Conservatism

Question 1

Origins of Conservatism

Answer 1

The Enlightenment - a move torwards reason and progress, emphasis on individual righst and equality. If argued against would appera regressive and intolerant
The French Revolution - embraced the enlightenment by rejectin religious assumtpions and divine right -> by 1972 horrific consequences with beheading of King Louis XVI and many citizens. Made criticising liberalism easier as Conservatives could critixise progress without denying the enlightenment -> Conservatives recognised chnage but were wary of dangers of change i.e. beheadings

Question 2

Core beliefs of Conservatism: Human Nature

Answer 2

Believe in ‘human imperfection’ which refers to many flaws of humanity that prohibits a perfect society
Argued by Hobbes who claims without formal authority, relations between people wuld be marked with ‘envy, hatred and war’

Question 3

Core beliefs of Conservatism: Society: Localism

Answer 3

See society as a set of localised communities, descirbed by Burke as ‘little platoons’
Provide people with security, status and inspiration
Broke up selfish individualism

Question 4

Core beliefs of Conservatism: Society: Organicism

Answer 4

Society can’t be constructed, it emerges gradually and organically
Human nature is determined by forces outside of our control (religion and god??) and grows like a plant -> cannot be predicted

Question 5

Core beliefs of Conservatism: Society: Empiricism

Answer 5

Societies issues are dealt with in a pratical fashion
Need society to stay afloat rather than move torwards a specific destination

Question 6

Core beliefs of Conservatism: Society: Tradition

Answer 6

Customs and habits provide security in an uncertain world
Changes need to be slow and not drastic -> against revolution

Question 7

Core beliefs of Conservatism: Society: Hierarchy

Answer 7

Hierarchy is natural and brings responsibility
People at the top of society have responsibilty to protext those at the bottom

Question 8

Core beliefs of Conservatism: Society: Judeo-Christian Morality

Answer 8

Guides people ethically and emphasises marriage and the family -> creates stability
Religion binds people together and creates social solidarity

Question 9

Core beliefs of Conservatism: The Economy

Answer 9

Defend capitalism and the inequality it creates. Burke was a large supporter of laissez-faire capitalism
Thatcherism is a mix between neo-liberal policy (privastisation and tax reduction) and neo-conservative policy (strengthened police power, curbs on immigration and tax cuts)

Question 10

Core beliefs of Conservatism: The State: Order and Authority

Answer 10

State has a disciplinarian function to provide order and authority
Stern laws are in place and ‘natural rights’ are unrealistic, only the state can give people rights due to their ability to pass legislation

Question 11

Core beliefs of Conservatism: The State: Organic Origins

Answer 11

Prefer a state that emerges gradually and organically. Hence why Conservatives prefer an uncodified constitution as change hapens regularly -> allows us to alter what we believe with ease

Question 12

Core beliefs of Conservatism: The State: A Ruling Class

Answer 12

Trained to rule the state but have responsibility to care for the lower class
Favourable to them as it maintains traditional patterns of wealth

Question 13

What is traditional conservatism?

Answer 13

Largey a rejection of the French Revolution. Edmund Burke (1729-97) pointed out mankind fails more often than it succeeds so was critical of the idealistic society represented by the French Revolution. Was also critical due to his beliefs of change being gradual and maintaining tradition

Question 14

Who are the traditional conservatism key thinkers?

Answer 14

Edmund Burke
Thomas Hobbe

Question 15

Traditional Conservatism: Conservatism IS a ruling class ideology

Answer 15

During the French Revolution those like Burke defended the aristocratic role
Conservatives regularly defend property, priviledge and inequality
Stress on tradition prevents chnage -> chnage threatens ruling-class interests

Question 16

Traditional Conservatism: Conservatism ISN’T a ruling class ideology

Answer 16

Order should appeal to all in society
Maintenance of ‘one-nation’ is supposed to help interests of the poor
New-right conervatism is meritocratic -> celebrates succes of people from varying backgrounds

Question 17

Traditional Conservatism: Change to conserve

Answer 17

Core conservative idea. Applied by many ‘enlightened tory’ governments in early 19th century -> they wanted to stop spread of revolutionary ideas by embracing moderate reform which maintains tradition and ‘status-quo’ i.e. George Canning prepared legilsation that allowed Romand Catholics to participate in parliament

Question 18

Traditional Conservatism: The Emergence of the Tory Party

Answer 18

Burke and many others in the ruling class had a lot of interest in current society, which shaped the maintenance of tradition and the emerging tory party
Furthered by Robert Peel who harnessed the interest of the new business class and ensured their representation in the Representation of the People Act 1832

Question 19

What is One-Nation Conservatism

Answer 19

Belief conservatism should prioritide nation unity by attending to societies poorer classes. Justifies greater state intervention in society and the economy and thus higher spending and taxation

Question 20

Who are the One-Nation Conservatism key thinkers?

Answer 20

Benjamin Disraeli
Otto Von Bismark

Question 21

One-Nation Conservatism: The emergence of the nation state

Answer 21

Conservative thinkers brough in the importance of social cohesion and orderly change to offset socialism and thinkers like Karl Marx
Nation state was to offset conflict
Conservatism holds belief socialist policy and Marx beliefs focus too heavily on conflict within society

Question 22

What does One-Nationalism challenge?

Answer 22

Paternalism - the belief tht those highest in society (aristocracy) had responsibility to care for those lowest in society

Question 23

What is Christian Democracy?

Answer 23

Same belief as traditional conservatism, Judeo-Christian Mortality, authority and hierarchy and also look to maintain tradition in the family marriage
Favoured State Managed Capitalism (Keynesian) economy, with high public spending and an expensive welfare state

Question 24

What is New Right Conservatism?

Answer 24

A merged ideology of two distinct ideas: neo-liberalism and neo-conservatism

Question 25

New Right Conservatism: What is neo-liberalism?

Answer 25

The idea is to limit state involvement to create a free-market economy. Neo-liberals wish to see: Reduced taxation Tighter control on government spending End to dependency culture Privatisation of services

Question 26

New Right Conservatism: What is neo-conservatism

Answer 26

Main concern is to restore authority, national identity and a society informed by Judeo-Christianity. Neo-conservatives wish to see: Tougher approach to law and order -> more police power More robust approach to nation defence Less tolerance on immigration as they see it as a challenge to national identity Promote traditional legislation regarding abortion, the family and sexuality

Question 27

New-Right Conservatism: Conservatism IS compatible with capitalism

Answer 27

Both based on private property Both generate inequality Supprts tradition Supports ruling class

Question 28

New-Right Conservatism: Conservatism ISN'T compatible with capitalism

Answer 28

Capitalism is economic liberalisation Capitalism threatens 'one-nation' as it tends to move torwards globalisation which erodes national identity Capitalsim promotes meritocracy which challeneges hereditary ruling class and maintenance of wealth

Question 29

Thomas Hobbes (traditional conservative) view on human nature?

Answer 29

Believes we are cynical, individual and selfish We are driven by a selfish desivre for supremacy and security

Question 30

Thomas Hobbes (traditional conservative) view on society?

Answer 30

Can only exist until a state brings order and authority to human affairs We haev natural chaos from an absence of authority as everyone would be too different without guidance

Question 31

Thomas Hobbes (traditional conservative) view on the state?

Answer 31

State arises contractually from those who seek order and authority State of nature is one of pain and suffering without any order, if people realise this is non-benficial, they will opt for a proper state

Question 32

Thomas Hobbes (traditional conservative) view on the economy?

Answer 32

Cannot achieve economic activity without state

Question 33

Edmund Burke (traditional conservative) view on human nature?

Answer 33

Stressed tendancy of humans failing more than succeeding. Argued we were unable to achieve a utopia of society that the French Revolution wanted as we are more likely to fail than succeed

Question 34

Edmund Burke (traditional conservative) view on society?

Answer 34

Socieity is organic and comprises of small communities and organisations - 'mini-platoons' Compares society and government to a plant and argues change should be cautious and organic to avoid problems like those of the French Revolution

Question 35

Edmund Burke (traditional conservative) view on the state?

Answer 35

Should be aristocratic and serve the interest of all in society, those highest in society must fight for the interests of all

Question 36

Edmund Burke (traditional conservative) view on the economy?

Answer 36

Should have organic free markets and embrace laissez-faire capitalism

Question 37

Ayn Rand (new right conservative) view on human nature?

Answer 37

Objectivism: we, as people, are guided by self-interest and 'rational self-fufolment'

Question 38

Ayn Rand (new right conservative) view on society?

Answer 38

Society is just a sum of individuals all seeking self-fufilment and seperate from each other Any attempt to restrict individuals should be challenged

Question 39

Ayn Rand (new right conservative) view on the state?

Answer 39

State should confine itself to law and order and national security Attempts to 'positive liberty' by state should be restricted

Question 40

Ayn Rand (new right conservative) view on the economy?

Answer 40

Should embrace laissez-faire capitalsim -> embrace privatisation and tax cuts Libertariansim: she defends free markets and the right to choose

Question 41

Robert Nozick (new right conservative) view on human nature?

Answer 41

Humans are egotistical and driven by a quest of 'self-ownership' to realise their own potential

Question 42

Robert Nozick (new right conservative) view on society?

Answer 42

Individuals should be left alone in economic and social spheres Minarchist societies: society would be able to thrive in its own way without tax and present its own moral and value

Question 43

Robert Nozick (new right conservative) view on the state?

Answer 43

Minarchist state: state should only renew and reallocate contracts to private companies that provide public services

Question 44

Robert Nozick (new right conservative) view on the economy?

Answer 44

Staes should be independent from the economy and let a private econom thrive Stop a dependency culture

Question 45

Tensions with conservatism: Human Nature

Answer 45

Traditional conservatives: skeptical of human nature, idealistic society will fail due to overestimation of human potential New Right: optimistic, positive view on what people can achieve. Need to foster a pro-capitalist environment where individual energies are unleashed

Question 46

Tensions with conservatism in society

Answer 46

Trad: society is a collection of small communities overseen by hierarchal structures in which the elite protect the majority of society New Right: ambivalent of societies existence, society is just a collection of individuals seeking self-determination. Society chould be meritocratic not aristocratic

Question 47

Tensions with conservatism: The state

Answer 47

Trad: Should be pragamtic of enlargement New Right: 'roll back state involvement' so to increase independence and reduce dependency. Fear ruling class and inequality

Question 48

Tensions with conservatism: The economy

Answer 48

Trad: Sceptical of free-market capitalism as it threatens one nation and duels support for socialsim. Favour Keynesian economics whihc involves higher public spending and taxation New Right: believe in free-market economies where state functions are privatised and deregulated, reducing taxation and spending