conservatism

Question 1

Conservatism

Answer 1

🔹 A political ideology that emphasises tradition, social order, authority, and scepticism towards radical change.

Question 2

Tradition

Answer 2

🔹 The accumulated wisdom of previous generations, providing stability and continuity.

Question 3

Pragmatism

Answer 3

🔹 A flexible, practical approach to politics rather than following abstract theories or ideological purity.

Question 4

Human Imperfection

Answer 4

🔹 Belief that humans are flawed morally, intellectually, and psychologically; justifies the need for authority and order.

Question 5

Organic Society

Answer 5

🔹 Society is a living entity with interdependent parts; change should be gradual and natural.

Question 6

Hierarchy

Answer 6

🔹 Natural and inevitable social ranking; each person has a fixed role.

Question 7

Authority

Answer 7

🔹 Power that comes from above to provide guidance and maintain order.

Question 8

Empiricism

Answer 8

🔹 Knowledge should be based on experience and evidence rather than theory.

Question 9

Traditional Conservatism

Answer 9

🔹 Emphasises tradition, hierarchy, organic society, and cautious reform (Edmund Burke).

Question 10

One-Nation Conservatism

Answer 10

🔹 Advocates social obligation and limited state intervention to maintain social cohesion (Benjamin Disraeli).

Question 11

New Right

Answer 11

🔹 Combines economic libertarianism (neoliberalism) with social authoritarianism (neoconservatism).

Question 12

Neo-liberalism

Answer 12

🔹 Free-market capitalism, individualism, minimal state, and laissez-faire economics.

Question 13

Neo-conservatism

Answer 13

🔹 Strong state, law and order, anti-permissiveness, nationalism, and moral order.

Question 14

Edmund Burke –

Answer 14

Traditional Conservative: Advocated gradual, pragmatic reform (“change to conserve”) and supported tradition and hierarchy.

Question 15

Thomas Hobbes –

Answer 15

Traditional Conservative: Argued for strong, absolute authority to prevent chaos due to human imperfection

Question 16

Michael Oakeshott –

Answer 16

Traditional Conservative: Emphasised pragmatism and scepticism of ideological politics, favouring experience over theory.

Question 17

Ayn Rand –

Answer 17

Neoliberal / New Right: Advocated for individualism, rational self-interest, and laissez-faire capitalism, rejecting tradition and state welfare.

Question 18

Robert Nozick –

Answer 18

Neoliberal / New Right: Defended self-ownership and a minimal state, opposing taxation and state redistribution as violations of liberty.