Class: POLI330

What is the difference between liberalism and socialism government?

Sometimes people mistakes one for the other. In order to differentiate

between these two terms, we have to clear define the ideology of each term.

Liberalism is divided into classical and modern liberalism.

Classical liberalism states that the government should take control of an

institution in order to ensure that it continues to be of service to the people,

free of charge. Classical liberalism does not see any need for the government

to enforce law and order and subjugate its citizens under the iron rule of law

and order. However, modern liberalism veers away from this ideology by

adding a new twist. Modern liberalism asserts that aside from ensuring

economic and political security, it is also the government’s job to interfere

with people’s day-to-day affairs in order to maintain social security.

Socialism asserts that the states should have total economic power by

manipulating prices of goods and wages of workers. Furthermore, socialism

requires people to submit to the rule of law. In return for their compliance,

citizens are provided with resources rationed by the government. Modern

liberalism, in effect, can be compared to socialism, because both of them

assert that the government can effectively uplift its citizens not only by seizing

control of the economy or private institutions, but also by keeping a close

watch on citizens to ensure that none of them become subversive. Many

modern-day politicians have been supporting modern liberalism because they

believe that the government can solve all problems once it is granted total

power. These politicians point out the inequality of different classes in society,

and propose reforms that at first seem to favor the poor and marginalized, but

in the end just grants the government reason to extend its powers to curtail

private interests.

Democrats and capitalists are against socialism and modem liberalism because prices of goods and wage of workers is controlled directly by the government, privately-owned companies and institutions cannot flourish under a socialist or modern liberalist government. People who value freedom of speech and human rights likewise oppose socialism and modern liberalism, because they believe that such ideologies limit a citizen’s right to choose which products to buy, what job to take, what religious belief to espouse. Even though modern liberalism is more subtle and suave than socialism, it still ends up giving too much power to the government in the guise of economic, political, and social security.

Countries with socialism governments: • China

• Denmark

• Finland

• Netherlands

• Canada

• Sweden

• Norway

• Ireland

• New Zealand

• Belgium

Although these governments are defined as socialist, most of them practice hybrid systems where other systems are applied and mixed with the socialism.

Reference: *Analyzing Politics by Ellen Grigsby Fifth Editions Pg 96 *Wikipedia