I don’t think liberalism “assumes” “self-actualization” but it’s a good point anyway. I think we do expect people to not be racist, sexist, and arrogantly stupid, but if that’s “self-actualization” then, yeah.

I’m not certain what the external OP meant by liberalism. If they meant leftism I think it might be accurate to say that:

Leftist movements promise everything in the hierarchy, but depend on working class solidarity which (I think) is a form of transcendence. Leftist movements blame societal safety and physiological shortcomings on amorphous policies and power structures.

Whereas: fascist movements promise esteem (through the glory of the state), belonging and love (through participation in the movement), and blame safety and physiological inadequacy on ‘outsiders’ and political opponents.

I’m having trouble articulating how promising esteem through the glory of the state isn’t a form of transcendence. I think it’s because it’s something that’s promised, ie “elect me and you can be a proud aryan again” is different from “elect me because you care about the working class”.

The former is “you get something for voting for me”. The latter is “if you’ve achieved transcendence you should support lifting others up”.

But this all based on my uninformed understanding of Maslow and political ideologies.