Civil libertarianism is a strain ofpolitical thought that supportscivil libertiesand rights, or which emphasizes the supremacy ofindividual rights andpersonal freedoms over and against any kind of authority (such as astate, acorporation, social norms imposed throughpeer pressure and so on). It does not refer to economic policy or other aspects of governance typically discussed by libertarians.[1]
In the domain oflibertarian philosophy, the primary concern of civil libertarians is the relationship between government and individuals. In theory, civil libertarians seek to restrict this relationship to an absolute minimum in which the state can function and provide basic services and securities without excessively interfering in the lives of its citizens. One key cause of civil libertarianism is upholdingfree speech.[2] Specifically, civil libertarians oppose bans onhate speech and obscenity.[2] Civil libertarianism specifically refers to civil issues and personal freedoms. A civil libertarian may not hold traditional libertarian beliefs regarding economy, corporate regulation, housing management, or other aspects of governance. Although they may or may not personally condone behaviors associated with these issues, civil libertarians hold that the advantages of unfettered public discourse outweigh any disadvantages, and that the coercion of speech is inherently wrong.[2]
