Unit 3: Conservatism Flashcards
What are the key influences on the development of traditional conservatism?
French Revolution
Socialism seen as threat after WW1
What are the key influences on the development of the New Right?
Economic and social crisis in the mid-1970s - high inflation, rise in unemployment
What is a tension between traditional and New Right conservatives when viewing human nature?
Trad: pessimistic
New Right: Optimistic, pro capitalist environment needed to unleash human potential
What is a tension between traditional and New Right conservatives when viewing society?
Trad: Society is a collection of small communities under a hierarchy
New Right: meritocracy, only paternalism if it helps society
What is a tension between traditional and New Right conservatives when viewing the State?
trad: heriditary power, state enlarged to bring social stability
New right: ‘roll back frontiers’, limited state except defence, deregulation under Reagan
What is a tension between traditional and New Right conservatives when viewing the economy?
Traditional: sceptical of free market capitalism but defend private property - may intervene to protect this
New Right: free market, reduced tax and government spending
Name 3 things conservative core values say about human nature (core ideas)
Imperfect
Fixed human nature
Must be restrained by formal authroity to provide peace
Name 3 things conservative core values say about the economy (core ideas)
Pro capitalist (but vary in support of laissez-faire/mixed)
Protectionism
Mixed Keynesian economy
Name 3 things conservative core values say about society(core ideas)
Collection of local communities
Naturally unequal, hierarchy
Evolves gradually (empiricism and organicism)
Name 3 things conservative core values say about the State (core ideas)
Provides order and authority
Ruling class with hereditary power
Should create a country-wide community and bring everyone together
Name 3 ways each conservatism is/is not compatible with capitalism
Is compatible: both support private property, both don’t mind inequality, provides ruling class with wealth
Is not compatible: focuses on individuals rather than community, creates meritocracy, creates economic divisions that threaten ‘one nation’
Name 3 recent events that could be considered conservatism in action
Backlash against migration, globalisation led to Brexit
Rise in national identity led to election of Trump, Italy ‘Brothers of Italy’
Deglobalisation
Name 2 ways each Brexit was/was not a conservative movement
Was: wanted to restore national identity; wanted to reduce EU ‘big government (Ayn Rand ‘small state”)
Wasn not: Doesn’t favour gradual change (Burke - any change to state must be gradual); favours laissez faire capitalism - politicians thought we would have more access ro the global market
