We often hear "liberalism" used as a single term, but according to Dr. Roy Casagranda, it's more accurate to think of it as a main ideology with four competing sub-ideologies. Liberalism, at its core, is the ideological defender of capitalism. It's not an economic system itself, but the political framework created to support and justify capitalist economies.

The four sub-ideologies are defined by their stance on two key questions:

1. How much should the government regulate the economy?
2. How much should the government regulate social life (non-economic behavior)?

Your answers place you into one of these four liberal camps:

1. Populism

1. Government Role: High regulation of both the economy and social life.
2. In a Nutshell: Populists believe the government should have a strong hand in controlling business (e.g., environmental laws, worker protections) and also in dictating social norms (e.g., banning certain books, controlling reproductive rights).

2. Libertarianism

1. Government Role: Low regulation of both the economy and social life.
2. In a Nutshell: Libertarians want the government to stay out of almost everything. They advocate for pure, unregulated capitalism and also for maximum personal social freedom (e.g., legalization of drugs, no censorship).

3. Conservatism

1. Government Role: Low economic regulation, but high social regulation.
2. In a Nutshell: Conservatives typically argue for free-market capitalism with minimal government interference in business. However, they believe the government should play a role in upholding traditional social values and regulating personal conduct.

4. Liberalism (the sub-ideology)

1. Government Role: High economic regulation, but low social regulation.
2. In a Nutshell: This is the classic "liberal" position. It supports government intervention in the economy to curb capitalism's excesses (e.g., consumer protections, social safety nets) while advocating for personal freedoms in social spheres like speech, religion, and lifestyle.

This framework explains much of the political debate within capitalist societies. The conflict isn't just between "left" and "right," but between these four visions of how much control the state should have over our wallets and our lives—all operating within the overarching system of liberalism.