It’s America-specific, not anglocentric. Elsewhere doesn’t do the whole “liberal means left wing” thing.
Liberal here at least generally refers to market and social liberalisation - i.e. simultaneously pro-free market and socially liberal.
The Liberal Democrats (amusingly a name that would trigger US Republicans to an extreme degree) in the UK, for example, sided with the Conservative (right wing) party, and when Labour (left/left of centre) was under its previous leader, they said they’d do the same again, because economically they’re far more aligned with the Conservatives. But they also pushed for things like LGBT rights, because they’re actual liberals.
Yeah I thought that was the gist of my comment but maybe I didn’t clarify enough. The right-wing appropriation of a “liberal” market is the oxymoron as it creates a hierarchy where less money = less liberty
It’s America-specific, not anglocentric. Elsewhere doesn’t do the whole “liberal means left wing” thing.
Liberal here at least generally refers to market and social liberalisation - i.e. simultaneously pro-free market and socially liberal.
The Liberal Democrats (amusingly a name that would trigger US Republicans to an extreme degree) in the UK, for example, sided with the Conservative (right wing) party, and when Labour (left/left of centre) was under its previous leader, they said they’d do the same again, because economically they’re far more aligned with the Conservatives. But they also pushed for things like LGBT rights, because they’re actual liberals.
Yeah I thought that was the gist of my comment but maybe I didn’t clarify enough. The right-wing appropriation of a “liberal” market is the oxymoron as it creates a hierarchy where less money = less liberty