Political and Economic Liberalism
Political liberalism emphasizes the social contract, in which citizens make the laws and they all agree to abide by those laws. It is supported on the belief that individuals know what is best for them. Political liberalism grants political representation to all adult citizens regardless of sex, race, or financial status. It highlights the “rule of law” and favors liberal democracy. It works on the principle that individuals are the foundation of rules and civilization. Furthermore, society and its organizations are created and subsist to advance the goals and achievements of individuals, devoid of additional support to elite members of society. Economic liberalism supports the individual rights of personal property and independence of agreement, without which, the implementation of other freedoms is not possible. Economic liberals believe in laissez-faire in which private proposals and production are preeminent, if economic interventionism and taxation by the state beyond what is necessary to maintain individual liberty, peace, security, and property rights, are kept to a bare minimum. It is the idea that the value of goods and services should be set by the free choice of individuals which is influenced by market forces. In addition, it recognizes and accepts the economic differences that occur from imbalanced negotiation positions as being the expected outcome of competition, provided that no force is used. Neither Jean-Jacques Rousseau nor John Locke would agree with a statement declaring that political and economic liberalism have not made us better off, rather they have worsened our situation. Rousseau and Locke both believe that while the government should implement laws, it is their job to only implement laws that the civil society as a whole have agreed upon and by doing so, allows individuals to both protect themselves and remain liberated. Since the definitions contained in their individual writings are distinct from one another,