Classical Conservatism

Absolute Monarch

monarch rules in their right or power. Monarch is not limited and has absolute power.

Aristocracy

The highest class in society, especially those holding hereditary titles or offices.

Authoritarian

form of government characterized by strong central control, limited individual freedoms, and strict obedience to authority figures or institutions.

Bureaucracy

 A government where important decisions are made by state officials rather than by elected representatives

Capitalism

an economic system based on free market, fair competition, wise consumers and profit-motivated producers. Little government involvement

Censorship

the act of restricting freedom of expression or freedom of access to ideas or works, usually by governments, and usually to protect the perceived common good; may be related to speech, writings, works of art, religious practices, or military matters

Class System

the division of a society into different classes of people, usually based on income or wealth

Classical Conservatism

an ideology that says government should represent the legacy of the past as well as the well-being of the present, and that society should be structured in a hierarchical fashion, that government should be chosen by a limited electorate, that leaders should be humanitarian, and that the stability of society is all-important

Conservatism

A reaction to liberalism that is largely similar but further to the right due to a more pessimistic view of the world. change could not be dictated by the whims of the present generation, as the government should represent past and future.

Dictatorship

A society governed by one person who has absolute authority and control over their people

Disparity

A significant and often unfair difference in treatment or status of two (or more) things.

Divine Right of Kings

A doctrine of royal authority; the monarch is not below any other authority and gained his right to rule straight from God. This means the king does not have to answer to any establishment, even the church, and any attempt to restrict the king goes against God.

Economic Freedom

The freedom to buy what you want and to sell your labour, idea, or products

Elitism

The advocacy or supported existence of an elite as a dominating force in society

Free Market

a market that operates with limited government intervention. In a free-market economy, questions regarding production and marketing of goods and services are decided through the free interaction of producers and consumers.

Fundamentalism

A type of militantly conservative religious movement that advocates for strict conformity to sacred texts.

Income Disparity

Income is distributed unevenly or unfairly in a society to a notable extent.
difference in earnings between the rich and the poor

Individualism

An ideology that values the freedom and worth of the individual over the harmony of the group.

Industrialization

the stage of economic development during which the application of technology results in mass production and mass consumption within a country. This is accompanied by urbanization and changes in national living standards.

institution

a society or organization founded for a religious, educational, social, or similar purpose

Liberalism

ideology committed to the principle of the dignity and freedom of the individual as the foundation for society. Liberalism has faith in human progress and favours decentralized power, both in political and economic affairs, and respect for the sovereignty of the reasoning individual.

Libertarianism

Extreme liberalism. More free choice and less government control

Luddism

a protest movement of the early 1900s against industrialization and mechanization. Protesters broke into factories and destroyed machines. reactionary (conservative) labour movement

Luddite

describes people who dislike new technology

originates back to British textile workers/artisans who objected to the increased use of mechanized looks and knitting frames, and feared unskilled machine operators were robbing them of their livelihood

• luddites broke into factories and smashed textile machines

• goal of raids: deter the British government from installing expensive machinery, but Luddites were killed because machine breaking became punishable by death

Ned Ludd → rumoured to have wrecked textile apparatus and became “leader” of the movement

Monarchy

A system of government where a single ruler, usually a king or queen, holds all the power and authority to govern a country.

Monopoly

the exclusive ownership or control of trade in a particular good or service

Natural Rights

rights for all individuals, regardless of societal or governmental influence. These rights include life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness

Nouveau Riche

new class of owners, bankers, lawyers, and other professionals who gained lots of wealth in the Industrial Revolution

Oligarchy

a form of government in which political power rests with a small elite segment of society
(often consists of politically powerful families who pass on their influence to their children)
ex.

Orthodoxy

adherence to direct beliefs and instructions handed down by group leaders

Plutocracy

A government where power is held by the wealthy.

Private Property

Property law includes real estate, other forms of physical possessions, and intellectual property
very important to conservatism, specifically Burke

Privatization

Privatization refers to the transfer of ownership or control of a government-owned entity or service to the private sector. goal is to improve efficiency, promote competition, and reduce government involvement

Reactionary

tending to oppose change. Refers to any ideology that supports the return to a previous way or system, accepts economic inequality., and is typically conservative in nature.

Republican

form of government where governing authority is in the hands of the representatives of the citizens and not a ruling monarch. Usually a president is the head of state and the head of government.

Rule of Law

everyone is subject to the law; that no one, no matter how important or powerful, is above the law

Secularism

The principle of separating government and government actions from religious institutions and beliefs

Self-Interest

one’s personal interest of advantage

Social Contract Theory

idea that people give up some of their natural rights to government so that they receive order and security for themselves and their property (Locke and Hobbes) agreement between individuals to give up certain natural rights in order to enjoy the benefits of society

Theocracy

A form of government in which a god/gods or religious beliefs are considered the supreme authority in government and sacred word is law.

Tory

A slang term for a conservative person

Totalitarianism

a government system that seeks complete control over the public and private lives of its citizens

Tradition (sto)

classical conservative: stability, tradition, order

Urbanization

an increase in the number of people residing in cities and an extension of urban boundaries to include areas that were previously rural

Whig Party

British conservative party (Burke supported)
origins lay in constitutional monarchism and support of the great aristocratic families

American Revolution

American Colonists against British Royalty from taxation without representation

• Burke supported because it lead to orderly government headed by what he considered intellectual elites

Edmund Burke

believed private property was essential → people desire to be ruled

• property divisions formed the social structure (hierarchy based on property)

• social change from property is natural

• property and class system kept monarch in check to needs of classes below them

• class was natural and a social agreement to benefit all people

• people need to know their place in society and do the things they are assigned rather than move up hierarchy

supported american revolution

• elite revolted (jefferson, washington)

• they had conservative documents (declaration of independence, constitution)

people are more likely to do bad than good, so they need to be more constrained than they are with liberalism

Burke’s 4 pillars of society

church, family, government, military
all have hierarchy & foundation of all is private property

Edmund Burke (on fact sheet)

1. believed government represented legacy of past, and future generations (slow gradual change)

2. all individuals are not equally capable of participating in the government, and people who are not should not have a say in the government

3. general will of people was unrealistic, unnatural, and dangerous, as people who are uneducated could have a say in government, which would lead to chaos

4. critiqued the liberalist french revolution in his book Reflections on the Revolution in France (loss of constraints which ensure stability)

5. supported whig party

English Civil War

conflict between king/royalists and parliament and ended when King Charles I was executed

impacted Hobbes conservative worldview → saw horrors of civil war, so he saw humans as inherently selfish. if selfishness is unchecked, it leads to chaos and harm for everyone. by having everyone hand over sovereignty to the leviathan (protecting ruler), everyone would be secure

French Revolution

revolution of french citizens (mostly 3rd estate) against monarchy

• started due to royal incompetence and bad living conditions

• resulted in execution of royal family and tyrannical republic led by robespierre (reign of terror)

  monarchy reinstated after rise of napoleon

Burke criticized pre-revolutionary monarchy and revolutionaries, blaming their violence liberalism’s emphasis on freedom equality and freedom

Glorious Revolution

britain transformed from absolute monarchy to constitutional monarchy

• religious and political conflicts with people, so king james II was replaced by his daughter

Thomas Hobbes

classical conservative

Stability, Tradition, Order

believed both in government control and rights/equalities of individual

all legitimate power must be representative and based on consent of people

people are free to do whatever the law does not explicitly forbid

certain people should have privileges unlike others, you should fulfill your role you were born in, and not try to move up hierarchy

Thomas Hobbes (fact sheet)

1. absolute monarchy was best form of government

2. witnessed english civil war and repulsed by excesses of Cromwell’s Puritan dictatorship (his government trrannized the people and punished anyone who disagreed)

3. believed human nature is characterized by fear, violence, and dangerous self-interest

4. people more in need of security than freedom

5. wrote leviathan which advocated everyone give up freedom to one person who ensures order and stability

what did Hobbes say about life in The Leviathan

Man's life was nasty, brutish and short.