Conservatism

CONSERVATISM FLASHCARDS

Card 7 — What is an organic society?

Q: What is the conservative idea of organic society?

A:

  • Society develops naturally over time.

  • Institutions provide stability.

  • Humans are interdependent.

Examples:

  • Burke — “little platoons”.

  • Oakeshott — traditions provide order.

Card 8 — Conservative views on human nature

Q: What do conservatives believe about human nature?

A:

Agreement:

  • Humans are imperfect, flawed, selfish.

Examples:

  • Hobbes: life without authority is “short, nasty and brutish”.

  • Oakeshott: humans “noisy, foolish, flawed”.

Implication:

  • Need hierarchy, authority, discipline.

Card 9 — Conservative disagreement on human nature

Q: How do New Right neoliberals differ from traditional conservatives?

A:

  • Neoliberals believe humans are rational and atomistic.

  • Less need for hierarchy or state restraint.

  • Traditional + One Nation believe humans need strong institutions.

Example:

  • Rand objectivism rejects altruism.

Card 10 — Conservative views on the economy

Q: Are conservatives united on the economy?

A:

Mostly yes except neoliberals.

Traditional + One Nation + Neoconservatives:

  • Accept some state role.

  • Concerned about social stability.

Neoliberals:

  • Laissez-faire, low tax, deregulation.

  • Nozick — taxation = forced labour.

One Nation:

  • Keynesian intervention, welfare to prevent unrest.

Card 11 — Conservatism and the state

Q: How do conservatives view the state?

A:

Agreement:

  • State maintains order and authority.

Disagreement:

  • One Nation → paternalistic state.

  • New Right neoliberals → minimal state (“rolling back the state”).

Example:

  • Thatcher/Reagan policies reflect neoliberalism.

Card 12 — Change in conservatism

Q: Do conservatives fear change?

A:

Traditional/One Nation:

  • Prefer gradual change (“change to conserve”).

Neoliberals:

  • Support rapid economic change.

Example:

  • Neoliberals reject organic society idea.