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From Citizendium, the Citizens' Compendium

Libertarianism is a political ideology which regards individual freedom as having the highest value in society. In some respects it can be seen as a continuation of classical liberalism. The mainstream of liberal thought came to the conclusion, over the course of the nineteenth century, that a state must pursue interventionist policies in order to bring about some semblance of social justice. Libertarians reject this view, emphasising individual freedom and free markets as the best way of bringing about the common good.