CONSERVATISM!

conservatism.

Who are the key thinkers?

• Thomas Hobbes (Traditional)

• Edmund Burke (Traditional)

• Michael Oakeshott (Traditional)

• Benjamin Disraeli (One Nation)

• Ayn Rand (New Right; Neo-Liberalism)W

What are the 3 key strands of conservatism?

• Traditional Conservatism

• One Nation Conservatism

• New Right Conservatism

Traditional Conservatism

• based on desire to maintain traditional social values + uphold order

• sometimes known as sceptical conservatism as it involves beliefs in human imperfection

One Nation Conservatism

• pragmatic response to industrialisation

• wants a larger role for the state in preserving social cohesion (addressing social inequalities of rights and income)

New Right Conservatism

• associated with policies of Thatcher and Reagan

• split into neo-conservatism and neo-liberalism

Neo-Conservatism Summary

• seeks renewal of traditional principles of traditional conservatism in modern contexts

• seeks authoritative state that will intervene to prevent permissive society (where individuals have too much freedom at expense of collective)

Neo-Liberalism Summary

• seeks maximisation of individual freedom and is based on optimistic view of human nature

• radical vision of a small, non-interventionist state

Core ideas on Human Imperfection

• Most Conservatives (except neo-liberals) believe human nature is flawed

• Hobbes believed natural state of humans is ‘war of all against all’

• One Nation + Neo-Conservatives aren’t as pessimistic. They believe in Paternalism so accept that a strong, authoritative state is needed

What is Paternalism?

• where state acts as father figure to guide individuals towards making decisions that benefit themselves and others

Core ideas on Hierarchy

• Traditional Conservatives and Neo-Liberals accept social and economic inequalities as natural and desirable

• Traditionalists believe inequality provides hierarchy that promotes an orderly society

• Neo-Liberals welcome inequality as they believe it stimulates competition and economic growth

Core ideas on Capitalism

• All Conservatives believe Capitalism is best economic system

• They disagree over how far the state should regulate capitalism

Traditional Conservatism and Human Nature

• Majorly pessimistic view on Human Nature

• Hobbes: humans are naturally selfish and incapable of making rational decisions that benefit others

• Burke: only the ruling aristocracy have necessary powers of reason to make the right political decisions

• Oakeshott: had more faith in individual’s ability to make decisions in their own interests. He doubted if politicians could set aside own self-interest for public good

What is Empiricism?

• Belief that decisions should be based on evidence

• Empiricism contrasts with rationalism

What is Rationalism?

• Belief that humans can use powers of reason to make decisions

What is ‘noblesse oblige’?

• Belief that those in power have duty to look after those underneath them in social hierarchy

Traditionalist views on the State

• Hobbes: life without state as ‘nasty, brutish, and short’. State can compel people into obedience

• Burke: society is ‘organic’ which means it is self-regulating creature that state shouldn’t interfere with. Society made up of ‘little platoons’

• Oakeshott: pessimistic view of rationalism let him to question ‘arrogance’ of politicians who aim for ‘utopian bliss’ via schemes seeking greater equality

Traditionalist: Differing views on State Intervention

• Hobbes: state should seek to uphold law and order (e.g. all healthy citizens must work)

• Burke: generally sceptical of change, accepted that state occasionally needs to ‘change to conserve’ (expanding social and economic interventions)

• Oakeshott: capitalism is best economic system; yet state may need to intervene at times to guard against volatility of markets

Disraeli and One Nation Conservatism

• in ‘The Two Nation’ Disraeli warns that increasing gap between rich and poor will split Britain into two nations

• this creates risk of instability and revolution; thus the state needs to introduce reforms to improve living conditions of poor

• Disraeli believed that reform was necessary for an orderly and peaceful society

• ‘the palace is not safe if the cottage is not happy’

One Nation Conservatives and the State

• One Nation Conservatives believe the state should intervene more

• Should have more active role in maintaining social cohesion, extending rights and reducing inequality

• Disraeli said the state should ‘elevate the condition of the people’

• Support social/economic reforms like Factory Act (1874) that reduced children working hours

Neo-Conservatism Specifics

• state must impose traditional values to prevent breakdown of social bonds

• ideology was reaction against ‘permissive’ culture of 1960s when US and UK became more liberal on sex, relationships and workplace

• Often oppose same-sex marriage/adoption as it subverted traditional nuclear family

• back tough measures against drugs, and preserving traditional architecture

Neo-Liberalism Specifics

• State should limit its role and unleash potential of individuals (optimistic view on human nature)

• Rand saw humans as rational and capable of governing without state or hierarchies

• Rand said man was ‘a heroic being…with reason as his only absolute’

• Rand desired laissez-faire government arguing that ‘the small state is the

Neo-Liberals vs other Conservatives

• Neo-Liberals have differing views to other Conservatives on society on the economy

• These views categorised into Competition, Libertarianism and Atomism

What is Competition?

• Rand celebrated competition produced by free market capitalism

• believed social progress is accelerated by ‘virtue of selfishness’

What is Libertarianism?

• Neo-Liberals reject paternalism as they think individuals should be trusted to make one choices

• this is a philosophy called libertarianism which seeks to maximise freedom of individuals

What is Atomism?

• idea that society is made up of individuals who are self-supporting and so will act in their own interest

• Neo-Liberals have an atomised view of society due to their emphasis on power of individuals over collectives