2 Conservativism: differing tensions and views Flashcards
1
Q
\traditional conservativism
how did they develoP
A
- as a result of the French Revolution of 1789 challenging the hierarchichal structure of society
2
Q
reactionary within traditional
what does reactionary conservativism mean?
A
- opposing change in an economic, societal, or political way and preferring to leave society as it is
3
Q
reactionary within traditional
what does reactionary respect? what did they resist?
A
- the feudal hierarchy which changed after the enlightenment and french revolution which altered the dynamics of the state from the industrial revolution
- defensive ideology that reisisted the decline of aristocratic rule
4
Q
non-reactionary within traditional conservativism
what was non reactionary capable of?
A
- capable of change, but only after careful consideration
- Eg. the adoption of moderate reforms in the 19th century to keep society stable and a commitment to the free market
5
Q
A Natural Disposition
what would oakeshott prefer?
A
- trusted practised methods
- traditions not to change
6
Q
A Natural Disposition
What does Oakeshotts politics argue? (empircism)
A
- humans cannot conceptualise reality which means any thought is flawed.
- the government must rely on empirical informed pragmatism to govern
7
Q
one-nation conservativism: early
what did mass industrialisation cause?
A
- social inequality
- encouraged revolution
- new ideas such as revolutionar socialism and anarchism emerged
8
Q
one-nation conservativism: early
conservative PM Disraeli admired Burkes ideas of…?
HIER AR + ORG SOC, TRA
A
- hierarchical aristocracy and organic society
- tradition (Church of England and property ownership)
9
Q
one-nation conservativism: early
What type of thinking did Disraeli loath?
-
A
-rationalism
- abstract ideas replacing empircism
10
Q
one-nation conservativism: early
What was Disraelis aim? what did he offer as a result? (ideology)
A
- to make society secure
- he offered nationalism, in the sense that it was based on organic conservativism, where all classes were part of ‘one nation.’ Through this, the elite classes had a responsibility to care for the poor
11
Q
one-nation conservativism: early
early one nation reform acts
RPA + ALDIA
A
- Representation of the People Act 1867
- Artisans and Labourers Dwellings Improvement Act 1875
12
Q
one-nation conservativism: later
Harold Macmillans The Middle Way (1938) and Economics?
A
- between traditional laissez-faire economics and the socialist collectivism of state planning
- The Middle Way 1938
13
Q
one-nation conservativism: later
what was the most important? What was the biggest threat?
A
- preserving society
- unemployment biggest threat
14
Q
one-nation conservativism: later
How was Keynesianism involved?
A
- he used Keynes rationalistic ideas to combat empircism
15
Q
one-nation conservativism: later
Why did Oakeshott disapprove of this? what was his argument about rationalism?
A
- state management is rationally informed and ignores the limits of human reason
16
Q
one-nation conservativism: later
What has modern one-nationism moved to?
A
- social liberalism
- Eg. David Cameron passed the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act in 2013
17
Q
one-nation conservativism: later
How could this move to social liberalism be seen? (what type of thinkin)
A
- as pragmatism
- conservatives can change and adapt to new traditions of social behaviour
18
Q
one nation conservativism
what is the difference between the old and the new one nation conservativism?
A
- Disraeli was influenced by Burke, advocating for cautious change and limited state interference with laissez-faire economics
- Macmillans one-nationism is much more proactive, advocating for state interference through keynesian economics
- succeeding one-nation PMs have adopted this econoimics
19
Q
one nation conservativism
How are modern one nation conservatives influenced by Burkes ‘Little platoons’? camerons policies?
A
- cautiously ‘changing to conserve’ society
- Camerons ‘big society’ policies in the early 2010s can be compared to this
20
Q
the new right
what was happening in the USA and the UK?
A
- JMKs ideas were failing
- stagflation and unemploymnet plagued Europe nad the USA
21
Q
the new right
what was the traditional conservatives’ reaction to this?
A
- they were not suprised
- Burke advocated for free trade and laissez-faire government, Oaksehott was sceptical of human reason and economics
22
Q
the new right
examples of the new right in the 1960s and 1970s
A
- Reagan in the USA
- Thatcher in the UK
23
Q
the new right
what strands of conservativism does the new right employ?
A
- neoliberalism and neoconservativism
- where neo-liberalism draws from classic liberalism, and neoconservativism draws from traditional conservativism
- free market :D and no interest in Keynesian economics
24
Q
neoliberalism
how does it differ from all other aspects of conservativism?
A
- views society as atomistic
- positive view of human nature where humans are capable of rational thought
25
# atomistic individualism
what do neoliberals disagree with?
- the idea of a social contract
- rather than enforcing individual freedoms, state interference restricts freedom
26
# atomistic individualism
Neo liberalism hates the state and its interference: What did Nozick argue about a lack of state intervention... ownership? individual freedom?
- argued for self ownership: individuals should retain their bodies, talents, abilities, and labour and should be under minimal obligation from the state
- Nozick was influenced by Locke's rationalism., and freedom of the individual.
- **extra k**: influenced also by Immanuel Kant's belief that an individual in society cannot be used as a resource
27
# atomistic individualism
what should the primary function of the state be, according to Nozick?
| quote: L T N F O F, T, E O C A S O'
- to protect human rights, with state involvement
- ***'limited to narrow functions of force, theft, enforcement of contracts and so on'***
28
# atomistic individualism
What did Rand argue about organic society? why?
- limits the development of the individual.
- individuals absorb beliefs of society regardless of whether those beliefs were correct or moral.
29
# atomistic individualism
what did Rand argue: societal beliefs on the individual? the 'heroes' do what? atomistic individualism?
- society can make individuals believe anything (eg. the earth is flat)
- the 'heroes' of history break these ideas and are capable of rational thought
- only atomistic individualism allows individuals to experience self-realisation and negative freedom.
30
# atomistic individualism
nozick's most famous works
- *The Examined Life* **1989**
- *Anarchy, State, and Utopia* **1974**
31
# atomistic individualism
what wsa Rand's theory called
objectivism
32
# atomistic individualism
Rand's objectivism theory?
| 4 points
1. traditions are nonsense
2. truth is found in scientific fact, not collective beliefs
3. egosim is good. It is morally right for individuals to pursue their dreams
4. it's wrong for society to demand individuals compromise their core values for some collective truth. She loathed communism
33
# atomistic individualism
Altruism
the belief humans are not born self-seeking but can display fellow feeling, sympathy for others and an instinct to help and cooperate with others.
34
# atomistic individualism
what did Rand argue about Altruism?
- misrepresented in organic society
- it shouldn't be a duty dictated by the state but the rational action of an individual pursuing their own values.
35
# atomistic individualism
What did neo-liberals believe about charity and the state?
- if individuals want to donate, it should be their choice not an obligation
- state sponsored welfare spending prevents the development of atomistic individualism
- (**nozick**) viewd welfare spending funded by tax as too much state intervention
36
# atomistic individualism
abolishing state intervention would do what?
- allow society to rediscover its atmostic individualistic mindset.
37
# atomistic individualism
how does neo-liberalism view *'selfishness'*?
- as a virtue not a vice
- self interest is the most rational cause of action
- if everyone was selfish, a natural harmony would exist (**rand and nozick**) in human interactions
38
# free-market economics
How did neo-liberals argue for free market economics?
- keynesianism was failing
- the state could not intervene in the economy
- nationalised industries were inefficient and potected from competition
39
# free-market economics
How does neo-liberalism see the role of government as limited to (economics)
- monetarism
- limited to controlling inflation.
- **Friedman** (monetarist) saw the states' tendancy to print money only leading to inflation
40
# free-market economics
what do neo-liberalists advocate for in terms of state intervention in the economy?
- minimal state intervention allows individuals to rise and fall on their own accord
- the natural efficiency of the economy is unquestionable
- they advocate for public services to be privatised to expose them to competitivity. (**Eg.** Thatcher)
41
# neo-conservativism
what are neo-conservatives focused on?
- as more influenced by traditionak conservatives, they are focused on
1. maintaining organic society from social fragmentation
2. upholding public morality and authoritarian law and order.
42
# neo-conservativism
what is the difference between neo-liberals and neo-conservatives in terms of where state should intervene and the role of freedom?
- neo-liberals believe the state should be reduced to preserve freedom
- but neo-conservatives will *curtail* freedom and increase state involvement if they view it as necessary
43
# a fear of social fragmentation
what do neo-conservatives think about capitalism, and through this, fragmenting society? how have they been critical of neo-liberals?
- capitalism is natural and should be celebrated
- the free market doesnt provide a set of values to live by alone.
- neo-liberals' ideas have fragmented society and haven't defendd core conservative values such as religion, tradition, and societal responsibilikty.
44
# a fear of social fragmentation
social and sexual revolution/religion in the west?
| neoconservatives
- social and sexual revolution in the **1960s** has fragmented society and released moral relativism (questions whether there are any universial values in terms of individual behaviour)
- lack of religion in the west depleted the moral stock that binds society (irving kristol)
45
# a fear of social fragmentation
what do neo conservatives respect
tradition and authority as part of organic society.
46
# a fear of social fragmentation
what do neo-conservatives believe about hard work and the state?
- 'great society' in the USA and the PWC created **dependency**
- neo conservatives *and* traditional conservatives both have doubts about morality. **Humans aren't naturally hard working**
- the state is a **crutch**, not a **wheelchair**
- the state should still be **shrunk** while **promoting** family values and **hard work**
47
# a fear of social fragmentation
**Eg.** Thatcher's right to buy>
neo-conservative in it's attempt to remodel the welfare state
48
# a fear of social fragmentation
other examples of neo-conservative ideas in the USA and the UK
- means tested and tax benefits
- individuals should take responmsibility for poverty.
49
# Public morality and authoritarian law and order
underpinning reversing social fragmentation is what...
a desire to uphold public order
50
# Public morality and authoritarian law and order
atomistic individualism has helped...
- helped transform the western world into a materialistic vacuum ignoring rights and wrongs
- they are pro-religion
51
# Public morality and authoritarian law and order
what does this view counter?
| abortion? religiomn?
- ayn rands' idea that religion limits individual liberty
- counters neo-liberalism who argue same-sex relationships, abortion, and drug taking should be choices and not determined by the state. For neo-conservatives, these are **morally wrong**
- neo-conservatvies support tough law and order to enforce this.
52
# Public morality and authoritarian law and order
neo conservativism also advocates for... military? examples?
- strong defence to protect the state
- **Eg.** aggressive anti-soviet foreign policy during the cold war
- **Eg.** President George H.W. Bush and Tony Blairs neo conservative inspired foreign policy
53
# the new right: an uneasy marriage
how do Rand and Nozick counter Burke and Oakeshott
- they though rationalism were superior to empiricism and tradition
54
# the new right: an uneasy marriage
Neo-liberals vs neo-conservatives state involvement
- neo-liberals believe in negative freedom and atmostic society and so the organic society of neo-conservativism is an infringement on individual liberty
- neo-conservatives will allow limited welfare state for social stability, neo-liberals see no value in this due to atomistic society.
55
# the new right: an uneasy marriage
Nozicks' neo-liberal ideas offending the religous morality of neo-conservatives
- Nozick advocated for hard drugs and prostitution
- this offedned hte religous morality of neo-conservatives and contravene long-standing conservative traditions.
