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A Level Government and Politics (Edexcel) > 10.1 - Conservatism Core Ideas > Flashcards

10.1 - Conservatism Core Ideas Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the three types of Conservatism?

A

Traditional Conservatism
One-Nation Conservatism
The New Right

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2
Q

Why did Traditional Conservatism emerge?

A

In large part as a reaction to Enlightenment.

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3
Q

What are the main principles of Traditional Conservatism?

A

Pragmatism
Empiricism
Tradition
Noblesse Oblige

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4
Q

Why did One-Nation Conservatism see a rise in popularity?

A

To preserve society, there needed to be more state intevention.

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5
Q

What was the main reason for the rise of One-Nation Conservatism?

A

The French Revolution.

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6
Q

Who was the main proponent of One-nation Conservatism?

A

Benjamin Disraeli.

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7
Q

Why did the New Right see a rise in popularity?

A

An argument that one-nation conservatism had sanctioned too many changes to the role of the state and had lost touch with true Conservative values.

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8
Q

Who was the main proponent of the New Right?

A

Margaret Thatcher
Ronald Reagan

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9
Q

Who was a main proponent for Traditional Conservatism?

A

Thomas Hobbes.

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10
Q

How does traditional Conservatism view human imperfection?

A

In three categories:
Morally imperfect (selfish creatures)
Intellectually imperfect (reality is always beyond rational understanding)
Psychologically imperfect (humans are security driven and socially dependent)

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11
Q

What did Hobbes argue about human imperfection?

A

It is unavoidable and unchangeable.

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12
Q

What was the ‘state of nature’ according to Hobbes?

A

Human desire for power and material gratification, while being naturally distrustful of others.

Society prior to the existence of state.

‘perpetual and restless desire for power and power that only ceaseth in death’.
‘a violent anarchy where life would be “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short”’.

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13
Q

What was Hobbes theory on the ‘state of nature’?

A

Humans would actively try to escape that state.
They would form a certain social contract that surrenders some individual autonomy to a centralised monarchy in exchange for humans living collectively and without fear.

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14
Q

What is authority?

A

Those in higher positions of society who are best positioned to make decisions on society’s behalf. Their legitimacy comes naturally form within the hierarchy, and those below them in the hierarchy are obliged to obey.

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15
Q

What was Hobbes’ main book?

A

Leviathan.

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16
Q

When was Hobbes alive?

A

1588 - 1679

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17
Q

What was the premise for Hobbes’ ideas?

A

The anarchy that ensued due to the English Civil War.

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18
Q

What were Hobbes’ main ideas?

A

How he imagined state and society to have formed.
The imperfection and selfish nature of humanity.
Humans are just rational enough to seek order.
Society cannot function effectively without the creation of the state.

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19
Q

Who is Edmund Burke?

A

‘the Father of Conservatism’

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20
Q

What was Edmund Burke’s main disagree with Hobbes?

A

Absolute monarchies are bad.

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21
Q

What were Burke’s main ideas?

A

The organic society is not static and must be changed to preserve it.
Burke’s belief in human imperfection led to him rebutting most ideas from Enlightenment thinkers.
The Jacobins’ quest for the ideal society failed (they sacrificed social order in exchange for the human rights of Rousseau and Paine)
Burke was sympathetic towards the American Revolution (he thought the colonies had been completely misgoverned by the British government)

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22
Q

What was Burke’s main work?

A

Reflections on the Revolution in France.

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23
Q

What is empricism?

A

The idea that knowledge and experience come from real experience and not abstract theories.

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24
Q

Why did Burke completely oppose the French Revolution, but support the American Revolution?

A

The French Revolution was built on abstract principles that discarded any empiricism and tradition for idealism that descended into violence and chaos.

Burkes believed the colonies had been completely misgoverned by the British and when they overturned the British, they did not abandon values, culture or tradition of the pre-existing society.

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25
Q

What was Micheal Oakeshott’s main work?

A

‘On Being Conservative’

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26
Q

What were Oakeshott’s main ideas?

A

Conservatism is as much as disposition as it is a set of political ideas.
Rationalism is beyond the ability of human beings because they are intellectually imperfect.
Due to rationalism being flawed, humans should put more stock in tradition.
Government should be grounded in pragmatism and empiricism, and not guided by abstract concepts of what should be.

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27
Q

What type of politics did Oakeshott argue for?

A

Politics of faith.
Politics of scepticism.

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28
Q

Why did Oakeshott argue for the ‘politics of faith’?

A

Faith in rationalism is misplaced and those who act on the authority of their own reason will fail.
The implementation of abstract ideas leads to unforeseen consequences.
Be wary of making sure the ‘cure is not worse than the disease’.

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29
Q

What changes do the state enact if they subscribe to the idea of empricism?

A

Their changes are informed by past experience.

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30
Q

What changes do the state enact if the subscribe to the idea of rationalism?

A

Changes are informed by abstract ideas.

MacMillan’s adoption of state management and Keynesian economics rather than the long-standing tradition of laissez-faire government.

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31
Q

What do Conservatives believe about the evolution of the state?

A

It happens over time and emerges and grows rather than an instantaneous creation.

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32
Q

What do traditional Conservatives believe about state evolution?

A

Once the state is established, society then emerges and grows organically into a complex organism of traditions and customs.

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33
Q

Where do traditional Conservative thinkers disagree on the topic of power?

A

Hobbes believed in an absolute monarchy, but Burke and Oakeshott believed in parliamentary power, which are ironically liberal in origin.

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34
Q

What did Burke mean by ‘little platoons’?

A

Localised communities that retain their identity and enable wider integration within the nation.
Communities give structure to our lives.

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35
Q

What is ‘change to conserve’?

A

Society should naturally adapt to shifting circumstances by instigating small modifications to compensate rather than either completely resetting or refusing change whatsoever.

36
Q

What is ‘noblesse oblige’?

A

The duty of society’s elite to care for those less wealthy and less privileged.

37
Q

Where does ‘change to conserve’ meet a contrasting opinion in Conservatism, and how do traditional Conservatives square the problem?

A

Change to Conserve can go against the respect and love of tradition, monarchy etc.

Conservatives believe that those institutions should be revered, but the moment they threaten the social fabric, they must be removed.

38
Q

Why do Conservatives think the Russian and French Revolutions happened?

A

The inaction to preserve society.

39
Q

What did Burke argue about states without the belief in a ‘change to conserve’?

A

‘A state without the means of some changes is without the means of its conservation.’

40
Q

What do Conservatives believe about society?

A

It is inherently inequal, as there is a natural order in which each individual has his place.

Each individual has inequal talents and ability.

41
Q

What did Hobbes believe about societal rule?

A

Society should be ruled by an absolute monarch who governs a ‘commonwealth’ which was arranged by rank and influence.

42
Q

What did Burke believe about societal rule?

A

The aristocracy should lead as they were wiser than their inferiors, but they also have some level of responsibility of the lower orders.

43
Q

What did Oakeshott believe about societal rule?

A

Should be governed by elected officials, with a championing of tradition (HoL, Electoral College etc.)

44
Q

What are the core ideas of Conservatism?

A

Human Imperfection
Organic Society / State
Pragmatism
Tradition
Paternalism (hmm..)
Libertarianism

45
Q

Why is pragmatism a core value of Conservatism?

A

They have a deep distrust of abstract theories provided by other strands of political thinking.

46
Q

What did Burke’s idea of ‘change to conserve’ inform?

A

PM Robert Peel repealing the Corn Laws to help the Irish famine.
PM Robert Peel giving middle-class men the vote.
PM Benjamin Disraeli solving the ‘Big Stink’ of London.

47
Q

Where does the belief in pragmatism stem from?

A

Empricism.

48
Q

Why is pragmatism a useful skill in politics?

A

It allows Conservative governments to accept positive changes from other parties when they enter power, but when they are out of power they can scrutinise rationalistic / ideological changes.

48
Q

Why is pragmatism a useful skill in politics?

A

It allows Conservative governments to accept positive changes from other parties when they enter power, but when they are out of power they can scrutinise rationalistic / ideological changes.

49
Q

What is the most important tradition in the UK?

A

Religion.

50
Q

How did Burke perceive religion?

A
51
Q

What was Burke’s view on religion?

A

Incredibly important, described as ‘Our comfort, and one great source of civilisation’.
Religious tradition that bind society together are so important that atheism should be suppressed as it is destabilising.

52
Q

Why did Oakeshott argue against the 1960’s Social Revolution on the topic of religion?

A

The revolution undermined Judeo-Christian religion and many people left the religion as a result.
Oakeshott felt that due to the decline in relgion, many people would turn to abstract and rationalistic ideas as an intellectual replacement for religion.

53
Q

What were the two natural following steps from tradition according to Burke?

A

Tradition embodies continuity, which therefore would advance peacefulness (the ultimate goal of society).

54
Q

Why should people trust long-standing institutions according to Burke?

A

There is a level of accumuted and generational wisdom within.

Monarchy
Ancient Universities
Religion

55
Q

Why are some Neo-Conservatives pro-religion despite not being religious themselves?

A

The religion serves a major societal function that other intellectual thought cannot replace.

55
Q

Why are some Neo-Conservatives pro-religion despite not being religious themselves?

A

The religion serves a major societal function that other intellectual thought cannot replace.

56
Q

What is the main example that Conservatives give for following tradition?

A

French Revolution
Russian Revolution

57
Q

Why is paternalism a core value of Conservatives?

A

The belief in an unequal society follows that the ruling class has a noblesse oblige relationship to weaker elements.

To prevent worker revolution, the ruling class must help those below.

58
Q

How is paternalism an offshoot of pragmatism?

A

If the state fails to counter societal problems, there is a risk that established orders will be upset and revolution ensues.

59
Q

How was MacMillan an example of Paternalism and Pragmatism?

A

He continued with the state ownership and private ownership from Attlee.

60
Q

Why did the New Right become popular in terms of paternalism?

A

Some felt that the poorest in society were so dependent on the state that the societal obligations of traditional Conservatism had been forgotten.

61
Q

What does libertarianism emphasise?

A

Negative freedom (freedom from interference)
Minimal state interference

62
Q

What is laissez-faire?

A

A preference for minimal state intervention in the economy.

63
Q

When did income tax become a permanent staple of the UK system?

A

1842, Robert Peel.

64
Q

Why did income tax begin in the UK?

A

The state began to grow and welfare spending also increased.

64
Q

Why did income tax begin in the UK?

A

The state began to grow and welfare spending also increased.

65
Q

What type of society do neo-liberals believe in?

A

An atomistic society.

66
Q

Who are the key thinkers for neo-liberal beliefs?

A

Ayn Rand.
Robert Nozick.

67
Q

What is society in Rand’s eyes?

A

A collection of self-interested and self-sufficient individuals.

68
Q

What is neo-liberal thought on human perfection?

A

They reject the theory of pessimistic human imperfection, opting to follow the rationalism of the Enlightenment.

69
Q

What is the neo-liberal stance on empiricism?

A

Rejection, opting to follow rationalism instead.

70
Q

What is egoistical individualism?

A

The rights of the individual are more important than the state.

71
Q

What types of freedom do neo-liberals believe in?

A

Negative freedoms.

72
Q

What is the problem with noblesse oblige according to neo-liberals?

A

It restricts an individuals development as it limits choice and prevents humans from learning from their mistakes.

73
Q

Why does neo-liberalism challenge traditional Conservative hierarchies?

A

They believe it should be replaced by an organisation based on meritocracy.
The minimal state will allow the emergence and co-existances of voluntary formed communities.

74
Q

What is the role of the state in neo-liberal society?

A

A nightwatchman to oversee the rule of law and protect the rights of individuals from criminals and foreign invaders.

75
Q

What did Nozick argue about tax?

A

‘Tax, for the most part, is theft.’

76
Q

What do neo-liberals argue for in terms of taxation?

A

Massive reduction in tax and state spending as a moral and economic imperative for individual freedom.

77
Q

What did Nozick say about the state and welfarism?

A

The state encroaches on the lives of citizens and that welfarism creates a dependency culture with the state ‘owning’ individuals.

78
Q

What is atomism?

A

A society that exists as a loose connection of self-interested and self-sufficient individuals.

79
Q

What is radical?

A

Belief in ideas that favour drastic social, economic or political change.

80
Q

How do neo-liberals suggest we can achieve atomism?

A

By ‘rolling back the state’.

81
Q

How do neo-liberals suggest how we can ‘roll back the state’?

A

Deregulation and privisation of services carried out by the state.
Trade unions should have their powers curbed.
The individual should be ‘left alone’ economically, socially and politically.
The individual should have the right to choose anything.
The growth of the state is the gravest contemporary threat to individualistic freedom.

82
Q

What are the types of human imperfection?

A
  • Moral
  • Intellectual
  • Psychological

A Level Government and Politics (Edexcel) (74 decks)

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