Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online

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Liberalism
(5,147 words)

1. Definition and origins

Liberalism was the most influential development in political philosophy in the late 18th and 19th centuries. It gave rise to a powerful social movement and created the prototype of the organized political party. It presented a range of directions and facets in terms of ideas and concepts. Classical, “institutional” liberalism produced the modern constitutional state. Economic liberalism of the market …

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Brandt, Hartwig, “Liberalism”, in: Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online, Editors of the English edition: Graeme Dunphy, Andrew Gow. Original German Edition: Enzyklopädie der Neuzeit. Im Auftrag des Kulturwissenschaftlichen Instituts (Essen) und in Verbindung mit den Fachherausgebern herausgegeben von Friedrich Jaeger. Copyright © J.B. Metzlersche Verlagsbuchhandlung und Carl Ernst Poeschel Verlag GmbH 2005–2012. Consulted online on 27 March 2023 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2352-0272_emho_COM_023370>
First published online: 2015
First print edition: 20190801



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