POS 254 Political Ideologies
The Split in Liberal Thought

Liberalism: An ideology that promotes the freedom of the individual in religious, political, and economic matters.

Classical conservatism: A disposition that contends that the purpose of politics is to preserve the social fabric through gradual, cautious reform.

Modern (welfare) liberalism: An ideology that holds that government intervention into individual and social life is sometimes necessary to promote the well-being of the individual.

Modern economic conservatism: An ideology that believes that the role of the government should be limited to protecting a person's rights and property.

Modern social conservatism: An ideology that believes that the task of government is to bring a sinful, wayward society back to religious (typically Christian) principles.