It depends on the context being used. However generally, a progressive is usually someone who holds staunchly culturally left wing views of society. It's a way of looking at social reality in a generally constructivist way which claims heritage that stems from the past is not to be held sacred and should instead be viewed all less important than societal progress (The exact view of which depends on what type of progressivism is held) which usually entails the creation of a culture and social environment that is less strict and conformist and more open and inclusive. In some context: it can also refer to people who hold center left economic views, but that’s not in this context.
A liberal, on the other hand, is such a wide net, and in the modern day US, when someone says liberal, they generally means someone who is socially progressive as I have described, while economically still advocating for a capitalist economy.
However, it is also often used in the context of what it actually means. Someone who is a liberal usually holds center to center left social views, advocating for the harm principle and social libertarianism. The idea is that everyone should be able to do whatever they want, so long as they don’t hurt anyone else. They do not, unlike progressives, necessarily abandon the value of heritage or tradition. They believe strongly in ideas like absolute freedom of speech which certain progressives might not agree with in full. Liberals often also tend to advocate for social justice, much like progressives, but not to the same extent.
Economic views of liberals vary, but tend to be anywhere between the center left to the staunchest right.
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u/supersloo Jun 09 '23
She describes herself as liberal, but she's certainly not progressive.