Main tensions / agreements Flashcards
What are traditional (authoritarian) conservative views on human nature?
- Traditional conservatives take a pessimistic view of humans
- arguing that they are prone to dissent and that measures should be taken to ensure order.
What are traditional (authoritarian) conservative beliefs about society?
- Traditional conservatives believe that society should not be interfered with or radically altered
- It should be founded on secure institutions and continuing attitudes throughout society over time.
What are traditional (authoritarian) conservative beliefs on the state?
- Traditional (authoritarian) conservatives believe that the state should be governed over by powerful, natural leaders without restraint on their powers by parliaments or constitutions.
- Should preserve order and authority.
What are traditional (authoritarian) conservative views on the economy?
- Traditional conservatives have been known to favour protectionist and nationalist policies with regards to the economy in order to maintain domestic industry
- However, there is also a strand of traditional conservatism favouring laissez-faire economics and its power to promote economic inequality.
What is populism?
- Populism is a form of politics which does not conform to any specific ideology
- instead adopting proposals which appeal to the public to create a strong political position.
When did one-nation conservatism develop? Why?
- developed in the mid 19th century in response to the industrial revolution, aiming to preserve a social hierarchy and bind the whole populace together behind a single idea.
What do one-nation conservatives believe with regards to society and their responsibilities?
- believe that society should be united around a collective identity, with those at the top of a hierarchy having an obligation to alleviate the pressures on those at the bottom of society.
What do one-nation conservatives believe with regards to hierarchies?
- believe that hierarchies should be maintained both socially and economically to reward those at the height of a hierarchy and maintain privilege
- However, the worst inequalities should be reduced.
How did one-nation conservatism develop on the grounds of pragmatism?
- developed due to pragmatism in conservatism as conservatives feared the overthrow of existing hierarchies and social structures if nothing was done to alleviate socioeconomic issues impacting the working classes.
How can the shift towards one-nation conservatism be seen as an opportunistic and pragmatic move?
- The shift towards one-nation views in the 19th and 20th centuries can be seen as an opportunistic move in order to gain greater support from the working classes given that they would begin to be the electoral majority rather than landowning classes
- a shift to more paternalistic policies would help win elections.
What are key beliefs of neo-liberalism?
- Neo-liberals advocate for low taxation, deregulation of industry, government disengagement from industry, a minimal welfare state, laissez-faire capitalism, individual enterprise
What text underpinned the new right’s economic beliefs?
- von Hayek’s ‘The Road to Serfdom’ was the main text underpinning the neoliberal beliefs of the neo-liberal new right.
Why do neo-liberals oppose welfare provision?
- Neo-liberals oppose welfare provision as it promotes a ‘dependency culture’ in which people rely on benefits in order to survive, rather than working hard for their own individual benefit.
- A welfare system also requires heavy taxation in order to work, which does not reward wealth creation.
What is neo-conservatism? What did this branch of the new right develop in response to?
- Neo-conservatism is an intensely socially conservative branch of the new right, developing following the creation of a seemingly ‘permissive society’ throughout the 1960s and 70s.
What are the main aims of neo-conservatism?
- Neo-conservatism aims to restore traditional social values following a more liberal phase in the 60s and 70s
- to create a strong and authoritarian police and justice system, reduce immigration, promote a national culture and identity and create a strong military.
