Quote:
Originally Posted by Cynthetiq
I have a hard time with this NEO prefix when affixed to words, especially in the context to politics. Mostly my problem is that the prefix doesn't seem consistent. Neoconservative and newliberalism seem to be far removed and not meaning anything close to the root words.
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The "liberal" in neoliberal is referring to laissez-faire liberalism (market liberalism), or individual freedom, the free market, and small government, especially on the federal level. It doesn't mean the same thing as say social liberalism, in fact I'd say it's the opposite.
Like "conservative", "libera"l hasn't always meant the same thing.