Conservatism: core ideas and principles and strands

pragmatism agreement

flexible approach to society with decisions made on the basis of what works – to cover links between pragmatism and traditional conservative and one-nation philosophy

tradition agreement

accumulated wisdom of past societies and a connection between the generations – to cover how this creates stability, links with organic change, and enhances humans’ security

human imperfection agreement

humans are flawed which makes them incapable of making good decisions for themselves – to cover the three aspects of psychological, moral and intellectual imperfection

Intellectually imperfect

Meaning that humans have limited rational capacity- this is why conservatives

·       Reject ideological approaches and prefer tried and tested methods such as empiricism

·       Support hierarchy and authority in society believing that as some are born to rule and others to be ruled

 

Morally Imperfect

Meaning that humans are tainted by original sin and find it hard to resist temptation - this means they

o   Can't make good moral choices

o   Need the threat of tough punishments to uphold law and order

o   Need to be guided by a strict moral code which imperfect individuals will seek to break

 

Psychologically imperfect

·       Humans need to feel safe and secure

Justifies their belief to support tradition and organicism b to retain familiarity of society and people's place

Also reject multiculturalism as they believe this would change the values of society from generation to generation and undermine how secure the population feels

Strong belief in nationhood and patriotism as shared experience of being part of a nation again gives a sense of safety and unity

organic society/state agreement

society/state is more important than any individual parts – to cover how this links to the underpinning of the beliefs of authority and hierarchy, and a cohesive society

• Humans need to have 'roots' in society - they are dependant

  • They need to be part of social groups that nurture and support them

• Therefore don’t accept negative freedom - would result in the breakdown of society

• Society resembles a living organism

  • Burke - the state should maintain society through gentle pruning not radical change

    • Should be used for reform when necessary

    • Priority in maintaining society

• States develop naturally as needed - follow natural social impulses - humans cannot fix society as we don’t know how it works

• Society is sustained by a fragile set of relationships between and among its parts  - everyone has a specific role

  • Society has a natural fixed higher achy

• Authority comes from above - born to rule

• Society is more important than the individual people

paternalism agreement

benign power exerted from above by the state, that governs in the interests of the people – to cover the different interpretations by traditional (an authoritarian approach, the state knows what is best so the people must do what they are told) and one-nation conservatives (there is an obligation on the wealthy to look after those who are unable to look after themselves)and why it is rejected by New Right Conservatives

• Upper class in the best position to rule over lower classes

•  Upper classes are the ruling class

• Assumption that upper-class & political elite know best

• Therefore they should guide the actions of those ‘below’ them

• New right drifted to neo-liberalism. But traditional conservatism is that the state know best (Paternalism)

Hierarchy agreement

• Believe that society is naturally hierarchical and individual ability doesn’t define your position

Different classes have different roles in society and if everyone follows them, then the system works

authority agreement

They believed that authority develops to suit the needs of the people.

This includes guidance, support and security, such as guiding them to make sensible decision which benefit them and society.

Promotion of social cohesion and what is expected of individuals

Authority is imposed ‘from above’ and rooted in the nature of society.

Hobbes argued that there were ‘laws of nature’ by which everyone was bound and morality.

Humans are not perfect, so we should allow the state to guide their actions- there was no education system, so their belief of state of nature was rational

libertarianism (specifically neo-liberalism)

upholds liberty, seeking to maximise autonomy and free choice, mainly in the economy – to cover the moral and economic values associated with this idea.

• The belief of the new right- at odds with other strands of conservatisim

• Range of theories that give strict priority to liberty (negative) over other values

  • Seeks to maximise individual freedom, seeing the state as a the principal threat to liberty

• Individuals must not be coerced to serve the overall good of society

  • Robert Nozick; individuals must have self-ownership and be left alone

• Strong distinction between public and private sphere of life; individuals morally free and sovereign

  • Ayn Rand; 'objectivism', people rationally self-interested creatures, unashamed support to selfishness

• Extending the amount of freedom to the individual so to make individual choices

• Rights of individuals to liberty; minimal state intervention; state to protect individual rights

• Conservative libertarian strand can be seen at times to be at odds with other core principles

• Individuals prosper when restrictions minimal

Laissez- Faire economic belief

The economy and property

• Believed in capitalism and private property

• Traditional conservatives like Edmund Burke supported capitalism and also protectionism for home-grown products

• One Nation conservatives wanted to close the gap between rich and poor and improve inequalities

• The New Right placed the emphasis on the free market and away from social cohesion

• Believed that property was psychologically beneficial as it gave people a sense of security

• Also believed it was socially beneficial as it have property owners a vested interest in the protection of their property and therefore the maintenance of society

• In favour of capitalism & private property (all strands come to the same conclusion but have different reasoning

• All conservatives recognise the significance and importance of free enterprise and its capacity to build & create wealth

   

  Recognise the importance of property in providing individuals with a sense of security

   

  • See property as giving individuals a stake in society which promote important values like law and order

Traditional & one nation view of pragmatism

Both traditional & one nation support a pragmatic approach to change

 

Both traditional & one nation are suspicious of abstract ideologies, because they believe humans are intellectually limited

 

Both traditional & one nation prefer to base their ideas in tradition, experience and history

 

Both traditional & one nation support for pragmatism is based on the idea of ‘change in order to conserve’

traditional and one nation view of tradition

Traditional & one nation support the role of tradition in society

Tradition represent the accumulated wisdom of past generation and create a link between past & future generations

Traditional and one nation recognized that traditions have been around from generation, made people feel safe & secure, strengthened social cohesion, personal security & rootedness.

Uphold the monarchy, church, and traditional institutions 

Distrust of rapid change and revolution 

Oppose radical constitutional reform

traditional & one nation view of human imperfection

Traditional & one nation agree that humans are intellectually, psychologically and morally imperfect

Traditional & one nation believe in some form of paternalism, promote stability and security and a strong state to create order and stop crime

traditional view of organic society

Traditional & one nation believe in an organic society to provide stability and security based on their view of human nature

Traditional & one nation argue that organic society should not be disturbed

Traditional & one nation acknowledge the importance of hierarchy and authority which reinforced organic society

 society is a living entity with complex relationships.

Changes to one part of society will affect the rest of society and so gradual change is preferred over radical change

reform to society must be pragmatic and learn from past lessons to ensure practical solutions are established.

traditional view of paternalism

Emphasises paternalism and social obligation 

traditional view of hierarchy & authority

Believes society is naturally hierarchical and based on inequalities

Paternalism and authoritarian

traditional view of organic state

Traditional, one nation & neoconservatives agree that the state is a force for good, helping ensure order

Traditional, one nation & neoconservatives agree that the state needs to defend traditional values, property & institutions

Pragmatic view

traditional view of The economy and property

Cut taxes and reduce the welfare state to encourage self-reliance 

one nation view of organic society

Traditional & one nation believe in an organic society to provide stability and security based on their view of human nature

 

Traditional & one nation argue that organic society should not be disturbed

 

Traditional & one nation acknowledge the importance of hierarchy and authority which reinforced organic society

 

Expand education access to reduce class conflict ('palace is unsafe if the cottage is unhappy') -Benjamin Disraeli.

 

Originated as a response to industrial capitalism and inequality 

one nation view of paternalism

Emphasises paternalism and social obligation 

 

Noblesse Oblige:

-          the obligation the rich, well-off and high-status people in society have to help those less fortunate than themselves.

-          idea that people of these high social positions should use the power that they have from these positions to help others.

-          belief in hierarchy and natural inequalities - so there will always be people of a higher status and people of a lower status.

-          reinforces the idea that there should be a ruling elite.

 

Supporting the working class:

through noblesse oblige

 

·       David Cameron promised to scrap taxes for people earning the minimum wage in 2014.

-          This is an example of the privileged in society (leadership, members of parliament) using their power to help the poorest in society.

one nation view of organic state

Traditional, one nation & neoconservatives agree that the state is a force for good, helping ensure order

 

Traditional, one nation & neoconservatives agree that the state needs to defend traditional values, property & institutions

 

Pragmatic view

 

Invest in public services to strengthen national unity 

 

Support state intervention in the economy to prevent social unrest

 

belief that government should support all sections of society.

Conservative Party changed to make sure that they remained in power by appealing to working-class voters across the UK

one nation The economy and property

Take a pragmatic position over free-market economics and government intervention

 

one nation’s approach based on imperfection and need for social cohesion.

 

Disagreement between one nation & new right over the role of welfare in the economy.

 

Invest in public services to strengthen national unity 

 

Support state intervention in the economy to prevent social unrest

new right view of pragmatism

Reject pragmatism in favour of an ideological outlook

Ideological= believe in a set of beliefs & values in a firm & fixed way, based on theories

Reliant on the view that humans are able to make sense of the world, explain it & outline ways to make it better= humans are rational

CONTRAST to traditional & one nation conservatives who favour a pragmatic approach, due to belief in human imperfection & the lack of intellectual capacity

 

Promote a highly principled belief in economic liberty & authoritarian state, whilst tradional & one nation aim to be flexible and repsonisve to change

 

New right’s ideological approach tended towards radical changes whereas tradition & one nation aim to make changes gradually, recongising the importance of tradition.

 

Ideological approach based on a belief in human rationality, whereas traditional & one nation approach based on human imperfection

new right view of tradition

The New Right is radical: they seek extreme fundamental change in society. Drastical political, economic & social change.

Based on their ideological support for free-market economics (neoliberalism) and social authoritarianism (neoconservatism).

 

While traditional & one nation emphasize the importance of tradition, the new right support radical change in society.

 

Belief in radical change is linked to their support for ideological change, whereas traditional & one nation link it to their support for pragmatism

 

Instead of belief in human imperfection, new right believe in the rationality of humans.

 

Change to conserve & tradition:

believe that changes in society have led to a break down of hierarchy and law and order in society.

They disagree with permissiveness and changes in public morality, such as social changes like acceptance of homosexuality, divorce and abortion.

wish for a return to law and order and are tough on crime - for example by giving police greater powers of stop and search.

 

Thatcher impacted New Labour- shifting the overton window. She moved the political consensus further to the right.

new right of human imperfection

Embraces a rational understanding of human nature

 

The society is a collection of self interested individuals

 

Individualism:

-          individuals are rational and self-interested, which is termed atomistic individualism.

-          freedom can only be preserved through less government intervention.

-          the free market is a guarantee of individual freedom.

-          The welfare state limits freedom and undermines atomistic individualism because people become dependent on state welfare.

new right view of organic society

Atomistic view, unlike traditional & one nation’s organic view

 

Support metriocracy, rather than hierarchic society

 

Thatcher: ‘There is no such thing as society, there are individuals and there are families.’

However, at the same time, she imposed a shared culture & morality on society.

 

Social Theory:

-          Defence of order, authority & discipline

-          Neoconservatism

new right of Paternalism

 Values authority over paternalism.

authoritarian government= authority is exercised over a population with or without its consent.

e.g. Thatcher’s majority meant she had the consent of the people. However, their legislation and way of governing appeared unconcerned with the effects o& consequences of their decision on the people. E.g.  mining communities- they lacked a pragmatic & democratic approach.

new right view of Hierarchy/ authority

Meritocracy:

-          Replaces the idea of hierarchy and authority from above

-          Belief that one’s place in society reflects merit

-          The interventionist organic state and fixed hierarchy undermines the individual and subverts the natural harmony

new right view of Organic state

Ideological view, rather than pragmatic

 

Strongly oppse the welfare state

 

State:

-          Wants a strong but minimla state

-          Seeks to ‘roll back’ the state in the economic sphere

-          Aims to strengthen the state in the social sphere

-           freedom can only be preserved through less government intervention.

 

-          Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan (US President between 1981 and 1989) are examples of New Right conservatives.

-          Thatcher is viewed as pragmatic or cruelly absolutist

new right view of The economy and property

Economic ideology is based on the theories of Adam Smith, Friedrich von Hayek, Milton Friedman & Rand.

She argued that the state monopoly of power was immoral.

Rand: there must be a ‘complete separation of state & economics.’

Laissez-Faire capitalism allows rational individuals to live a free life.

It emphasises and protects individual & property rights

These oppose pragmatism.

 Approach to property is consistent form both the neoliberal & neoconservative aspects: they support private property.

 

Ideological approach

 

Commitment to free-market economics is based on a belief in atomistic individualism, contrast to one nation’s approach based on imperfection and need for social cohesion.

 

Disagreement between one nation & new right over the role of welfare in the economy.

 

Free-market theories

based of the issue of stagflation caused by the rise in oil prices

 the free market is a guarantee of individual freedom.

 

Stems for the 1973 Oil shock and the ‘economic warfare’ which caused stagflation- low growth, high prices, high unemployment.

Britian suffered from low efficiency due to nationalised industry & strong trade union movement.

Stagflation encouraged monetarism. Thatcher’s new right government wanted to drive efficiency.

 

Economy:

-          In the 1980s, Thatcher deregulated the stock market (known as the ‘big bang’) and privatised the industries that were nationalised after the Second World War.

-          Thatcher privatised coal and steel companies.

-          Thacter introduced a flat tax- equal tax for everyone. This was fair, but no very progressive

 

neoliberal view on tradition

Rand advanced a moral justification for private enterprise, proclaiming herself as a ‘radical for capitalism’

CONTRAST to traditional & one nation who value respect for the past, and gradual change.

neoliberal view on human imperfection

-          Founded in atomistic individualism

-          Rational individuals make decision in their own best interests

-          People owe nothing to society and society owes them nothing

-          Nozick: advocated free market capitalism on the basis of self-sovereignty. He argued that ‘the state may not use their coercive apparatus for the purpose of getting some citizens to aid others…’

-          Rand: defender of the virtues of selfishness, seeing the purpose of life as a quest for excellence achieved by rational self-interest. Meanwhile selflessness represents failure, a squandering of ones chances of excellence.

 

Recognises humans as rational

neoliberal view on organic society

For neoliberalism, atomistic individualism replaces the idea of organic society:

-          Value individualism

-          Reject the notion of a biding society

-          Self-sufficiency

-          Society is a product of self-seeking & self-reliant individuals.

-          Nozick: ‘there are only individual people, different individual people, with their own individual lives’

 

Believes in a society that allows free individuals to flourish

neoliberal view on organic state

Advocate for minimal state

neoliberal view on libertarinism

Within the new right, neoliberalism is entirely libertarian in its approach.

While economically they believe in economic individualism and ‘getting off the back of business’.

neoliberal view on The economy and property

Limited state intervention in economic & society (neoliberalism)

 

-          Criticises the welfare state & the culture of dependency

-          Agree that welfare state undermines enterprise, dignity & self-respect

-          Argue that welfare state allows families to abandon their childcare responsibilities to a society.

-          Welfare causes disadvantage

-          Against welfare as neoliberal prioritise individual rights: Nozick condemns all policies of welfare & redistribution as a violation of property rights, calling it ‘legalised theft’

Approach to property is consistent form both the neoliberal & neoconservative aspects: they support private property.

aspects: they support private property.

However, neoliberalism believe property ownership is a reflection of effort earned by hard work. The ability to accumulate wealth is an important economic incentive.

 

neoliberalism

privatisation- supposed to make companies more efficient and competitive.

neoconservative view on human imperfection

-          Human imperfection means the inability to make rational choices, therefore humans must be guided by an authority figure.

-          Sees 2 danger in leaving individuals to make their own decision

1.      The freedom to choose one’s own morals could lead to the choice of immoral views.

2.      Choosing different moral positions

-          Belief that moral pluralism is threatening because it undermines the cohesion of society: a permissive society lacks moral standards- it is a ‘pathless desert’ which provides no guidance or support.

 

Recognise humans as imperfect

neoconservative view on organic society

Believes in the cohesion of an organic society

neoconservative view on paternalism

Neoconservatism argues that permissive values have undermined the importance of family values. They argued they non-traditional family encouraged a decline in morality & the nuclear family which undermines the cohesiveness of society. The insecurity of childhood led to a rise in anti-social behaviour, drug & alcohol abuse & addiction.

This social authoritarianism is matched by state authoritarianism: the desire for a strong and powerful state was reflected in a tough stance on law & order. E.g. the belief that ‘prison works’.

However this authoritarianism is in sharp contrast to neoliberal views which argue that the collective power of the government is the principal threat to the individual and freedom can only be ensured by ‘rolling back’ the state.

neoconservative view on organic state

-          Traditional conservative social theory, defending order, authority & discipline (neoconservatism)

However, the New Right also support state-imposed authority, contrasting to their neoliberal beliefs. This is a neoconservative element that seeks to reassert the moral foundation of society & improve social order. Strengthen community by restoring authority & imposing social discipline.

Links to traditional conservatism, but CONTRAST to one nation who support social reform.

Nuanced discussion over the objective of the state. 

 

Traditional, one nation & neoconservatives agree that the state is a force for good, helping ensure order

 

Traditional, one nation & neoconservatives agree that the state needs to defend traditional values, property & institutions

 

Advocate for strong authoritarian state

neoconservative view on libertarinism

The neoconservative element are less prepared to extend this principle of individual liberty to other aspect of social life, unlike Nozick & Rand.

neoconservative view on The economy and property

Approach to property is consistent form both the neoliberal & neoconservative aspects: they support private property.

 

Neoconservatism supports property ownership for the values in creates: ensuring order in society as people are given a meaning and stake, desperate to protect their property