History and origins of conservatism

Conservatism as a reaction to change

• Symbolised by French revolution - economic, social and political change

First statement of conservative principles

• 1790 - Edumund Burke

• “Change in order to conserve”

  • Supporting social change in order to prevent more revolutionary reform

    • Tories introduced gay marriage/the NHS/the welfare state to prevent being left behind during public calls for change

Conservatism in the 19th Century

• Western states transformed by industrialisation

  • Led to increase in liberalism, socialism and nationalism, which preach reform and sometimes revolution

• Conservatism emerged as a defence of tradition and social order

  • Looking after those at the bottom to prevent change at the top

‘Intellectual modesty’

• Doesn’t use complicated economic/social philosophies

• Simply aims to prevent a pre-existing social order

Post-1970s Conservatism - Thatcher (1979-90) and Reagan (1981-9)

• Emergence of radical conservatism - NR

  • Influenced by classical liberal economics (free-market)

  • Readjustment of traditions in favour of liberalism

  • Maintenance and strengthening of trad. social princioples like order, authority and discipline

  • Exposed deep divisions in conservatism

Divisions in Conservatism from the late 19th Century onwards

• Paternalistic, state intervention

vs

• Commitment to free market

Conservatism as a negative philosophy

• Know what they oppose more than what they favour

• Purpose: preach resistance to change

Conservatism as a political attitude

• Seen as a knee-jerk reaction to the status quo

Conservatism as an ideology

• Founded on a particular set of beliefs about humans, society and political values (therefore is an ideology by definition)

• Prefer to call themselves an ‘attitude of mind’ or ‘common sense’

  • Conservatism is distinct due to its emphasis on history and experience and distaste for rational thought

• Has eschewed politics of principle by adopting a traditionalist political stance

Quotes: Burke

“A state without the means of some change is without the means of its own conservation”

Quotes: Oakeshott

“The conjunction of ruling and dreaming generates tyranny”

“Instead of an independently premediated scheme of ends to be pursued, it [political ideology] is a system of ideas abstracted from the manner in which people have been accustomed to go about the business of attending to the arrangements of their societies”