LIBERALISM AND CONSERVATISM AS THE WORLD POLITICAL TRENDS: THE HISTORICAL ASPECT

Abstract

In the article the historical aspect of liberalism, neo-liberalism, conservatism and neo-conservatism has been analyzed. Liberalism has been defined as the social and political theory founded on ideas of liberty and equality, free and fair elections, inborn civil rights, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, free trade, and private property. Liberalism is also a kind of political philosophy and worldview, program and practice. Conservatism has been defined as a social and political movement which is oriented on maintenance and reinforcement of existing forms of social, economic and political life, traditional spiritual values and which denies revolutionary changes and express distrust to people’s movement and radical reforms. The accent has been made on the fact that conservatism appeared after the Great French Revolution as a result of criticism of its experience. It was actively developed by many thinkers: E. Burk, J. de Maistre and L. de Bonald, F. de Chateaubriand, F. de Lamennais, B. Disraeli and O. von Bismarck, G. Moska, M. Heidegger, D. Bell and S. Lipset.Key words: Liberalism, Neo-Liberalism, Conservatism, Neo-Conservatism, Historical development, Politics.