Conservatism

• Laissez-faire


  Economic system (closely associated with capitalism) in which the govt tries to avoid interfering with the economy
• Empiricism


  Approach claiming that knowledge comes primarily/solely from experience
• Hierarchy


  Clearly stratified society (people are layered relative to others based on social class, occupation, etc.) in which people know their status
• Authority


  The ability/power/right to give orders, make decisions/laws, & ensure compliance with those decisions/laws
• Change to conserve


  Society must adapt to changing social circumstances in order to continue to function rather than reject change outright & risk revolution/rebellion
• Atomism


  The main component of society is the individual, who is self-interested & rational; the actions of individuals combine into a cohesive whole
• Noblesse oblige


  The elite has a responsibility to take care of their social inferiors
• Anti-permissiveness


  Resistance to legal changes that would allow behaviour that people disapprove of
• Radicalism


  The belief that there should be extreme political/social change, brought about by a revolution
• Human imperfection


  Humans are flawed psychologically, morally, & intellectually which makes them incapable of making good decisions for themselves
• Tradition


  Accumulated wisdom of past societies & a connection between generations
• Organic society


  A society that evolves naturally without being constructed: society/ the state is more important than any individual parts
• Paternalism


  Benign power exerted from above by the state (led by a ruling elite), that governs in the interests of its people
• Libertarianism


  (Mainly economic) approach in favour of a minimal state which allows for maximum freedom/autonomy for individuals
• Pragmatism


  Flexible approach to society with decisions made on the basis of what works, rather than being driven by ideology
• Traditional conservatism key points:

  • Hierarchy
  • Paternalism
  • Social contract: state arises from individuals seeking security
  • Hierarchy needed for functioning society: individuals need to know their place/role
  • Noblesse oblige
  • Resist decline of aristocratic rule
  • Individuals are selfish, driven by desire for supremacy/security
  • Humans are flawed & need discipline: utopian ideologies overlook human flaws
  • Property rights (incl. inheritance of property) provide stability
  • Free market
  • Capitalism is good because it produces wealth but disrupts hierarchy & tradition
• Burke (traditional):

  • Cautious political change: aim to conserve
  • Burkean/trustee model
  • Ruling class govern in the national interest: working/middle govern in their own
  • Elite has accumulated knowledge & a duty of care to others
  • Don’t resist change that will allow the preservation of institutions
  • Society = contract between the living/dead/unborn: need to reflect the past, consider the present, honour needs of future generations
  • Natural hierarchy: each component has a role (organic society)
  • Humans are imperfect & imperfectible
  • Humans seek security over abstract concepts of equality/ liberty
• Hobbes (traditional):

  • ‘State of nature’ (no social contract) = constant conflict, no security
  • Social order = dominant state to prevent anarchy
  • Authority derived from the people (can rescind it)
  • People have the right to disobey the state if their lives are threatened
  • Balance ordered society with the human need to live freely
  • All forms of social order preferable to an absence of social order
  • Humans are needy, vulnerable, & easily led astray in attempts to understand the world
  • Human life is a constant struggle for power
  • Humans are capable of rational thought
• One-nation key points:

  • Social & economic programmes to benefit the ordinary person
  • Law is important but welfare/full employment is the best way to prevent disorder
  • Change to conserve: more state intervention to preserve unity
  • Conservatives must act in the national interest
  • Society should be able to develop in an organic way
  • Members of society have obligations towards each other
  • Privilege/wealth bring social responsibility
  • Balance individualism with overbearing collectivism
  • Humans are capable of some central planning
  • Middle Way between laissez-faire & socialist state planning
• Oakshott (one-nation):

  • Govern in the interests of the people, not be guided by abstract concepts of what could be
  • State can ensure social harmony but not create a new society/utopia
  • Society is unpredictable
  • 2 types of social organisation: enterprise association < civil association
  • Society should be pragmatic
  • Humans are intellectually imperfect: rationalism is beyond their capabilities & they can’t make sense of the modern world
  • Politics of scepticism: humans should put their faith/trust in tradition because rationalism is flawed
  • Sceptical of state intervention/social engineering
• New Right key points:

  • Combination of neo-liberal & neo-conservative ideas
  • Limited state: leave the free market left to coordinate society 
  • State should encourage self-reliance
  • Hierarchy: free market is the route to establish this
  • Social liberalism/welfare have increased lone-parent families: inadequate socialisation
  • Humans are morally imperfect
  • People have absolute rights & can rationally pursue self-interest (morally right: must rationally determine what we need to thrive)
  • No single utopian vision: humans are all unique
  • Private property promotes security & gives citizens a ‘stake’
• Rand (New Right/Neo-lib):

  • Society should be based on negative freedom
  • Society doesn’t exist: humans are loose groups
  • Supported individualism so supported abortion/ homosexuality
  • Objectivism: possible to gain objective knowledge through reason & logic
  • Opposed to collectivism
  • Life’s primary moral purpose = individual pursuit of happiness
  • Egoism: rational (rational to act in our self-interest), ethical (we ought to act in our own self-interest)
  • We have a duty to act in our own interests
  • Economic freedom: laissez-faire
• Nozick (New Right/Neo-lib):

  • Natural justice: whatever happens without state interference
  • Minarchist govt: only enforcing contracts/preventing theft (no organic society)
  • State-imposed egalitarianism -> outcomes favouring electorally significant groups e.g. the elderly
  • Side constraints: people freely choose goals whilst being limited from the side to prevent actions that limit others’ freedom
  • Decriminalise ‘victimless’ crime e.g. drugs: individuals responsibility
  • Individual sovereignty: autonomy = natural right
  • Wealth redistribution undermines individual rights: taxation = theft
• Neo-liberalism key points:

  • 'Atomistic' society: organic society = construct that blunts development (makes people believe things even if they're incorrect/morally wrong)
  • Atomistic individualism (people can reach their full potential) & free market
  • Individual rights > state's rights
  • Minimal intervention: intervention subverts freedom
  • Social contract doesn’t give state legitimacy to interfere in society
  • Humans are rational & capable of self-improvement
  • Laissez-faire: privatisation & deregulation
  • Limit power of organisations that try to control the economy e.g. unions
• Neo-conservatism key points:

  • Restore authority & national identity
  • Society informed by Judeo-Christian morality
  • Foreign policy focused on national security
  • State should promote ‘traditional family structures’ through tax/benefits
  • Immigration challenges traditional national identity
  • Anti-permissive social policy on issues like abortion, homosexuality
  • Strong authority required to deter criminal behaviour
  • Neo-liberals fail to anticipate the tensions that would arise from a free-market capitalist society
• Core ideas of conservatism:

  • Human imperfection: flawed psychologically/morally/intellectually
  • Tradition: institutions that have stood the test of time should be valued (reflect accumulated wisdom of generations)
  • Pragmatism: decisions must be based on tradition & what has been proven to work, not abstract ideology
  • Organic society: society is like a living organism & depends on healthy relationships between all the components
  • Paternalism: upper class is best placed (due to their education, privilege, etc.) to govern in the national interests but have duties to the rest of society