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Politics Paper 1 > Conservatism > Flashcards

Conservatism Flashcards

(73 cards)

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1
Q

Which key thinkers support pragmatism?

A

Burke
Oakeshott

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2
Q

Describe pragmatism

A
  • practicality
  • focusing on what works
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3
Q

What branches of Conservatism favour pragmatism?

A
  • Traditional
  • One Nation

New Right is a lot more ideological in their outlook

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4
Q

Pragmatism on change

A
  • against radical change
  • evolution not revolution
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5
Q

What does pragmatism entail a complete rejection of?

A
  • abstract ideas/theory/ideology
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6
Q

Give two pragmatism quotes

A

‘what counts is what works’
‘if it ain’t broke don’t fix it’

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7
Q

When did conservatism make a complete break from pragmatic conservatism?

A

1979 General Election
Thatcher’s ideological stance

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8
Q

What does pragmatism emphasise?

A

caution
moderation
continuity
stability

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9
Q

Principle of Tradition

A

accumulated wisdom of past societies, e.g. monarchy and parliament
favours customs and practises of the past

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10
Q

Root of Tradition

A

Religion

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11
Q

What does tradition enhance?

A

human security

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12
Q

Burke on Tradition

A

each generation has a duty to pass these traditions on to the next generational

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13
Q

Building blocks of society that should be passed down to our children:

A

institutions
monarchy
british constitution
nuclear family
marriage

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14
Q

What does destroying tradition lead to?

A

tyrannical regimes e.g. Soviet Russia and French Revolution

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15
Q

Example of todays conservative party favouring tradition

A

2/3 tories voted against same sex marriage in the house of commons

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16
Q

Conservative view of human nature

A
  • pessimistic
  • imperfect, insecure and limited
  • psychologically, morally and intellectually flawed
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17
Q

What do conservatives believe is needed to keep humans in check?

A
  • tougher stance on law and order
  • national security over international cooperation
  • self interest over altruism
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18
Q

What do conservatives believe will never keep humans in check?

A

idealistic or utopian political schemes such as ones based on fraternity or equality

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19
Q

What do conservatives believe is the only viable economic system?

A

capitalism as it human nature is essentially competitive and self interested

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20
Q

New Right on Human Nature

A

atomistic individualism means human beings are self reliant and rational in decision making
Rand and Nozick

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21
Q

What type of society does conservatism favour?

A

organic society

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22
Q

Define organic society

A

society operates like an organism
the whole is more than a collection of its individual parts

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23
Q

What makes up a organic society?

A
  • family
  • law and order
  • religion
  • institutions of power
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24
Q

What does an organic society enable?

A

stability

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25
What is paternalism?
the idea that government should 'parent' their 'children' - governing their best interests
26
What is noblesse oblige?
those of a high rank/status have an obligation to rule
27
What is the disadvantage of paternalism?
it increases dependency
28
Which branch of conservatism rejects paternalism?
neo-liberals
29
Why do neo-liberals reject paternalism?
- freedom should be valued above all else - paternalism increases dependency - paternalism stifles individual initiative - paternalism leads to economic stagnation
30
What is libertarianism?
the right of the individual to liberty
31
What is libertarianism suspicious of?
authority and state power
32
Neo-Liberalism
favours minimal state and elimination of government intervention
33
Neo-Liberalism economic policy
laissez faire economics
34
What branch of Conservatism supports neo liberalism?
the New Right (Thatcherism)
35
What is neo conservatism?
- authority and discipline in moral and social matters
36
What does neo conservatism advocate?
- increased police powers and harsher sentences
37
Hobbes 'Leviathan'
all obey government no matter how corrupt to avoid disaster and conflict
38
Hobbes on Human Nature
humans are needy and vulnerable humans are easily led astray
39
Hobbes 'State of Nature'
there was no authority in early human history life was chaotic and brutal authority and government is needed
40
What were Burke's main principles?
- values tradition - change is needed with great caution to maintain an organic society
41
What revolution did Burke support and why?
American Revolution the aim was to protect ancient rights
42
What revolution did Burke critique and why?
French Revolution it was based on theory and idealism
43
Burke on Human Nature
critical of individualism: cannot rely on individual reason can rely on tradition and custom
44
What does Burke believe tradition and customs are naturally based on?
practical knowledge and evidence not theory an organic society develops naturally
45
Oakeshott on Human Nature
lack understanding of complex modern world
46
Oakeshott on Society
- modern society is unpredictable, therefore complex - society cannot be understood in abstract ideas/principles
47
What approach is Oakeshott critical of?
- rationalism - favours pragmatic and empirical approach - abstract ideas do not work
48
Nozick on human nature
positive view humans are rational who have the right to their own lives and liberties
49
What value does Nozick believe is fundamental to conservatism?
liberty
50
Nozick on the role of the state
minimal state strictly limited to protection of person/property/contract
51
What approach does Nozick favour?
individualism we have self ownership of mind/body/abilities
52
What was Ayn Rand's main principle?
humans must pursue their own happiness as the highest moral aim
53
Rand on Human Nature
rational and ethical egoism rational selfishness
54
Rand on role of the state
vital but limited
55
What economy does Rand support and why?
- free market capitalism - it protects the right of the individual whilst separating from state and economics
56
Rand on Society
- society doesn't exist - atomism: we are a collection of individuals pursuing own happiness
57
Three branches of Conservatism
1. Traditional 2. One Nation 3. New Right
58
How does human nature differ from traditional conservatism to new right conservatism?
traditional - pessimistic view, humans need guidance, humans are flawed new right - humans are rational individuals who have the right to their own liberties
59
Traditional Conservatism on the state
paternalism, natural hierarchy, born to rule
60
One Nation on the state
states primary role is to preserve social order through welfare programmes, economic interventionism and the defence of traditional institutions and values (e.g. family and respect for authority)
61
Neo Liberals on the state
- rolling back the state - state intervention stifles economic initiative and growth - state intervention creates a dehabilitating dependency culture
62
Neo Conservatives on the state
- states role needs to be reduced - calls for 'strong state' which is based on increased police powers, tougher punishments and anti permissive policies to combat crime, anti-social behaviour and permissive attitudes
63
One Nation on noblesse oblige
- supports it - believes it can be developed to strengthen national unity
64
Which branches of Conservatism support organic society?
Traditional One Nation
65
Which branches of Conservatism support noblesse oblige?
Traditional One Nation
66
Which branches of Conservatism support paternalism?
Traditional One Nation
67
Neo Liberalism on society
- rejects assumptions that underpin organic society e.g. natural hierarchy and paternalism - view society as composed of independent and rational individuals operating within a free markert
68
How does One Nation conservatism remove the possibility of revolution?
reforms to improve working conditions for working class in order to offset the negative effects of laissez faire capitalism forged an alliance between classes
69
Who established One Nation conservatism?
Benjamin Disraeli Sought to redefine conservatism In order to appeal to the masses Preserve institutions of power and the state
70
New Right economic policy
monetarism less money in circulation = more value of money less inflation so less strikes more productivity and more investment
71
New Right on the state
should not intervene areas of private morality state needed to be stripped back to the minimum
72
Neo Liberal features of Thatcherism
- monetarism - privatisation - deregulation of private sector - restricting trade union power
73
Neo Conservative features of Thatcherism
- defence of traditional family values - strong law and order - opposition to promotion of homosexuality - strict censorship laws

Politics Paper 1 (8 decks)

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