Libertarianism is a political philosophy that upholds liberty as its principal objective. Libertarians seek to maximize autonomy and freedom of choice, emphasizing political freedom, voluntary association and the importance of property rights.

Libertarianism developed in the 18th century out of a desire to defend individual liberty from state encroachment. It was influenced by classical liberal thinkers such as John Locke and Jean-Baptiste Say. Libertarianism first became a distinct political movement in the mid-19th century, when it began to advocate for laissez-faire economic policies.

Famous libertarians include John Stuart Mill, Friedrich Hayek and Milton Friedman. Libertarianism is generally associated with right-wing politics, although there are some left-libertarians.

Libertarianism is a broad church with many different schools of thought within it. However, there are some core beliefs that all libertarians share. These include a belief in individual liberty, limited government, free markets and property rights.