Three Ideologies: Liberalism, Conservatism, and Socialism - Essay Example

These moderate ideologies try to seek change at a level that enables growth to take place in order to foster development, enhance fairness, and dismantle misleading policies and ideologies. Liberalism is an ideology, which calls for equality of opportunity in society within the platform of a system of laid down laws. According to Smith (2008), classical liberalism was developed in United States of America and Europe and it advocated for economic freedom and minimal government. It defines the importance of the government to describe and enforce laws especially the higher laws.

This ideology praises the idea that the constitution must be drawn from not only the ruler but also by individuals who are representatives of the elite group. Liberalism is concerned with giving much freedom for people within the context of system of law, which deters the government from interfering with individual rights. This ideology aims to limit the powers of the government to interfere with individual rights and ensure equal or just society. British liberalism in 18th century contributed to the expansion of the liberal political philosophy that had profound impact on politics in coming centuries.

This ideology stated that the government exists in order to serve its citizens and administer or govern the community. The powers of the government are checked and limited by the concept of human rights and natural laws. In order to facilitate growth and distribution in society, the government ought to protect private rights and common good. While on the other hand, people limit their action by giving to government certain powers that are limited but on condition, that government exercises fairness by ruling on behalf of the common good and in guarding private rights.

When people’s rights are respected and resources distributed equally, it promotes justice in society. The classical liberals believed that the government was created by individuals to guard themselves from one another. They argued that individuals should be free to explore their desires without restrain from society or government. People were to be free to get jobs that were well paying, therefore, free markets both capital and labor would get greatest possible reward while production would be defined to suit consumer demands which in turn helped in fair distribution of resources that enhanced effectiveness.

Whereas liberalism developed in order to save or rescue humankind from oppressive institutions, conservatism grew as a reaction to what was viewed as dangerous tendencies within liberal camp towards a whole rejection of the past as valuable and desirable. Conservatism arose as a response to French revolution and industrial revolution in the 19th century. It advocates for maintenance of status quo (Smith, 2008). Conservatism argues that it would be irrational to change existing practices and institutions in any fundamental way since such institutions and practices have proven to be successful over the years.

Conservatism limits growth of institutions and distribution of economic resources because only the privileged in society hold these resources and are not willing to share it. For instance, in Europe, the landed aristocracy was the group was known to have maintained the status quo. Once the conservatives are in government, they reject the notion that profitable sector of the economy would be distributed to the masses