Freedom is the power to speak, act and change without restraint. The word "freedom" originates from the word "friend". Freedom is often associated with liberty and autonomy
Republicanism emerged in Ancient Greece with Plato, Aristotle and Polybius. Ancient Greek city-states like Athens and Sparta featured extensive citizen participation. Roman Republic combined monarchy, aristocracy and democracy. Tacitus criticized Roman Republic's tendency towards monarchy after Augustus
Berlin distinguishes between negative (non-interference) and positive (self-mastery) liberty. Civic republicans define liberty as non-domination from arbitrary power. Political freedom requires absence of structural dependence on arbitrary power
Egalitarianism favors equality of some sort in treatment or treatment of others. All human persons are equal in fundamental worth or moral status. Egalitarianism can be instrumental (means to goals) or non-instrumental (end)
Social Darwinism applies Darwin's natural selection to society and other domains. Spencerism and Taylorism are two notable early theories. Spencer believed humans adapt through cultural rather than biological means. Tylor viewed all societies as similar and advancing linearly
Postcolonial theory emerged in late twentieth century as response to colonialism. Colonialism institutionalised hierarchies between coloniser and colonised. Postcolonial discourse faces challenges in its applicability beyond academic boundaries