The political theory that emphasizes the importance of individual rights and freedoms is liberalism. Rooted in Enlightenment thought, liberalism advocates for personal autonomy, equality, and the protection of civil liberties. It promotes democratic governance, free markets, and the rule of law while resisting oppression and state control. Key liberal philosophers like John Locke and John Stuart Mill have influenced liberal thought through their defense of individual freedoms and social contracts, emphasizing that the government should exist to protect these rights rather than infringe upon them.