What are the differences between Conservatives and Liberals?
Differences between conservatives and progressives are as stark as those between libertarians and authoritarians, even though both conservatives and progressives each have liberal and illiberal leanings, respectively. Contrasts come down to the issues on which they are either more or less liberal, which almost always differ. In other words, conservatives are more liberal when it comes to economic freedom, whereas progressives tend to be more liberal when it comes to personal freedom. This inversion of commitments means both conservatives and progressives will make common cause with libertarians or authoritarians (depending on the issue) but almost never with each other. Such stark contrast creates the left/right dichotomy that seems to be more familiar in contemporary politics. Still, that dichomy obscures the liberal/illiberal distinction, which is increasingly important in the twenty-first century.
How are Conservatives and Liberals similar?
Due to conservatives' and progressives' inverted commitments to either economic or personal freedom, respectively, there are virtually no similarities between conservatives and progressives.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Dimension | Conservative | Progressive |
|---|---|---|
| Role of Government | Moderate: defend order, tradition, and national interests | Active: promote equality, provide public goods, regulate markets |
| Economic Policy | Free markets, lower taxes, less regulation, fiscal discipline | Regulated markets, progressive taxation, strong social safety net |
| View of Inequality | Natural result of differences in effort, ability, and choice | Evidence of structural injustice requiring policy response |
| View of Government | A necessary but limited institution, best when small | An essential tool for collective action and expanding freedom |
| Social Policy | Support for traditional values, family, and religion | Support for civil rights, diversity, and changing social norms |
| Environmental Policy | Balance growth with some protection; skeptical of heavy regulation | Active regulation, public investment, international cooperation |
| Foreign Policy | Strong military, willing to project power abroad | Mixed: skeptical of unilateral action, supportive of multilateral engagement |
| View of Tradition | Reverent: inherited institutions embody accumulated wisdom | Skeptical: many traditional institutions embody past injustice |
| Approach to Change | Gradual, tested, rooted in what has come before | Ambitious, willing to restructure institutions for fairness |
| Core Philosophical Foundation | Virtue, order, and social cohesion | Equality of opportunity and collective action through democratic institutions |
Key Figures
Prominent Conservative Thinkers
Prominent conservative thinkers and leaders include Edmund Burke (1729-1797), the Anglo-Irish statesman and founder of modern conservative thought; Russell Kirk (1918-1994), author of The Conservative Mind (1953); William F. Buckley Jr. (1925-2008), founder of National Review and the key figure in postwar American conservatism; Barry Goldwater (1909-1998), the U.S. Senator whose 1964 presidential campaign laid the foundation for the modern conservative movement; Ronald Reagan (1911-2004), the 40th President and the defining political figure of modern conservatism; and Thomas Sowell (1930-), the economist and public intellectual whose work has shaped conservative thinking on race, culture, and economics. For more, see our full treatment of conservative thought and history.
Prominent Progressive Thinkers
Prominent progressive thinkers and leaders include Jane Addams (1860-1935), the founder of Hull House and pioneer of American social reform; Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919), whose presidency established much of the early progressive regulatory framework; Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1882-1945), whose New Deal and Four Freedoms speech defined 20th-century American progressivism; Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968), whose civil rights leadership shaped the progressive commitment to equality; Rachel Carson (1907-1964), whose Silent Spring launched the modern environmental movement; and Bernie Sanders (1941-), whose presidential campaigns brought democratic socialism into mainstream progressive debate. For more, see our full treatment of progressive thought and history.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between "progressive" and "liberal"?
In contemporary American usage, the terms are often used interchangeably, but they have different historical roots. "Liberal" originally referred to classical liberalism, the 18th- and 19th-century philosophy that emphasized individual rights, free markets, and limited government. In the 20th century, American "liberalism" evolved toward support for the welfare state and economic regulation. The term "progressive" has become more common on the left in recent decades, partly because some on the left prefer a term that emphasizes forward momentum rather than the classical liberal tradition, and partly because "liberal" had become a term of derision in American politics. In European usage, "liberal" still generally refers to classical liberalism, which is closer to American libertarianism than to American progressivism.
Are conservatives and Republicans the same thing?
No. Conservatism is a political philosophy; the Republican Party is a political organization. Most American conservatives vote Republican, and the Republican Party's platform reflects conservative principles, but not all Republicans are conservative (some are moderate or libertarian-leaning) and not all conservatives are satisfied with the Republican Party. The rise of national conservatism, populism, and political realignment associated with Donald Trump has produced significant debate within the conservative movement about what conservatism actually means in the 21st century.
Are progressives and Democrats the same thing?
No. Progressivism is a political philosophy; the Democratic Party is a political organization. Most American progressives vote Democratic, and the Democratic Party's platform reflects progressive priorities, but the Democratic Party includes a range of views from moderate centrists to democratic socialists. Not all Democrats are progressive, and some progressives are skeptical of the Democratic Party establishment.
Which is more popular in America, conservative or progressive?
Polling varies, but historically more Americans identify as "conservative" than as "progressive" or "liberal," though the gap has narrowed over time. Self-identification is an imperfect measure, however, because many Americans hold mixed views that don't fit either label cleanly. On specific issues, public opinion is often more complex than the conservative-progressive framing suggests.
Is the conservative-progressive split the only way to understand American politics?
No, and this is worth dwelling on. The traditional left-right spectrum captures one important axis of disagreement (the role of government in the economy and in promoting particular social outcomes) but it leaves out others. The Nolan Chart, which uses two axes rather than one, distinguishes economic freedom from personal freedom. On the Nolan Chart, conservatives appear to the upper right (high on economic freedom, lower on personal freedom) and progressives appear to the upper left (lower on economic freedom, higher on personal freedom). But the Nolan Chart also has a top quadrant (high on both economic and personal freedom: libertarian) and a bottom quadrant (low on both: authoritarian). A significant number of Americans hold views that place them in one of these quadrants rather than on the traditional left-right spectrum.
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