What is Classical Liberalism?
Classical liberalism treats individual rights, free trade, and a small state as the default. It sits on the economic right and is mildly libertarian: government should protect contracts and basic order, not manage private life.
Core principles
- Individual rights
- Free trade
- Small state
On the PoliMap chart this cell runs from 6 to 10 on the economic axis and -2 to 2 on the social axis. Negative economic scores are left; positive social scores are authoritarian.
Nearby ideologies
- National CapitalismNational capitalism pairs free enterprise at home with tariffs, industrial policy, and a strong state that treats the economy as a tool of n...
- Market LiberalismMarket liberalism trusts prices, competition, and private firms more than public ownership, while staying within a liberal democratic frame....
- ObjectivismObjectivism, drawn from Ayn Rand, argues for rational self-interest, laissez-faire capitalism, and strong individual rights, including again...
- ConservatismConservatism favours existing institutions, gradual change, private enterprise, and a common culture. On this map it is right of centre econ...