The Basic Features of Classical Liberalism
The following are some of the basic features of classical liberalism. The first feature is
liberty. According to Azam (2016), liberty is a major feature of classical liberalism. Individuals
are free to do all they want, and the laws of nature only govern them. Locke (1980) argued that
government must protect citizens’ rights, and when the government fails, citizens have a right to
dissolve it. Liberty is only restricted if it has the potential of harming others. The second feature
is equality. Azam (2016) states that every person deserves same respect. All citizens in a country
should enjoy all the rights and freedoms that come with being a citizen of their country. As
identified by Marshal (2009), citizens’ rights are divided into civil, political, and social. The third
feature is toleration. Individuals should allow other citizens to do, as they want. People should
accept that others have different believes, tastes and preferences, and no one should interfere
with what they do. For example, Locke (1997) argued that people have different religious beliefs
and there is no single religion that can be passed into law. However, someone’s activity will not
be tolerated if it causes harm to other citizens. The final feature is liberal neutrality. The
government should provide a neutral environment where each individual can pursue a goal. It
should refrain from punishing or rewarding someone for pursuing a certain goal. Azam (2016)
states that, even when the majority of the citizens prefer a certain way of life, the government
should never promote it. To conclude, the four basic features of classical liberalism, promote the
well-being of a society even though they have their limitations.