For many years liberals and conservatives (in Europe) fought side by side against a common enemy: socialism. This alliance, although proved to be successful in its main purpose, created confusion and led people to think that there is no difference between the two. Recent developments though, the fall of the communist regimes in Eastern Europe and the rise of a new breed of social-democrats that embrace free-markets and individual freedom, created new opportunities and broke the ties between true liberals and conservatives.

Read the marvelous classic essay ‘Why I Am Not a Conservative’ by F.A. Hayek that explains the large differences between conservatives and true liberals.
Read also George Papandreou’s interview (“Go ahead George, change it all”: George Papandreou interviewed) with Anthony Barnett on openDemocracy to understand why liberals can cooperate with social-democrats in creating a more free and open society with respect to individual political and economic freedom.