"We also need an authoritarian state in order to prevent the collapse of social order. For this alone, Hobbes has traditionally been viewed as a conservative theorist. Whilst there is much merit in this, it could be argued that his world-view is more liberal than it might first appear."
in https://www.tutor2u.net/politics/reference/political-thinkers-thoma...
"Hobbesian Liberalism: A Study of ProtoLiberal Ideas in Leviathan
(...) However, Hobbes is more liberal than many would suppose. A careful study of his conceptions of human nature, society, and liberty reveals his proto- liberal ideas. This paper demonstrates Hobbes's proto-liberalism as found in his work Leviathan."
https://uca.edu/cahss/files/2020/07/Katelyn-Wilkins-Hobbesian-Liber...