In recent years, the term “liberal” has been twisted into something unrecognizable. In many populist and right-wing circles, it has become a kind of insult, used to signal weakness, elitism, or a lack of patriotism. Worse still, liberalism is now frequently lumped in with socialism, communism, or the excesses of modern identity politics. This conflation is not just lazy. It is historically and philosophically false.

The reality is that liberalism, properly understood, has nothing to do with authoritarian control or forced equality. In fact, it stands for the opposite. Classical liberalism is a deeply rooted political philosophy that emerged during the Enlightenment and helped shape the modern world. It champions individual freedom, limited government, private property, and the rule of law. It is about allowing people to live their lives as they choose, as long as they do not infringe on the rights of others.

What Classical Liberalism Really Means

Classical liberalism is not a partisan slogan. It is not a cultural trend. It is a well-defined philosophy that has influenced centuries of political thought. Its core belief is in the sovereignty of the individual.

Philosophers such as John Locke argued that people possess natural rights. These include life, liberty, and property. These rights are not granted by governments but are inherent to all human beings. They exist prior to the formation of the state, and the only legitimate role of government is to protect them.

John Stuart Mill took this further in his defence of free speech and freedom of thought. He believed that even the most unpopular opinions must be allowed space in public life, not because all ideas are equal, but because truth itself can only survive in a free and open exchange of ideas.

Adam Smith, often invoked in economic debates, was not just an advocate for free markets. He believed that commerce worked best in an ethical society, where individual enterprise is balanced with concern for others, and where power is dispersed rather than concentrated.

Why We Must Defend Liberalism

In a populist world, language becomes a battlefield. The word “liberal” has been co-opted and distorted, turned into a strawman to attack. Instead of engaging with liberal principles such as freedom of speech, limited government, and individual rights, critics target a caricature: the so-called liberal elite who supposedly want to cancel free expression, impose cultural orthodoxy, and erase tradition.

But this caricature is not rooted in classical liberalism. It is a projection. Liberalism protects speech, even when it offends. It respects tradition, so long as it does not override individual rights. It welcomes dissent, because dissent is often the first step toward progress.

By erasing the true meaning of liberalism, populists weaken the very principles that protect them. Today’s populist may reject liberalism, but without it, they would have no right to speak at all.

Why We Must Defend Liberalism

Liberalism is not perfect. No philosophy is. But it has one of the best historical track records of promoting human dignity, peace, innovation, and coexistence. It does not promise utopia. It promises the right to build your own future, free from coercion, as long as you grant others the same.

We should not allow populists, pundits, or authoritarian opportunists to redefine a philosophy that has done so much to safeguard freedom. Nor should we retreat from the word “liberal” out of fear that it has been hijacked. Words only lose their power when we abandon them.

To be liberal is to believe in open societies. In personal responsibility. In the right to think, speak, and live freely. These values are not outdated. They are under threat.

Now is the time to reclaim liberalism. Not as a political brand, but as a principle. Not as a faction, but as a foundation. Let the critics shout. Let them confuse and conflate. The truth remains: liberalism stands for the freedom of the individual and the restraint of power.

That is worth defending.