liberalism, political doctrine that takes protecting and enhancing the freedom of the individual Liberals typically believe that government is necessary to protect individuals from being harmed by others but they also recognize that government itself can pose a threat to liberty Laws, judges, and police are needed to secure the individual’s life and liberty, but their power may also be turned against him. The problem, then, is to devise a system that gives government the power necessary to protect individual liberty but also prevents those who govern from abusing that power. however, most liberals have insisted that the powers of government can promote as well as protect the freedom of the individual. According to modern liberalism