liberalism
/ˈlɪb(ə)rəlɪz(ə)m/
noun
willingness to respect or accept behaviour or opinions different from one's own; openness to new ideas.
a political and social philosophy that promotes individual rights, civil liberties, democracy, and free enterprise.
Not entirely sure what the writer was trying to say and not an expert, but liberalism has nothing to do with the political left these days. The political left with its post-modernism-driven identity politics, etc is completely illiberal, the complete opposite of liberalism. Liberalism embraces modernity and science, considers opposing views to progress, believes in judging people not by any immutable characteristics, the list goes on and on.