Cultural liberalism
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Cultural liberalism is a social philosophy which expresses the social dimension of liberalism and advocates the freedom of individuals to choose whether to conform to cultural norms. In the words of Henry David Thoreau, it is often expressed as the right to "march to the beat of a different drummer".[1] Also known as social liberalism in the United States and Canada, while cultural progressivism does overlap with cultural liberalism, it does not mean exactly the same thing as cultural liberalism.[2]
The United States refers to cultural liberalism as social liberalism; however, it is not the same as the broader political ideology known as social liberalism. In the United States, social liberalism describes progressive moral and social values or stances on socio-cultural issues such as abortion and same-sex marriage as opposed to social conservatism. A social conservative or a social liberal in this sense may hold either more conservative or progressive views on fiscal policy.[3]
Modern usage
[edit]As with modern liberalism in general,[4] cultural liberalism often implies the fundamental liberal principles of individual liberty, autonomy, and equality.[citation needed]
Cultural liberalism places a strong emphasis on the protection and expansion of civil rights and liberties, recognizing them as fundamental to individual autonomy and societal progress.[5][better source needed] This philosophical stance aligns with core liberal principles articulated in foundational texts[which?] and international declarations such as the manifesto of the Liberal International.[4]
John Stuart Mill, in his seminal work On Liberty, argues for the paramount importance of individual liberty, asserting that society should only interfere with an individual's freedom of action to prevent harm to others.[6]
History
[edit]The emergence of cultural liberalism is tied to the broader historical development of liberalism, which challenges traditional norms of religious conformity and ascribed status.[7][better source needed] While the term "liberal" gained political currency in the early 19th century, the underlying principles of individual liberty and tolerance have roots in the Enlightenment and movements like the Protestant Reformation, which emphasized individual conscience.[7] In 1981, Gérard Grunberg, Etienne Schweisguth, et al. popularized the term "cultural liberalism"[8] in their book France de gauche, vote à droite.[9]
In recent decades, particularly since the mid-20th century, Western Europe has seen what Vincent Tournier describes as a "cultural take-off"[10] characterized by the liberalization of moral standards and lifestyles. Tournier claims that the rise cultural liberalism can be attributed to post-war changes such as increased living standards, urbanization, mass schooling, and secularization, leading to a distancing from traditional authority and a greater emphasis on individual autonomy.[10]
See also
[edit]- Civil libertarianism
- Cultural radicalism
- Permissive society
- Pink capitalism
- Secular liberalism
- Tightness–looseness theory
References
[edit]- ^ Thoreau, Henry David (1854). Walden. "Conclusion".
- ^ Dolan, Eric W. (2022-08-26). "New study helps pinpoint the key differences between liberals and progressives in the United States". PsyPost - Psychology News. Retrieved 2025-07-01.
- ^ Chideya, Farai (2004). "The Red and the Blue: A Divided America". Trust: Reaching the 100 Million Missing Voters and Other Selected Essays. Soft Skull Press. pp. 33–46. ISBN 9781932360264.
- ^ a b "Andorra Liberal Manifesto - 2017". Liberal International. Retrieved 2025-07-01.
- ^ Claeys, Gregory (2022-02-24), "4. The values of On Liberty (1859)", John Stuart Mill: A Very Short Introduction, Oxford University Press, pp. 66–83, doi:10.1093/actrade/9780198749998.003.0004, ISBN 978-0-19-874999-8, retrieved 2025-07-01
- ^ Mill, John Stuart (1869). . On Liberty (4 ed.). London. p. – via Wikisource.
{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ a b Ball, Terence; Dagger, Richard (1990). "The "L-Word": A Short History of Liberalism". Political Science Teacher. 3 (1): 1–6. doi:10.1017/s089608280000088x. ISSN 0896-0828.
- ^ de Boissieu, Laurent (29 September 2015). "Affaire Macron, le libéralisme est-il de gauche ?" (in French). La Croix. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
- ^ Capdevielle, Jacques; Dupoirier, Elisabeth; Grunberg, Gérard; Etienne, Schweisguth; Ysmal, Colette (1981). France de gauche, vote à droite (in French). Presses de la Fondation nationale des sciences politiques. p. 49. ISBN 2724604474.
- ^ a b Tournier, Vincent (2017-01-01), "Cultural Liberalism, Anti-Social Conducts and Authority. The Dynamics of Values and their Effects", European Values, BRILL, pp. 29–50, doi:10.1163/9789004341067_004, ISBN 978-90-04-34105-0, retrieved 2025-07-01
Bibliography
[edit]- Willard, Charles Arthur (1996). Liberalism and the Problem of Knowledge: A New Rhetoric for Modern Democracy. University of Chicago Press. ISBN 978-0226898452. OCLC 33967621.
