedoms, but less attached to economic liberalism. The Liberal Democrats, like the British Labour Party, do not contest elections in Northern Ireland, but instead urge their supporters to vote for the Alliance Party of Northern IrelandAlliance Party of Northern IrelandThe Alliance Party of Northern Ireland is a liberal and nonsectarian political party in Northern Ireland. It is Northern Ireland's fifth-largest party overall, with eight seats in the Northern Ireland Assembly and one in the House of Commons....
(member LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
, ELDR), which was formed in 1970 as a non-ideological cross-community party but has since come to regard itself as Northern Ireland's liberal party, and like the Liberal Democrats tends toward social liberalism. The Liberal Democrats, sometimes shortened to Lib Dems, are currently the junior party in a governing coalition with the Conservative Party (UK)Conservative Party (UK)The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
. Their leader, Nick CleggNick CleggNicholas William Peter "Nick" Clegg is a British Liberal Democrat politician who is currently the Deputy Prime Minister, Lord President of the Council and Minister for Constitutional and Political Reform in the coalition government of which David Cameron is the Prime Minister...
is the current Deputy Prime Minister with other Lib Dems taking up other cabinet and ministerial positions There is a small splinter group of the Liberal Democrats, the Liberal PartyLiberal Party (UK, 1989)The Liberal Party is a United Kingdom political party. It was formed in 1989 by a group of individuals within the original Liberal Party who felt that the merger of the party with the Social Democratic Party, to form the Liberal Democrats, had ended the spirit of the Liberal Party, claiming that...
, which consists of those Liberals who objected to the merger of the old Liberal PartyLiberal Party (UK)The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
to the Social DemocratsSocial Democratic Party (UK)The Social Democratic Party was a political party in the United Kingdom that was created on 26 March 1981 and existed until 1988. It was founded by four senior Labour Party 'moderates', dubbed the 'Gang of Four': Roy Jenkins, David Owen, Bill Rodgers and Shirley Williams...
in 1988. (Main article Liberalism in the United KingdomLiberalism in the United KingdomThis article gives an overview of liberalism in the United Kingdom. It is limited to liberal parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ denotes another party in that scheme...
)
Oceania
Liberalism has a strong tradition in both AustraliaLiberalism in Australia
Liberalism in Australia dates back to the earliest pioneers of the area, and has maintained a strong foothold to this day.-Introduction:The earliest pioneers of the federation movement, men such as Alfred Deakin and Samuel Griffith, were generally self-described "liberals"...
and New Zealand
Liberalism in New Zealand
This article gives an overview of liberalism in New Zealand. It is limited to liberal parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament...
.
- In Australia, the Liberal PartyLiberal Party of AustraliaThe Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
is a party considered to be of the centre-rightCentre-rightThe centre-right or center-right is a political term commonly used to describe or denote individuals, political parties, or organizations whose views stretch from the centre to the right on the left-right spectrum, excluding far right stances. Centre-right can also describe a coalition of centrist...
. Within the Liberal Party of Australia, conservatismConservatismConservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
and monetarist economicsMonetarismMonetarism is a tendency in economic thought that emphasizes the role of governments in controlling the amount of money in circulation. It is the view within monetary economics that variation in the money supply has major influences on national output in the short run and the price level over...
are both in a position of dominance. Many would argue that this party is indeed a liberal party, simply a classical liberalClassical liberalismClassical liberalism is the philosophy committed to the ideal of limited government, constitutionalism, rule of law, due process, and liberty of individuals including freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and free markets....
party and that it is the perception of what liberalism is that has changed, not the Liberal Party (which promotes the free marketFree marketA free market is a competitive market where prices are determined by supply and demand. However, the term is also commonly used for markets in which economic intervention and regulation by the state is limited to tax collection, and enforcement of private ownership and contracts...
approach that liberals worldwide used to promote before the 20th century). Other would stress conservatism as its ideology. The term small-l liberal generally refers to someone who champions civil liberties and progressive causes such as Australian republicanism and reconciliation with Indigenous Australians, as in parties such as the Australian DemocratsAustralian DemocratsThe Australian Democrats is an Australian political party espousing a socially liberal ideology. It was formed in 1977, by a merger of the Australia Party and the New LM, after principals of those minor parties secured the commitment of former Liberal minister Don Chipp, as a high profile leader...
, which began its life as a fusion of social-liberals disaffected with the Liberal Party. (Main article: AustraliaLiberalism in AustraliaLiberalism in Australia dates back to the earliest pioneers of the area, and has maintained a strong foothold to this day.-Introduction:The earliest pioneers of the federation movement, men such as Alfred Deakin and Samuel Griffith, were generally self-described "liberals"...
). - In New Zealand, Liberalism is not organized anymore, although the Liberal PartyNew Zealand Liberal PartyThe New Zealand Liberal Party is generally regarded as having been the first real political party in New Zealand. It governed from 1891 until 1912. Out of office, the Liberals gradually found themselves pressed between the conservative Reform Party and the growing Labour Party...
was the first organised political party, and the First Liberal GovernmentFirst Liberal Government of New ZealandThe First Liberal Government of New Zealand was the first responsible government in New Zealand politics organised along party lines. The Government formed following the founding of the Liberal Party and took office on the 24 January 1891, and governed New Zealand for over 21 years until 10 July...
from 1891 to 1912 was responsible for many reforms. Liberalism nowadays refers to a support for individual liberties and limited government. The term is generally used with a reference to a particular policy area, e.g. "market liberalism" or "social liberalism". Unqualified liberalism is less common; in its extreme form it is known by the American term libertarianism. The left of centre New Zealand Democratic PartyNew Zealand Democratic PartyThe New Zealand Democratic Party for Social Credit is a small leftist political party in New Zealand. It is based around the ideas of Social Credit, an economic theory which also attracted some degree of support in Canada and Australia...
takes a more or less progressive liberal position in the spectrum, but lost popular support. ACT New Zealand is a classical liberal or libertarian party. (Main article: Liberalism in New ZealandLiberalism in New ZealandThis article gives an overview of liberalism in New Zealand. It is limited to liberal parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament...
). - In the Solomon Islands, the Solomon Islands Liberal PartySolomon Islands Liberal PartyThe Solomon Islands Liberal Party is a political party in the Solomon Islands, which was led by Bartholomew Ulufa'alu from its founding in 1988 until Ulufa’alu’s death in May 2007. Prior to the 1997 elections it formed the Solomon Islands Alliance for Change along with several other parties...
considers itself a liberal party.
Non-parliamentary liberal parties
- Afghanistan: Liberal Democratic Party of AfghanistanLiberal Democratic Party of AfghanistanThe Liberal Democratic Party of Afghanistan is a political party in Afghanistan. The party seems to be pragmatic and centrist in ideology, with some social liberal features. The party states it wishes to avoid extremism and defend human rights and equality for all citizens of Afghanistan...
- Armenia: Armenian Liberal Democratic Party, Armenian Democratic Liberal Party, Liberal Democratic Union of ArmeniaLiberal Democratic Union of ArmeniaThe 'Liberal Democratic Union of Armenia' is a political party in Armenia.At the last elections, 25 May 2003, the party won 4.6 % of popular votes and no seats.- External links :**...
- Australia: Liberal Democratic PartyLiberal Democratic Party (Australia)The Liberal Democratic Party is a classical liberal Australian political party founded in 2001.-Party name:In 2007 the party tried to register federally under the name "Liberal Democratic Party" but this was opposed the by the Liberal Party, so the party chose to register as the "Liberty and...
- Austria: Liberal ForumLiberal ForumThe Liberal Forum is a small classical liberal party in Austria. The party is currently led by Angelika Mlinar, and is a member of the Liberal International and the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party.-Founding:...
(member LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
and ELDR), The Democrats, The Social Liberals - Bangladesh: Liberal Party BangladeshLiberal Party BangladeshThe Liberal Party Bangladesh is a liberal political party in Bangladesh. It was established in August 1998 by a merger of various liberal, secular and centre-left political parties and trade unions....
- Canada: Libertarian Party of CanadaLibertarian Party of CanadaThe Libertarian Party of Canada is a political party in Canada that subscribes to the tenets of the libertarian movement across Canada.-History:...
- Chile: Liberal PartyLiberal Party (Chile)The Liberal Party of Chile was a Chilean political party created by a faction of pipiolos in 1849. After the conservative victory in the Chilean Civil War of 1829 the liberals became the principal opposition party to the Conservative Party...
- Czech Republic: Path for Change (member ELDR), Party for an open society
- Dominican Republic: Liberal Party of the Dominican RepublicLiberal Party of the Dominican RepublicThe Liberal Party of the Dominican Republic is a liberal political party in the Dominican Republic. The party was originally named La Estructura, the name under which it contested the 1986 general elections as part of an alliance with the defeated Dominican Revolutionary Party. For the 1990...
- Ecuador: Movement Forwards EcuadorMovement Forwards EcuadorThe Movement Ecuador's Force is a liberal party in Ecuador.-See also:*the orange apple theory*Contributions to liberal theory*Liberalism worldwide*List of liberal parties*Liberal democracy...
(Moviminiento Fuerza Ecuador, observer LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
) - France: Pole of freedoms, the French liberal movement, Liberal AlternativeLiberal AlternativeThe Liberal Alternative is a French political party created on March 1, 2006. They advocate classical liberalism against socialism or conservatism...
- Greece: The LiberalsThe Liberals (Greece)The Liberals was a liberal political party in Greece founded by Stefanos Manos in April 1999. The president suspended operations of the party in October 2001, citing economic problems and limited appeal amongst the voting public . The party participated independently in popular elections only...
- Haiti Liberal Party
- India: Swatantra Bharat PartySwatantra Bharat PartyThe Swatantra Bharat Paksh is a liberal political party in Maharashtra, India, formed in 1994 by Sharad Anantrao Joshi . It considers itself an inheritor of the legacy of the Swatantra Party of C. Rajagopalachari. It won one seat in the 2004 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election, Chatap...
, Freedom Team of India - Iran: Liberal Democratic Party of Iran
- Italy: Federation of Italian LiberalsFederation of Italian LiberalsThe Federation of Italian Liberals is a tiny liberal party in Italy, founded in 1994 by Raffaello Morelli and Valerio Zanone...
(observer LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
), Italian Liberal PartyItalian Liberal PartyThe Italian Liberal Party was a liberal political party in Italy.-Origins:The origins of liberalism in Italy came from the so-called "Historical Right", a parliamentary group formed by Camillo Benso di Cavour in the Parliament of the Kingdom of Sardinia following the 1848 revolution... - Kosovo: Liberal Party of KosovoLiberal Party of KosovoThe Liberal Party of Kosovo is a liberal party in the Republic of Kosovo.The party is an observer at Liberal International and member of the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party....
(observer LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
, member ELDR) - Laos: Lao Liberal Democratic Party
- Mongolia: Mongolian Liberal Democratic Party
- Netherlands Antilles: Democratic Party
- Norway: Liberal People's PartyLiberal People's Party (Norway, 1992)The Liberal People's Party is a libertarian Norwegian political party created in 1992 by some of the members of the old Liberal People's Party.-History:...
- Peru: Liberal Party of Peru
- Portugal: Liberal Social Movement
- Spain: Liberal CoalitionLiberal coalitionThe Liberal coalition was a political grouping in the United States from the 1940s to the 1970s which promoted Modern liberalism in the United States.-Leaders:Important leaders included:*President Harry S. Truman...
, Mallorcan UnionMallorcan UnionThe Majorcan Union is a regional liberal party on the island of Majorca, Spain.It was founded in October 1982, as a nationalist continuation of the then disintegrating Union of the Democratic Centre . The main founder was Jeroni Albertí Picornell....
(member LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
) - Slovakia: Freedom and SolidarityFreedom and SolidarityFreedom and Solidarity , abbreviated to SaS, is a centre-right classical liberal political party in Slovakia. The party was established in 2009 and is led by its founder, the economist Richard Sulík, who designed Slovakia's flat tax system...
- Sri Lanka: Liberal Party of Sri LankaLiberal Party of Sri LankaThe Liberal Party of Sri Lanka began as a think-tank called the Council for Liberal Democracy, founded in 1981 by the late Dr. Chanaka Amaratunga, a longstanding member of the United National Party which was then in government....
(member LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
and CALD) - Turkey: Liberal Democratic PartyLiberal Democratic Party (Turkey)The Liberal Democratic Party is a liberal party in Turkey. LDP was founded in 1994 as Liberal Parti by Turkish entrepreneur Besim Tibuk. Besim Tibuk was the consultant of Turgut Özal till he died in 17 April 1993...
(member LILiberal InternationalLiberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
) - United Kingdom: Liberal PartyLiberal Party (UK, 1989)The Liberal Party is a United Kingdom political party. It was formed in 1989 by a group of individuals within the original Liberal Party who felt that the merger of the party with the Social Democratic Party, to form the Liberal Democrats, had ended the spirit of the Liberal Party, claiming that...
, UK Libertarian Party - United States: Libertarian PartyLibertarian Party (United States)The Libertarian Party is the third largest and fastest growing political party in the United States. The political platform of the Libertarian Party reflects its brand of libertarianism, favoring minimally regulated, laissez-faire markets, strong civil liberties, minimally regulated migration...
, Personal Choice PartyPersonal Choice PartyThe Personal Choice Party is a United States political party whose presidential candidate for 2004 qualified for the ballot in the state of Utah....
, Independence Party of MinnesotaIndependence Party of MinnesotaThe Independence Party of Minnesota , formerly the Reform Party of Minnesota, is the third largest political party in Minnesota, behind the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party and Republican Party . It is the political party of former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura , and endorsed former U.S...
, Liberal Party, US Marijuana PartyUS Marijuana PartyThe United States Marijuana Party is a cannabis political party in the United States founded in 2002 by Loretta Nall specifically to end the war on drugs and to legalize cannabis. Their policies also include other socially libertarian positions... - Uruguay: Liberal PartyLiberal Party (Uruguay)The Liberal Party is a Uruguayan political party founded in 2002, espousing free market liberalism. The party thinks that the economic heyday of the Uruguay at the end of the 19th century was a consequence of the application of political initiatives founded in the liberal ideas, and that the...
- Venezuela: Organization for the Liberal Democracy in VenezuelaOrganization for the Liberal Democracy in VenezuelaThe Organization for the Liberal Democracy in Venezuela is a classical liberal action tank from Caracas, Venezuela, created by a group of libertarian students...
, Civil ResistanceCivil resistanceThe term civil resistance, alongside the term nonviolent resistance, is used to describe political action that relies on the use of non-violent methods by civil groups to challenge a particular power, force, policy or regime. Civil resistance operates through appeals to the adversary, pressure and...
, Democratic Liberal Movement, Rumbo Propio