The claim that American Liberalism is European Conservatism in disguise is tempting on the surface but, while similarities certainly exist, I do not think that such a claim can be truthfully made. Before this can be evaluated, however, some attempt at clarifying these terms must be made as the implications they carry differ greatly on either side of the Atlantic. Liberalism in general, as I understand it, prescribes minimal government intervention in individual's lives and the larger economy. In this regard, the dominant political parties in the United States are more liberal than most European Liberal parties. The political “left” in Europe represents anti-liberal ideals whereas the “right” claims liberal, reformist, and conservative ideals. This has been reversed in the United States where the term “liberal” is considered left of center and denotes, generally, an emphasis on personal freedoms and support for government involvement economically. The most striking contrast that occurs to me when comparing the governments of Europe and the United States is that in Europe both liberal and conservative parties deem some amount of socialism necessary. This is evident in the health care, education, and social security systems prevalent in much of Europe. State controlled economy, nationalized energy industries, and inexpensive …show more content…
Obviously the nature of questions being asked prescribes some preferred method of investigation, and both are valid avenues to this end. That said, I feel political science is too multifaceted and fluid a discipline to be amply studied qualitatively. There is a natural curiosity and legitimate benefit to discovering patterns within more focused samples as to why people behave in certain ways, but the greater benefit is how such qualitative research affects broader quantitative