differing views & tensions

traditional conservatism - hierarchy & paternalism

• Main ideas of traditional conservatism = hierarchy and paternalism

• The paternalism of traditional conservatism is more authoritarian

• Paternalistic and hierarchal ideas of traditional conservatism evolved into one-nation ideas of the noblesse oblige

• Traditional conservatism believes society is naturally hierarchical and based on inequalities

traditional conservatism - society

• Traditional conservatives view society as 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

• For traditional conservatives, reform to society must be pragmatic and learn from past lessons to ensure practical solutions are established

one-nation conservatism overview

• One-nation conservatism emerged in the UK as a result of capitalism and the Industrial Revolution

• One-nation conservatives believe that the government should support all sections of society

• The Conservative Party changed to make sure that they remained in power by appealing to working-class voters across the UK, rather than only appealing to and taking care of interests of the landed, wealthy elite

• One-nation conservatism is centred around ideas of noblesse oblige, change to conserve, and supporting the working classes

one-nation conservatism - noblesse oblige

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

• Noblesse oblige is closely associated with one-nation conservatism and in the present day with ‘compassionate conservatism’

• Conservatives believe in hierarchy and natural inequalities - and so there will always be people of higher status and people of a lower status

• Noblesse oblige reinforces the idea that there should be a ruling elite

• EX: April 2026 - Labour government plan to increase philanthropic investment in disadvantaged communities by making it easier for wealthy philanthropists to direct donations towards England’s most disadvantaged communities

neo-liberalism overview

• Neoliberalism is associated with a free-market economy and less government intervention in the economy

• In the 1980s, Thatcher deregulated the stock market and privatised the industries that were nationalised after WWII

• Privatisation is supposed to make companies more efficient and competitive

neo-liberalism - individualism

• Neo-liberalism believes that individuals are rational and self-interested - atomistic individualism

• Neoliberals believe that freedom can only be preserved through less government intervention

  • For neoliberals, the free market is a guarantee of individual freedom

  • The welfare state limits freedom and undermines atomistic individualism because people are dependent on the state for welfare

• Thatcher and Ronald Regean (US president) are examples of New Right conservatives

neo-conservatism overview

• Neoconservatives are social conservatives who 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

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