Conservatism: A Level Edexcel Politics

Oakeshott: Society

Social harmony= only possible through state.

A 'rationalist' political leader is inclined to make decisions on the authority of his own reason (dangerous; encourages idea that leader fully understands society= autocracy).

Burke: Society

Church & state = inseparable (both derived from God).

Order= most important quality of any society.

Tradition & empiricism; accumulated wisdom of the past.

Institutions promote social cohesion and stability; offered a sense of belonging to a particular society.

Hobbes: Society

The ordered society; balanced need for a 'free life'. A restless desire for power = war therefore rational people would sacrifice freedom & natural rights for security through political authority.

Therefore gvt is established by joint consent of the people; authorises those in power to preserve order and peace.

Rand: Economy

Complete laissez-faire, compatible for free expression on human rationality.

Recognises individual rights, including property rights (condemned forcefulness & aggression).

One nation: Economy

Some tax for welfare (reduce class gap).

Noblesse Oblige.

The ability to accumulate wealth is important as an economic incentive.

Nozick: Economy

Libertarianism; Individual have right to the rewards of their labour (self-ownership).

Taxes=immoral (esp. to fund state welfare)= 'legalised theft'.

Burke: State

Must respect empiricism & tradition (Democracy of the dead).

Church & state =inseparable (both derived from God).

Promotes social continuity.

Burkian democracy: expertise of MP's; don't owe constituents right to decide

Oakeshott: State

State (through parliament) ensures social harmony.

We should be suspicious of those who promise 'utopia'.

We need a rationalist leader; who makes decisions based on the authority of reason.

Political thinking and action should be guided by pragmatism (thus can respond flexibly to circumstances).

Nozick: State

Self-ownership= threatened by state intervention and taxes.

Taxes for welfare= immoral bc use individual as a means of source.

Thus only minimal state can be justified.

Hobbes: Human Nature

Primary human urge= "Power after power"; humans= immoral and criminal behavior is rooted in individual. (Life without state= "nasty, brutish and short")

Human capacity to reason= fragile (distorted by self-interest).

Humans= needy & vulnerable; compete violently to obtain basic necessities (fight out of fear for personal safety).

Rand: Human Nature

Pessimistic; humans= imperfect & unperfectable.

Objectivism; rational self interest is a virtue (The virtue of selfishness'; being selfish is morally right).

Complete Laissez Faire market is compatible with the free expression of human rationality.

Nozick: Human Nature

Libertarianism; Individual has the right to their life, liberty & rewards of their labour; can't be treated as a 'thing' or against your will.

Self ownership; threatened by tax, individuals own their own bodies, abilities and labour.

Conservatives: Human Nature

Morally imperfect; criminal behavior rooted in individual.

Psychologically limited and dependent.

Mentally; fear isolation and instability.

Pragmatism

Reject ideology/ abstract ideas. Assures stability & cohesion.

Property

Physiological & social advantages.

Tradition

Provides social framework & sense of identity. Institutions= 'Tested by time'.

Human Imperfection

Psychological (limited & dependent). Moral (imperfect & imperfectable). Intellectual (lack intellect of reasoning).

Organic State

Trad institutions (for security). Authority (top-down). Social responsibilities.

Paternalism

Top-down power. Should be governed by those best equipped (e.g upper class). Burkian democracy.

Libertarianism

Only free market can efficiently supply to the demand. Social programmes create a dependency culture.

Traditional Conservatism

The enlightenment. Pragmatism. Hierarchy. Gradual reform. Trad institutions. Society= living organism.

One Nation Conservatism

Change to conserve (pragmatic). Paternalistic. Disraeli & Noblesse Oblige. More socially aware.

New Right Conservatism

Neo-liberal economy. Neo-conservative social values. 'Reactionary' (favour a return to 19thC 'Golden age' of economic freedom). State support= dependency culture. Atomism (Thatcher 'no such thing as society').

Neo-Liberalism

Free market= only mechanism that can effectively meet demand, protects against; inflation, monopolies & gvt power. Atomisitic individual.

Neo-Conservatism

Trad values. Social order (respect for authority). Public morality (allowing people to choose themselves what is right/wrong threatens social cohesion).

Nozick: book

1974 'Anarchy, state & Utopia'

Hobbes: book

1651 'Leviathan'

Burke: book

1790 'Reflections on the revolution in France'

Rand: book

1964 'The virtue of selfishness'

Oakeshott: book

1962 'Rationalism in politics'