CONSERVATISM A LEVEL POLITICS

What is pragmatism?

- key core value in conservatism

- rejects theory + ideology for practical experience

- flexible approach - considers the best interests of the people + what will maintain social stability + cohesion

Quote about pragmatism

"change in order to conserve" Burke

"to be a Conservative is to prefer the tried to the untried" Oakeshott

What is pragmatism linked to?

- Conservative view of human nature + rationality

What is a critique of pragmatism?

- reveals a lack of political principle

- encourages politicians to FOLLOW rather than LEAD public opinion

What strands of conservatism are linked to pragmatism?

Traditional + One Nation

TC view of Pragmatism

- focalised on Burke

- essential element for 'natural' change in society

- change should not be opposed as state 'without the means of some change is without the means of its conservation'

- key features of society (property, tradition etc.) can only be maintained through pragmatic policies

ON view of pragmatism

- similar pragmatic attitudes to TC

- adopt pragmatic 'middle way' approach to economy; combines market competition with government regulation

- promotes growth + social harmony

What is tradition?

- core value

- attachment to institutions, customs + practices in society that have developed over time

- originally had religious roots

Why did tradition have religious roots?

- believed the world was 'God-given' and so was society

- those who alter this will undermine society challenge the will of God

Why did the religious roots of tradition weaken and what were they replaced by?

- by the Enlightenment thinking (emphasis on rationalism + anti-clericalism)

- secular arguments for tradition

Quote about tradition

society is a "partnership not only between those who are living, but between those who are living, those who are dead and those who are to be born" Burke

- each generation has a responsibility to pass on accumulated wisdom (through tradition) to the next

Modern conservative view on tradition

- constitutes the accumulated wisdom of the past

- institutions + customs + practices of the past demonstrate their value as they have proved 'fit for purpose' over time and survived

- EXAMPLE ~ the monarchy has promoted sense of national unity + pride over the centuries

- tradition establishes continuity + social stability + sense of belonging

How do conservatives justify change?

- if it evolves naturally in a peaceful gradual way

- in order to strengthen existing things

What does straying from tradition lead to?

- by destroying all tradition cut themselves off from their past + paved the way for more tyrannical regimes

- EXAMPLE, Russian Bolsheviks in 1917 lead to the Stalinist dictatorship

What is the conservative view of human nature?

- largely revolves around human imperfection

- pessimistic view

- immutable (remains constant)

Due to human imperfection, what is needed?

- tough stance on law + order

- foreign policy based on national security

- competitive human nature calls for political systems to recognise that self interest is a more powerful motivator than altruism

How are human flawed for conservatives?

- psychologically

- morally

- intellectually

PSYCHOLOGICAL human imperfection

- humans are limited and dependent

- humans crave safety and security of knowing their place in society - emphasis on social order

- liberty raises unsettling ideas on choice/change

- endorse Hobbes' argument of the necessity of social order

MORAL human imperfection

- naturally selfish + greedy

- anti-social behaviour is due to basic human nature NOT economic/social disadvantage

- severe sanctions is the only deterrent to combat moral imperfection

INTELLECTUAL human imperfection

- human's intellect/reasoning of humans are limited - can't comprehend the world

- therefore, humans need to draw on tradition etc. to understand

What is the conservative view of society?

organic society/state

What is meant by organicism?

- society exhibits characteristics of an organism

- just like organs, individuals have specific roles in society that they have to fulfill

- cannot shift their roles

- complex network of relationships - human are dependent exists interdependently

What underpins the idea of organic society?

- hierarchy

- authority

What is the conservative view of hierarchy?

society is naturally hierarchal

therefore there are natural inequalities - justified by the corresponding inequality of social responsibility

What does a hierarchal society encourage?

paternalism - as a means of social cohesion

What is the conservative view of authority?

- accompanied by idea of psychological human imperfection

- develops organically

- reforms vital + positive function providing humans with security, direction + support

What is the conservative view on property?

- support property for individuals

- can provide security

- breeds positive social values like respect for the law

- viewed as a duty to preserve for the benefit of future generations

What is property viewed as?

the exteriorisation of individual personality

What is the conservative view of paternalism?

- government should be made up of those 'most equipped' to lead

- linked to hierarchy/order/organic society

TC view of paternalism

e.g. Burke

- natural aristocracy of society mimics a father's relationship with family

- those at the top have a duty to care for the lower social ranks

What is 'soft' paternalism?

when the recipients give their consent

What is 'hard' paternalism?

when paternalism is imposed regardless of consent/opposition in an authoritarian manner

What is libertarianism?

an extreme laissez-faire political philosophy advocating only minimal state intervention in the lives of citizens.

What is libertarianism also known as?

- New Right

- neo-liberalism

Who associates with the policies?

- Margaret Thatcher

- Ronald Reagan

What is meant by the term 'noblesse oblige'?

- obligation of the aristocracy to be honourable + generous

- part of One Nation

TC view of Human Nature

- negative

- humans lack intellectual rationality

- morally/intellectually/psychologically imperfect

ON view of Human Nature

- negative pragmatism

NL view of Human Nature

- take liberalism ideals

- atomic individualism

- reject paternalism in favour of individual responsibility

NC view of Human Nature

- need for strong state

- Hobbesian view - human imperfection cannot be transformed

TC view of State

- small state as value libertarianism

- tough stance on law/order due to human imperfection

- foreign policy based on national security only

- humans thrive on competing, small regulation leads to effective competition

- HOBBES - social order before liberty' structure before freedoms

ON view of State

- larger state than TC

- Disraeli's ideas on preserving social order through more state intervention e.g. welfare programs, economic intervention + defence of tradition

- noblesse oblige

- CAMEROn 'compassion ate conservatism'

NL view of State

- small state

- reduce intervention as restricts economic growth (Invisible Hand)

- rejects paternalism

- negative freedom - freedom from

NC view of State

- agree with NC reducing role of state in economy

- strong state in society

- anti-permissiveness

TC view on Society

- organicist + hierarchal view of society

- emphasis on tradition + soft paternalism + pragmatism

ON view on Society

- organic + pragmatic society

- OAKESHOTT: society should be flexible based on what works 'prefer the tried to untried'

- DISRAELI: noblesse oblige maintains organic society

- CONTEXT industrialisation + changing nature of classes

- hierarchal + paternalistic

- MAY 'shared society'

NL view on Society

- reject organic society

- atomistic

- based on reason not tradition

- negative freedom

- THATCHER paraphrasing BENTHAM "there is no such thing as society, just individuals and their families"

NC view on Society

- tradition + traditional values (nuclear family, homophobia)

- organicist/hieracharchal/patriarchal (return to traditional social structures)

- anti-permissiveness

- pragmatism not principle

TC view on Economy

- free market: libertarianism

- laissez faire (invisible hand - Smith)

- BURKE: free trade + market economy, property

ON view on Economy

- some form of state intervention

- pragmatic approach

- 'middle way' encourages market economy with government regulation

- DISRAELI - capitalism encourages self interested individualism that undermines social responsibility

NL view on Economy

- reduce state role - libertarianism

- free market economy

- inflation biggest threat to economy - Monetarism

- anti trade union

- reject paternalism: supply side economics

- individualism: free market guarantees individual freedom

NC view on Economy

- some state

- pragmatism

- react to situation given rather than standing purely on principle

- EXAMPLE: agreeing to state intervention in 2008 GFC

What is the Hobbesian view of human nature?

- humans need a state to guide them as are needy + vulnerable + cannot comprehend the world around them

- willingly sacrifice some freedom in exchange for structure + security (Leviathan) 'war of all against all'

Agreements on Society

- TC/ON/NC agree on hierarchal + organicist society

- Butke

- ON ~ noblesse oblige

Disagreements on Society

NR

- NL = mechanistic, atomism, 'no such thing as society', NOZICK 'organic society threatens freedom

- NC = organic

Agreements on Human Nature

- TC/ON = pessimistic view, need for strong state

- Hobbes war, anti rationalism + pro human imperfection

- TC/ON/NC advocate capitalism as only viable economic system due to humans competitiveness

Disagreements on Human Nature

- Keynesian ON contrasts NL/TC free market economy

- NL atomistic individualism

Agreements on Economy

- all favour private enterprise - competitive view on human nature

- Burke - property ownership provides stability/security/stake in society

Disagreements on Economy

- ON favour more state intervention for high employment (Keynesianism, mixed economy improves state welfare - Noblesse Oblige most pragmatic)

- NR vs ON after failure of ON in 70s thatcher undertook extensive privatisation to compensate

Agreements on State

- TC/NC tough stance on law + order to combat crime + anti-social behaviour

- Hobbes - social order before liberty

Disagreements on State

- ON = high state welfare intervention; deserving poor

- NL = meritocracy + individualism; oppose paternalism 'there is no such thing as society'