Negative liberty is a concept in political theory that originated with the works of philosophers like Isaiah Berlin, who explored the idea in the mid-20th century. Negative liberty refers to the absence of external constraints or interference on an individual's actions, choices, or pursuits. In other words, it is the freedom from external coercion or hindrance, allowing individuals to act according to their own will without interference from others or the state.

Negative liberty is often contrasted with positive liberty, which involves the capacity or opportunity to pursue one's goals and the presence of conditions that enable self-realization. While positive liberty is concerned with the ability to achieve one's potential and aspirations, negative liberty is focused on the absence of obstacles or constraints.

Isaiah Berlin, in his influential essay "Two Concepts of Liberty," distinguished between positive and negative liberty. He argued that negative liberty is the freedom of an individual from interference by others and emphasized the importance of limiting the authority of the state to avoid encroachments on individual freedom. According to Berlin, negative liberty is about the "area of non-interference," where individuals are free to make choices without external coercion.

Negative liberty encompasses various aspects of individual freedom, including freedom of speech, freedom of