Conservatism

Conservatism

This comes from the idea to ‘conserve’. It focuses on maintaining the status quo, seeking to maintain order and tradition to guard against human imperfection. There is a strong belief in authority and any change must be gradual, minimal and carefully considered.

Pragmatism

Practical ideas and solutions

Tradition

Respect for beliefs and practices passed down from previous generations.

Human imperfection

The view that humans are selfish, emotional and irrational.

Organic state / society

Society has evolved naturally, and so the current way of doing things must be respected, state is a natural part of society.

Paternalism

Those in charge should be the most intelligent and the most powerful (top of the hierarchy) and should look after others like a father does to a son.

Libertarianism (neoliberalism only)

The idea of a minimal state, with the influence of liberalism and is mostly confined to an economic state (e.g - low taxes)

Traditional conservatism

Traditional conservatism gained popularity in the late 18th century with the enlightenment of the French revolution - which they viewed as dangerous and radical.

They sought to conserve religion by keeping it at the centre of life and maintaining power of the landowning aristocracy that helped maintain order.

They wanted to maintain hierarchies and seek to institute change through gradual reform whilst maintaining the role of the elite in society.

Thomas Hobbes

• Showed in his book ‘Leviathan’ (1651) advocacy for a strong state to maintain order.

• Viewed human life as ‘nasty, brutish and short’ if there was not a powerful state.

Edmund Burke

• Advocated for empiricism, using past experiences to make decisions and relying on tradition.

• Critical of the French Revolution and the chaos that followed after.

• He was more positive about the American Revolution as it conserved the English constitutional tradition.

  e.g - the rule of law, individual rights being more measured and gradual than the French Revolution.

Traditional conservative view of pragmatism

• Prioritise practical solutions based on experience and historic precedent, rather than radical or abstract ideological change.

• Believe change should only occur when necessary and gradual in order to avoid unintended consequences.

• Stability is more important than untested ideas that may disrupt social order.

  e.g - shown through their opposition to the French revolution

‎‎

Why do they hold this view?

They believe old ideas have worked before, so people should be careful about changing them too much as as rapid change can lead to disorder - possibly leading to a revolution.

‎‎

What policies would they support?

Small reforms, such as environmental principles, that do not disrupt people’s lives (cleaning rivers + local areas)

Traditional conservative view of tradition

• They see society as a product of generations of experience and wisdom.

• They support long-standing institutions, such as the monarchy, the church and the family, as they are vital in maintaining stability.

• They see the British monarchy as a unifying institution that provides continuity as governments change.

• Religious traditions, such as Christian moral teachings, are upheld as they promote social order, guidance to human behaviour and reinforcing shared values.

e.g - shown through their opposition to the French revolution

‎

Why do they hold this view?

They believe it promotes order and a shared identity in society.

‎

What policies would they oppose?

• Abortion

• Same-sex marriage

Traditional conservative view of human imperfection

• They have a pessimistic view of human nature, arguing that people are inherently flawed, selfish and driven by emotion rather than reason.

• Individuals require strong laws, social structures and authority figures to guide them as they are prone to making mistakes.

• They emphasise the importance of tradition, hierarchy and leadership to maintain social order.

‎

Why do they hold this view?

If there is not a strong state, human life is ‘nasty, brutish and short’ (Hobbes) and changes can be dangerous and radical.

Traditional conservatives view of organic society

• They see society as an organic, living entity that has evolved over time.

• They believe in a natural hierarchy, where different people have different roles and responsibilities and than inequality is inevitable and not necessarily bad as some people have different abilities suited for a certain role.

  e.g - the class system, where some conservatives believe that some people are suited for leadership, such as aristocrats or landowners, whilst other people fulfil supporting roles.

‎

Why do they hold this view?

Conservatives believe that everybody has their own roles from hierarchy, which would lead to a higher sense of order.

Traditional conservative view of paternalism

• They believe that those in positions of power, such as the aristocracy and ruling elite, have a duty to look after those who are less fortunate.

• This belief is rooted in noblesse oblige - the idea that the upper classes have an obligation to help those below them.

• For them, instead of the government helping the poor by forcing them to pay tax, it would be better if the rich gave to charities that directly help the poor.

‎

Why do they hold this view?

They believe that those under the state should submit to them to guarantee their protection in order to maintain order, hierarchy and prevent revolutions and revolts.

One-nation conservatism

One-nation conservatism comes from the idea that we are all ‘one-nation’ and that we should look after each other. Therefore, the elites should pay for things that help benefit society.

This was established as a result of rising inequality in the 1860s and to repair divisions between the rich and the poor in order to prevent a revolution and unite society.

PM Benjamin Disraeli (not a thinker)

• Proposed the Public Health Act 1875 to help win over the new working to middle-class vote - outlining the state’s responsibility for the health, sanitation and housing of its citizens.

  e.g - a new sewage system - one-nation conservatives believed that the rich should pay for this

Michael Oakeshott

• Viewed conservatism almost as a personality type - “it is to prefer the familiar to the unknown, to prefer the tried to the untried”.

• Likened the government to a ship sailing on an open sea rather than a vehicle heading towards a specific ideological direction.

• He believed the rise of the government is not to “steer society towards an abstract dystopia” but to maintain stability and solve practical problems.

• He warned no government interference during time such as the Industrial revolution can lead to instability - though massive interference would be too disruptive and that balance is needed.

One-nation conservative view on pragmatism

• Believe that politics should be guided by practicality, rather than a rigid ideology.

• They accept that society will change, but that the change should be gradual and managed to prevent instability.

• They accept that the state must sometimes intervene in the economy or society.

  e.g - Public Health Act 1875

‎

Why do they hold this view?

They want to avoid rapid change and instability.

One-nation conservative view of tradition

• Believe that the ruling class has a duty to adapt institutions that reflect social changes. Institutions, such as the monarchy, Parliament and the church, must modernise to maintain their relevance.

  e.g - post-war conservatives were somewhat supportive of the welfare state, with Oakeshott seeing it as somewhat necessary.

One-nation conservative view of human imperfection

• Believe that human nature is flawed and that people need support - which is why the state should be involved to ensure that people’s basic needs are met despite their flaws.

• Oakeshott believed that if the state were to be involved, they should consider how humans are imperfect and selfish, and therefore may take advantage of the welfare state and not work - leading to their opposition for it.

‎

Why do they hold this view?

They argue that humans need a sense of order to manage their own imperfections so they do not pursue their own personal interests.

e.g - taking advantage of welfare reforms

They would be more willing to accommodate flaws as if otherwise, it would cause instability and they would not know better.

e.g - industrial revolution + abortion

One-nation conservative view of organic society

• Believe that society functions as a single body in which all classes have a role to play.

• Rejects extreme individualism.

• Argues if one part of society suffers, the whole nation is weakened.

  e.g - intervention in the workplace to make sure workers are protected from their employers - shown by Disraeli’s support for workers in the Employers and Workmen Act 1875

‎

Why do they hold this view?

They believe society should work together to prevent social divisions.

e.g - increasing workers rights

One-nation conservative view of paternalism

• Believe in noblesse oblige - the idea that those in positions of power have a duty to look after those who are less fortunate.

• This involves the government getting involved to ensure this happens effectively.

  e.g - Disraeli’s Artisans’ Dwelling Act 1875 - improved the conditions of housing for workers in urban areas using taxpayer’s money

Why do they hold this view?

It produces a more cohesive society with less chaos

The New Right

• After WW2, money was taken from the rich to help the poor through taxes. This led to high inflation