Conservatism Revision Vocabulary

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering key terms, concepts and thinkers from the conservatism revision materials.

Conservatism

Political ideology that seeks to conserve existing social order, favouring pragmatic, gradual change over radical reform.

Pragmatism

A practical, flexible approach to politics that bases decisions on what works in existing circumstances rather than on abstract theory.

Tradition

Accumulated wisdom, customs and institutions handed down through generations, valued for providing stability and security.

Human Imperfection

Conservative belief that humans are morally, intellectually and psychologically flawed, requiring guidance, order and authority.

Organic Society

View that society is a living organism whose parts are interdependent; the whole is more important than any individual member.

Paternalism

Benign, top-down power in which the state or elites govern in the people’s best interests; ranges from authoritarian to one-nation forms.

Libertarianism

Doctrine prioritising maximum individual freedom and minimal state interference, especially in economic affairs.

Neo-Liberalism

New Right strand advocating free-market economics, deregulation, privatisation and atomistic individualism.

Neo-Conservatism

New Right strand stressing strong state authority, law and order and defence of traditional morality to prevent social fragmentation.

Atomism

Belief that society is merely a collection of self-interested, self-reliant individuals rather than an organic whole.

Hierarchy

Natural, unequal social structure in which different ranks carry distinct duties and privileges, accepted as inevitable by conservatives.

Authority

Legitimate power held by those higher in the hierarchy to make decisions that others are obliged to obey.

Change to Conserve

Burkean principle that limited, cautious reform is sometimes necessary to preserve core institutions and prevent radical upheaval.

Noblesse Oblige

The duty of the wealthy and privileged to care for the less fortunate, underpinning one-nation paternalism.

Anti-Permissiveness

Neo-conservative rejection of relaxed moral attitudes; insistence on clear standards in areas such as sexuality, drugs and family life.

Radical

Favouring drastic, fundamental change in political, economic or social systems; antithetical to conservative caution.

Laissez-Faire

Economic stance calling for minimal governmental interference in markets and maximum free enterprise.

Empiricism

Reliance on experience, observation and practical evidence rather than abstract speculation when making decisions.

Reactionary

Opposing change and preferring to restore or maintain existing social, economic or political arrangements.

Moral Relativism

Belief that moral values vary between individuals or cultures; challenged by conservatives who uphold objective standards.

Altruism

Selfless concern for others; criticised by Ayn Rand as incompatible with rational self-interest.

Objectivism

Ayn Rand’s philosophy of rational self-interest, individual rights and laissez-faire capitalism.

Self-Ownership

Nozick’s idea that individuals own their bodies, talents and labour and may dispose of them as they choose.

Miniarchist State

Nozick’s minimal state limited to protecting rights through police, courts, defence and enforcement of contracts.

Social Contract (Hobbesian)

Agreement where individuals surrender freedoms to a sovereign authority in exchange for order and security.

Little Platoons

Burke’s term for local, voluntary associations (family, church, community) that bind and nourish the organic society.

One-Nation Conservatism

Disraeli-inspired strand promoting paternalistic reform to bridge divisions between rich and poor and maintain social cohesion.

Traditional Conservatism

Original conservative strand valuing hierarchy, religion, organic society and cautious, empirical change.

New Right

Late-20th-century conservative movement combining neo-liberal economics with neo-conservative social policies.

Human Rationality (New Right)

Neo-liberal assumption that individuals are capable of reason and should be free to pursue their own interests.

Paternal Authoritarianism

Traditional conservative stance in which a strong state directs citizens for their own good.

Permissive Society

Culture with relaxed moral norms; viewed by neo-conservatives as a threat to social order.

Thomas Hobbes

17th-century thinker who argued that, to escape the violent ‘state of nature’, individuals form a social contract with an absolute sovereign.

Edmund Burke

Father of British conservatism; defended tradition, ‘little platoons’ and gradual ‘change to conserve’ society.

Michael Oakeshott

Conservative philosopher who championed scepticism toward grand rationalist schemes and favoured pragmatic, conversational politics.

Ayn Rand

Russian-American writer who advocated objectivism, rational egoism and pure laissez-faire capitalism.

Robert Nozick

Libertarian philosopher who defended a minimal ‘night-watchman’ state and called taxation ‘legalised theft’.