Liberalism focuses on the worldview setup on the ideology of liberty and equality. It supports ideas such as civil rights, free, and fair elections, freedom of religion, civil rights, freedom of the press among others. It can be summarized as the belief of individuals having the right to pursue their individual goals and to take up their liberty as long as in doing so they do not harm others or interfere with their freedom (Reus-Smit, 2005).
The advantages are; it promotes freedom and human rights. It also advocates equality by ensuring that everyone can participate in building the community without the consideration of personal issues like wealth and power. It encourages diversity of ideas and products and activities in the society and offers freedom for everyone to enter into the market (Reus-Smit, 2005). It lays a good platform for minorities to have a voice and impact in the society.
Some of the disadvantages of liberalism analyzed as; it allows the practice of certain unhealthy and/or morally conflicting practices and issues, which leads to the elimination of small domestic industries by changing government’s economic policies and promoting capitalism. It leads to excessive economy control by the state, which could be unattractive to investment. Other disadvantages include political uncertainty, a lack of authority, too much government bureaucracy, and interference with business competition (Reus-Smit, 2005).
Liberalism compares to feminism in that they both advocate equality in politics, economic ability, cultural and social rights. Their differences are few in that feminism advocate only for consideration of women while liberalism addresses the people at large without gender consideration (Reus-Smit, 2005). Another difference is that, feminism seeks to defend by establishing the issues while Liberalism supports the ideas.
Ruane and James (2014) provide good examples on the theories regarding international relations. Liberalism is illustrated in the approach that international relations are developed. Nations and politicians develop public relations in order to achieve their political agenda rather than for the common social-economic good of their nations.
References
Abigail E. Ruane & James P. (2014). “The Lord of the Rings trilogy sheds light on issues of real-world international relations.” The International Relations of Middle-earth. Retrieved: http://www.press.umich.edu/590468/international_relations_of_middle_earth#sthash.Fy43UFH1.dpuf
Reus-Smit, Christian (2005). "Constructivism." Theories of International Relations, ed. Scott Burchill [et al.], pp.209, 216. Palgrave.
