In modern American politics, the terms “liberal” and “conservative” are often used to describe the left and right ends of the political spectrum. Liberals are generally considered to be on the left, while conservatives are on the right. But what exactly do these labels mean, and how did liberals come to be associated with the left?
Defining liberalism
The term “liberal” has its roots in the Latin word “liber” meaning free. In a political sense, liberalism refers to an ideology that emphasizes individual liberties, equal rights, and the free exchange of ideas. Some of the key principles of liberalism include:
- Individual freedoms and rights
- Equality before the law
- Separation of church and state
- Freedom of speech and expression
- Freedom of the press
- Freedom of religion
- Free markets
- Secular governance
- Gender equality
- Racial equality
In economics, liberals tend to support free market capitalism tempered by government intervention and regulation. Socially, liberals favor policies that expand civil rights, advocate for minorities and marginalized groups, and promote diversity and multiculturalism.
The origins of left vs. right
The designations of liberal as “left” and conservative as “right” have their origins in the French Revolution of 1789. During the early days of the revolution, supporters of the king stood on the right side of the legislative assembly, while proponents of revolution stood on the left. Thus, those in favor of dramatic social and political change were referred to as the “left,” while supporters of traditional hierarchy and order were called the “right.”
This left-right political spectrum spread across Europe and eventually to the United States as well. In America, the meanings of left and right evolved over time. But the core associations stuck, with the left associated with progressivism, reform, and egalitarianism, while the right represented conservation of traditional social orders and institutions.
How liberals came to align with the left
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, liberalism in America became affiliated with leftist politics and platforms. Several factors led to this alignment:
- Industrialization – Rapid industrialization created huge wealth disparities and exploitation of workers, spurring leftist movements like organized labor. Liberals advocated for rights and protections for workers.
- Trust busting – Liberals like Theodore Roosevelt championed dismantling powerful monopolies and conglomerates, aligning with anti-big business sentiments.
- New Deal – Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal policies greatly expanded the federal government’s role in the economy and social welfare. This progressive growth of government power was decried by conservatives.
- Civil rights – Liberals were at the forefront of the civil rights movement, fighting for equality for minorities. Conservatives often opposed major civil rights reforms.
- Counter-culture – Liberalism became intertwined with 1960s and 70s counter-culture that rebelled against traditional norms on issues like race, gender, sexuality, and authority.
Across these events and eras, liberalism was consistently associated with change, reform, and progressivism. Meanwhile, conservatism represented preservation of social order and traditional hierarchies. Thus, liberalism firmly aligned with leftist politics, while conservatism anchored the right wing.
Liberalism today
In today’s political landscape, liberals in the United States advocate for the following types of policies:
| Issue | Liberal Position |
|---|---|
| Size of Government | Support larger government with more services and social spending |
| Economy | Support more regulation of business and markets |
| Welfare | Support expanded social welfare and assistance programs |
| Environment | Support stronger environmental protections and action against climate change |
| Social Issues | Support expanded rights for women, minorities, and LGBTQ groups. Pro-choice on abortion. |
| Immigration | Support pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants and higher levels of legal immigration |
| Foreign Policy | Advocate for diplomacy and humanitarianism over military force |
This platform aligns liberals and the Democratic Party with a leftist, progressive ideology seeking reform and change to address socio-economic inequities. It contrasts with the right-wing conservative emphasis on limited government, traditional values, and preserving the social status quo.
Criticisms of the left-right divide
While the liberal-left vs. conservative-right divide is entrenched in modern politics, this binary system is not without its critics. Some of the main criticisms include:
- It oversimplifies complex ideologies into two camps
- It fuels polarization and animosity between the two sides
- It ignores nuances and areas of overlap between liberalism and conservatism
- It marginalizes centrists and moderates who don’t fit neatly into either side
- It fails to capture the diversity of views that exist within the left or right
Some political scientists argue that a two-dimensional system – with one spectrum for economic ideology and another for social/moral ideology – would be more accurate. There are cross-cutting issues that divide liberals and conservatives, making the alignment not always so neat in reality.
Conclusion
While “liberal” was not originally equated with the left, over time liberalism’s progressive philosophies made it closely associated with leftist politics. Modern American liberalism is now aligned with left-wing ideologies that endorse expanded government, regulated markets, and policies aimed at increasing equality and social justice. This contrasts with conservatives on the political right who favor limited government, deregulation, and preserving traditional social structures. The left-right divide is not without flaws, but remains a deeply entrenched paradigm in how Americans conceive of the political spectrum.