A liberal party is defined here as a political party, that adheres to the basic principles of (political) liberalism. This is a broad political current, that includes both free market liberals and social liberals. All liberal parties emphasise individual liberty, but they differ in their opinion on an active role for the state. Liberal parties believe in the growth of a free society based on personal liberty, personal responsibility and social justice.

Historical pattern

At the end of the eighteenth and the beginning of the nineteenth century liberals started to organise themselves in loose organisations and/or political parties in opposition to conservative, clerical and absolutist forces, striving after the emancipation of citizens and the middle class. As late as 1848 in Europe, liberalism was generally seen as a revolutionary force, and in those parts of the world where feudalism or other highly traditionalist (or merely socially rigid) societies remain, it still has revolutionary aspects. When liberals have gained power and realised their first reforms, one often sees a divergence within the ranks of liberals:

• Some are satisfied and rest apart with these reforms, developing into liberal conservatives or simply becoming conservatives.
• The mainstream of liberalism continues on the path of gradual reforms, embraces electoral democracy as a basic liberal position and organizes itself in the form of the traditional liberal parties. (See below for a list of parties.)
• Part of this mainstream emphasises classical liberal issues and concentrates on economic liberalism. This is, for example, the origin of libertarianism.
• Another current wants more and radical reforms. It embraces and emphasises democratic reforms and often strives after social reforms. These parties sometimes prefer to name themselves radical or progressive liberal and are generally quite positive about the role of the state. United States liberalism is in this tradition. (See below for a list of parties.)
• For some this doesn’t go far enough: they join socialist or social democratic parties.
• Next to these development one sees the rise of new centrist or pragmatic parties that share liberal values and develop into liberal or similar parties. (See below for a list of parties.)
• Finally one sees liberals joining parties with a broader political range. This happens especially in countries where the electoral system favours a two-party system. (See below for a list of parties.)

Some so-called liberal parties have only a tenuous connection to any tradition that would usually be called "liberal". For example, the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia is an extreme right-wing political party led by Vladimir Zhirinovsky.

The label Liberal

Liberal parties not naming or labeling themselves Liberal

In many countries the word liberal became pejorative or the meaning of the word developed into a specific national context. This brought many liberal parties not to name or label itself as a Liberal party. This happens also often when a second liberal party is formed in a country. Progressive liberals in the nineteenth century tended to use words as Radical, Progressive, Freethinking or simply Democratic in stead of Liberal. Examples are the Unión Civica Radical and the Parti Radical, as well as the Deutsche Fortschrittspartei and the Vrijzinnig-Democratische Bond. This continued in the twentieth and twenty-first century. It took a party as the Democraten 66 more than thirty years to label itself as a Social Liberal party. Centrist parties often take the liberal position in the political spectrum, but keep their old names and labelling.

Liberal conservatism and Libertarians

Sometimes the original liberal current developed into a conservative direction by becoming liberal conservative parties. Examples are the Liberal Party of Australia and the Liberal Democratic Party (Japan). Next to that new libertarian parties are formed, claiming to be liberal parties.

International affiliations

Many liberal or similar parties are member of the Liberal International and/or of its regional partners, like the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party and the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats. Mainly due to national contexts or power reasons some of these parties joined either the Socialist International or the conservative International Democratic Union and its regional partners.

The parties

A selection of present-day liberal and similar parties around the world. Defunct parties can be found at the List of Schematic history of liberal parties around the world.

• Albania:
  • Partia Aleanca Demokratike (Democratic Alliance Party), member LI, ELDR
• Albania:
  • Partia Bashkimi për të Drejtat e Njeriut (Unity for Human Rights Party)
• Algeria:
  • Rassemblement pour la Culture et la Démocratie (Rally for Culture and Democracy)
• Andorra:
  • Partit Liberal d'Andorra (Liberal Party of Andorra), member LI, ELDR
• Angola:
  • Partido Liberal Democratico (Liberal Democratic Party), member LI
• Argentina:
  • Recrear para el Crecimiento (Recreate for Growth)
  • Unión Civica Radical (Radical Civic Union), member SI
• Armenia:
  • Hayastani Hanrapetakan Kusaktsutyun (Republican Party of Armenia)
• Aruba:
  • Organisacion Liberal Arubiano (Aruban Liberal Organization)
• Australia:
  • Australian Democrats
  • Australian Progressive Alliance
• Austria:
  • Liberales Forum (Liberal Forum), member LI, ELDR
• Bahamas:
  • Progressive Liberal Party
• Belarus:
  • Abjadnanaja Graždanskaja Partja Belarusi (United Civic Party of Belarus)
• Belgium
  • Partei für Freiheit und Fortschritt (Party for Freedom and Progress)
  • Mouvement Réformateur (Reformist Movement), member LI, ELDR
  • Spirit
  • Vivant
  • Vlaamse Liberalen en Democraten (Flemish Liberals and Democrats), member LI, ELDR
• Benin:
  • Parti de la renaissance du Bénin (Rebirth Party of Benin)
• Bosnia-Herzegovina:
  • Liberalno demokratska stranka (Liberal Democratic Party), member ELDR
  • Stranka za Bosnu i Hergovinu (Party for Bosnia and Hercegovina)
• Brazil:
  • Partido do Movimento Democrático Brasileiro (Party of the Brazilian Democratic Movement)
  • Partido Liberal (Liberal Party)
  • Partido Social Liberal (Social Liberal Party)
• Bulgaria:
  • Dviženie za prava i svobodi (Movement for Rights and Freedoms), observer LI, member ELDR
  • Nacionalno Dviženie Simeon Vtori (National Movement for Simeon II), member LI, ELDR
• Burkina Faso:
  • Alliance pour la Démocratie et la Fédération (Alliance for Democracy and Federation)
• Burma:
  • National Council of the Union of Burma (in exile), member CALD
• Cambodia:
  • Pak Sam Rainsy (Sam Rainsy Party), member CALD
• Canada:
  • Liberal Party of Canada/Parti Libéral du Canada, member LI
  • Parti Libéral du Québec (Liberal Party of Quebec, distinct from Liberal Party of Canada)
• Cape Verde:
  • Movimento para a Democracia (Movement for Democracy)
• Chile:
  • Partido Radical Social-Democráta (Social Democratic Radical Party), member SI
• Colombia:
  • Partido Liberal Colombiano (Colombian Liberal Party), member SI
• Costa Rica:
  • Partido Movimiento Libertario (Libertarian Movement Party), observer LI
• Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast):
  • Rassemblement des Republicains (Rally of the Republicans), member LI
• Croatia:
  • Hrvatska narodna stranka (Croatian People's Party), member ELDR
  • Hrvatska socijalno liberalna stranka (Croatian Social Liberal Party), member LI, ELDR
  • Liberalna stranka (Liberal Party), member LI, ELDR
  • LIBRA - Stranka liberalnih demokrata (Party of Liberal Democrats), observer LI, member ELDR
• Cuba:
  • Partido Liberal Democratico (Liberal Democratic Party, illegal), observer LI
  • Partido Solidaridad Democratica (Democratic Solidarity Party, illegal), observer LI
  • Unión Liberal Cubana (Cuban Liberal Union, in exile), member LI
• Cyprus:
  • Enomeni Dimokrates(United Democrats), member ELDR
• Cyprus-North:
  • Bariş ve Demokrasi Hareketi (Peace and Democracy Movement)
• Czech Republic
  • Cesta Zmĕny (Path for Change), member ELDR
  • Obcanska demokraticka aliance (Civic Democratic Alliance), member ELDR
  • Unie Svobody - Demokratická unie (Freedom Union-Democratic Union)
• Denmark
  • Det Radikale Venstre (The Radical Left), member LI, ELDR
  • Venstre Danmarks liberale parti (Left - Denmark's Liberal Party), member LI, ELDR
• Dominican Republic:
  • Partido de la Liberacíon Dominicana (Dominican Liberation Party)
• Ecuador:
  • Frente Radical Alfarista (Radical Alfarista Front)
  • Movimiento Fuerza Ecuador (Movement Forwards Ecuador) , observer LI
  • Partido Liberal Radical Ecuatoriana (Ecuadorian Radical Liberal Party]]
• Egypt:
  • Hizb al-Ahrar (Liberal Party)
  • Hizb al-Wafd-al-Jadid (New Delegation Party)
• Equatorial Guinea:
  • Unión Democratica Nacional de Guinea Ecuatorial (National Democratic Union of Equatorial Guinea , member LI
• Estonia:
  • Eesti Keskerakond (Estonian Centre Party), member LI, ELDR
  • Eesti Reformierakond (Estonian Reform Party), member LI, ELDR
• Faroe Islands:
  • Sambandsflokkurin (Union Party)
  • Sjálvstýrisflokkurin (Self Government Party)
• Finland:
  • Suomen Keskusta (Finnish Centre Party), member LI, ELDR
  • Svenska Folkpartiet i Finland (Swedish People's Party), member LI, ELDR
• Finland (Aland):
  • Liberalerna på Åland (Liberals for Aland), observer LI
• France:
  • Parti Radical (Radical Party)
  • Parti Radical de Gauche (Left Radical Party)
• Gambia:
  • United Democratic Party
• Georgia:
  • Natshhionakhuri Modraoba – Demokrathebi (National Movement - Democrats)
• Germany:
  • Freie Demokratische Partei (Free Democratic Party), member LI, ELDR
• Ghana:
  • New Patriotic Party
• Gibraltar:
  • Liberal Party of Gibraltar , member LI
• Greenland:
  • Atássut (Feeling of Community)
• Grenada:
  • National Democratic Congress
• Honduras:
  • Partido Liberal de Honduras , member LI
• Hong Kong:
  • Democratic Party
• Hungary:
  • Szabad Demokratak Szövetsege (Alliance of Free Democrats), member LI, ELDR
• Iceland:
  • Framsóknarflokkurinn (Progressive Party), member LI
  • Frjáslyndi Flokkurin (Liberal Party)
• Ireland:
  • Progressive Democrats, member ELDR
• Israel:
  • Shinui (Change), member LI
• Italy:
  • Federazione dei Liberali Italiani (Federation of Italian Liberals) , observer LI
  • Italia dei Valori - Lista Di Pietro (Italy of Values – List Di Pietro), member LI, ELDR
  • La Margherita (Daisy))
  • Movimento Repubblicani Europei (European Republican Movement), member ELDR
  • Partito Repubblicano Italiano (Italian Republican Party), member ELDR
  • Radicali Italiani or Lista Bonino (Italian Radicals or List Bonino)
• Japan:
  • Minshu-to (Democratic Party)
• Kenya:
  • Liberal Democratic Party
• Latvia:
  • Latvijas Ceļš (Latvian Way), member LI, ELDR
• Lithuania:
  • Liberalų ir centro sąjunga (Liberal and Centre Union), member LI, ELDR
  • Naujoji Sąjunga (socialliberalai) (New Union Social Liberals), observer LI, member ELDR
• Luxembourg:
  • Demokratesch Partei/Parti Démocratique (Democratic Party), member LI, ELDR
• Macedonia:
  • Liberalna Demokraticka Partija (Liberal Democratic Party) , member LI
  • Liberalna Partija na Makedonija (Liberal Party of Macedonia), member ELDR
• Malawi:
  • United Democratic Front, member LI
• Malaysia:
  • Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia (Malaysian People’s Movement Party), member CALD
• Morocco:
  • Union Constitutionnelle (Constitutional Union), member LI
  • Mouvement Populaire (Popular Movement) , member LI
• Mozambique:
  • Partido Liberal e Democrático de Moçambique (Democratic and Liberal Party of Mozambique)
  • Partido Social-Liberal e Democrático (Social Liberal and Democratic Party)
• Moldova:
  • Partidul Alianta Moldova Noastra (Party Alliance Our Moldova)
  • Partidul Social-Liberal (Social Liberal Party)
• Netherlands:
  • Democraten 66 (Democracy 66), member LI, ELDR
  • Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie (People's Party for Freedom and Democracy), member LI, ELDR
• Netherlands Antilles:
  • Democratische Partij (Democratic Party)
• New Zealand:
  • New Zealand Democratic Party
• Nicaragua:
  • Partido Liberal Constitucionalista (Liberal Constitutional Party), member LI
• Norway:
  • Venstre (The Left), member LI
• Panama:
  • Partido Liberal Nacional (National Liberal Party) , observer LI
• Paraguay:
  • Partido Liberal Radical Auténtico (Authentic Radical Liberal Party) , member LI
• Peru:
  • Acción Popular (Popular Action)
  • Unión por el Perú (Union for Peru)
• Philippines:
  • Liberal Party , member LI, CALD
• Poland:
  • Unia Wolnosci (Freedom Union), member ELDR
• Puerto Rico:
  • Partido Popular Democrático (Popular Democratic Party)
• Romania:
  • Partidul National Liberal (National Liberal Party), member LI, ELDR
• Russia:
  • Jabloko - Rossijskaja Demokratičeskaja Partija (Apple Russian Democratic Party), member LI
  • Sojuz Pravych Sil (Union of Right Forces), member IDU
• San Marino:
  • Alleanza Popolare dei Democratici Sammarinesi per la Repubblica (Popular Alliance of Sammarinese Democrats for the Republic)
• Senegal
  • Parti Démocratique Sénégalais (Senegalese Democratic Party), member LI
• Serbia and Montenegro (Montenegro):
  • Liberalni Savez Crne Gore (Liberal Alliance of Montenegro) , member LI
• Serbia and Montenegro (Serbia):
  • Demokratska Stranka (Democratic Party)
  • Graðanski Savez Srbije (Civic Alliance of Serbia)
  • Liberali Srbije (Liberals of Serbia), observer LI, member ELDR
• Serbia and Montenegro (Kosovo):
  • Partia Liberale e Kosoves (Liberal Party of Kosova), observer LI, member ELDR
• Seychelles:
  • Seychelles National Party , observer LI
• Singapore:
  • Singapore Democratic Party, member CALD
• Slovakia:
  • Aliancia Nového Občana (Alliance of the New Citizen), observer LI, member ELDR
• Slovenia:
  • Liberalna demokracija Slovenije (Liberal Democracy of Slovenia), member LI, ELDR
• South Africa:
  • Democratic Alliance , member LI
• South Korea:
  • Saecheonnyeonminju Dang (Millennium Democratic Party)
  • Yeollin Uri Dang (Our Party)
• Spain:
  • Coalición Canaria (Canarian Coalition)
  • Convergència Democrática de Catalunya (Democratic Convergence of Catalonia]]
  • Unió Mallorquina (Mallorcan Union) , member LI
• Sri Lanka:
  • Liberal Party of Sri Lanka , member LI, CALD
• Suriname:
  • Democratisch Alternatief ‘91 (Democratic Alternative ‘91)
• Sweden:
  • Folkpartiet Liberalerna (Liberal People's Party), member LI, ELDR
  • Centerpartiet (Centre Party), member ELDR
• Switzerland:
  • Freisinnig-Demokratische Partei der Schweiz/Parti Radical-Démocratique Suisse (Freethinking Democratic Party of Switzerland), member LI, ELDR
  • Liberale Partei der Schweiz/Parti Libéral Suisse (Liberal Party of Switzerland), member LI
• Taiwan:
  • Min-chu Chin-pu Tang (Democratic Progressive Party), member LI, CALD
• Tanzania:
  • Chama Cha Wananchi (Civic United Front) , member LI
  • United Democratic Party, observer LI
• Thailand:
  • Pak Prachatipat (Democratic Party), member CALD
• Tunisia:
  • Parti Social Libéral (Social Liberal Party) , observer LI
• Turkey:
  • Liberal Demokrat Parti (Liberal Democratic Party), member LI
• Ukraine:
  • Liberalna Partia (Liberal Party) , observer LI
  • Viborcyj Blok Julii Tymošenko (Electoral Bloc Julii Tymoshenko)
• United Kingdom:
  • Liberal Democrats, member LI, ELDR
  • Liberal Party
  • Alliance Party of Northern Ireland, member LI, ELDR
• United States:
  • Democratic Party
  • Liberal Party (New York State)
• Zambia:
  • United Party for National Development , observer LI
• Zimbabwe:
  • Movement for Democratic Change

History of liberal parties

The history of liberal parties around the world can be found at Schematic history of liberal parties around the world

External links

• Liberal Manifesto of Oxford 1947 (http://www.liberal-international.org/resolutions/47oxford.html)
• Liberal Declaration of Oxford 1967 (http://www.liberal-international.org/resolutions/67oxford.html)
• Liberal Manifesto of Oxford 1997 (http://www.liberal-international.org/resolutions/97oxford.html)