Liberalism is one of the most central & pervasive political theories & ideologies yet it is subject to different interpretations as well as misappropriations Its history carries a crucial heritage of civilized thinking of political practice & of philosophical-ethical creativity This Very Short Introduction unpacks the concept of liberalism & its various interpretations through three diverse approaches Looking at its historical & theoretical development analysing the liberal ideology & understanding liberalism as a series of ethical & philosophical principles this is a thorough exploration of the concept & practice of liberalism ABOUT THE SERIES The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly Our expert authors combine facts analysis perspective new ideas & enthusiasm to make interesting & challenging topics highly readable