10.2 - Differing Views and Tensions within Conservatism Flashcards
1
Q
A
2
Q
What are the main beliefs of Traditional Conservatism?
A
Hierarchy, Tradition, Empiricism, Authority.
3
Q
Who is the main proponent of Reactionary Traditional Conservatism?
A
Thomas Hobbes
4
Q
Who is the main proponent of non-reactionary Traditional Conservatism?
A
Edmund Burke.
5
Q
Who is the main proponent of non-reactionary Traditional Conservatism?
A
Edmund Burke.
6
Q
Who was the main proponent of traditional Conservatism as a natural disposition?
A
Micheal Oakeshott.
7
Q
What does reactionary traditional conservatism believe about the order of society?
A
There should be a feudal hierarchic order within society.
8
Q
Why were the beliefs of reactionary traditional conservatism challenged?
A
In the 18th Century the ideas were challenged by the Enlightenment and the French Revolution. Societal change due to the industrial revolution also enabled this.
9
Q
What did reactionary traditional conservatism do in terms of resistance?
A
- Resisted the decline of aristocratic power and rule.
- However, as the rule of the aristocracy fell naturally, this branch too fell.
10
Q
Why did Edmund Burke feel we had to oppose ideas like those in the French Revolution?
A
He felt that rationalist delusions had led to the bloody French revolution.
11
Q
Why were Conservative ideologies so important to maintain in Burke’s eyes?
A
Hierarchy, Tradition, Empiricism and Authority had to be defended against the Englightenment as they help to maintain societal equilibrium.
12
Q
At what point could non-reactionary traditional Conservatism change?
A
After very careful consideration so as to not damage societal fabrics.
13
Q
How can Burke’s ideas be seen throughout 19th Century Conservatism?
A
An adoption of moderate reform to keep society stable alongside commitment to the free market.
14
Q
Which PM followed Burke’s ideas quite closely and what did he do?
A
Robert Peel.
- Founded the Metropolitan Police.
- Repealed the Corn Law.
15
Q
What does Oakeshott’s view of traditional Conservatism focus on, primarily?
A
Focus on the psychological and intellectual aspects of human imperfection.
16
Q
What does Oakeshott’s view turn Conservatism into?
A
A natural disposition, rather than a political ideology.
17
Q
What followed Traditional Conservatism?
A
One-nation Conservatism.
18
Q
Why did One-Nation become a more dominant strand in the Conservative party?
A
PM B. Disraeli saw that overly laissez-faire economics were widening inequalities and fanning flames for revolution amongst the working class.
19
Q
What was the main feature of Traditional Conservatism that followed into One-Nation Conservatism?
A
The idea of noblesse oblige, although this concept was taken much further in One-Nationism.
20
Q
Where was One-Nation Conservatism first espoused by Disraeli?
A
In his novel, ‘Sybil or the Two Nations’.
21
Q
What was Disraeli’s ultimate aim and how did he want to achieve this?
A
Make society secure.
- Address the tensions between rich and poor.
- Renew feelings of nationalism.
- Renew the feeling of community.
22
Q
Why was nationalism a bizarre ideology to espouse for a Conservative government at the time?
A
Nationalism had been strongly used in revolutionary states such as France during the French Revolution.
23
Q
How did Disraeli paraphrase his update to noblesse oblige?
A
‘The palace is not safe when the cottage is angry’.
24
Q
What were Disraeli’s reforms to noblesse oblige based on?
A
Empiricism.
He was fearful of the working class revolting so he tried to appease them but he followed Burke’s belief that society must ‘change to conserve’.
25
What was an early one-nation reform?
the Representation of the People Act 1867.
26
What did the Representation of the People Act 1867 do?
Enfranchised many parts of the urban male working class.
27
How did Disraeli describe the Representation of the People Act 1867?
'A leap in the dark'.
28
Who is the modern proponent of one-nation Conservatism?
Harold Macmillan.
29
How did Macmillan espouse one-nation views?
Built 300,000 new houses a year after the Second World War under Churchill.
30
How did Macmillan attempt to steer the Conservative party?
Traditional laissez-faire economics alongside the socialist collectivism of state planning.
31
What did Macmillan view as the biggest threat to the preservation of society?
Unemployment.
32
Macmillan followed empiricism. T/F?
False. He adopted the rationalistic views of John Keynes to combat unemployment.
33
Why was the Macmillan administration so interesting from a one-nation perspective?
They made it clear they were willing to abandon most Conservative values.
- Empiricism - Rejected to follow rationalistic views of John Maynard Keynes.
- Tradition - 'The Life Peerage Act 1958' that saw life peers being appointed (including female peers)
An embrace of social liberalism.
34
How did Cameron support social liberalism?
He passed a bill for homosexual marriage in 2013.
35
How do Disraeli and Macmillan differ in terms of one-nation application?
- Disraeli based everything on empiricism and a scepticism of human nature.
- Macmillan based everything on rationalism with an advocation of Keynesian economics.
36
Why did the New Right see a rise in popularity in the 1970s?
The failure of Keynesian economics.
37
How were Keynesian economics failing?
- High inflation.
- Low economic growth.
(stagflation)
- High unemployment.
38
Who is most associated with the New Right?
- Thatcher in the UK.
- Reagan in the USA.
39
What is the New Right?
A marriage of neo-liberalism (classical liberalist economics) and neo-conservatism (traditional conservatist society)
40
What are the main ways in which neo-liberalism differs from Conservatism?
- Society is atomistic (not organic)
- A positive view of human nature
41
How did the New Right square the differences between neo-liberalism and Conservatism?
They made the neo-liberal policies mostly concerned with economics and atomistic individualism rather than societal views.
42
How did Nozick argue that the legitimacy of the state to intervene was nonsense?
'... the state's claim to legitimacy induces its citizens to believe they have some duty to obey its edicts, pays its taxes, fight its battles and so on.'
43
What do neo-liberals feel about the state?
An incredible antipathic view towards the state as they feel it subverts freedom of the individual rather than the traditional and one-nation view that it props up individual freedom.
44
Who influenced Robert Nozick's views on self-ownership?
- John Locke's rationalism - the individual rights of man.
- Immanuel Kant - an individual cannot be used as a thing or resource by society.
45
Why do Nozick and Rand believe in atomistic individualism?
They feel the problems surrounding duty and obligation to the state present themselves in the organic society. Nozick and Rand argued that a person should have no other obligation other than to himself and (maybe) his family.
46
What type of government do neo-liberals argue for?
Miniaturist government.
47
What is the primary role of the state in neo-liberal governance?
'the narrow functions of force, theft, enforcement of contracts and so on'
To preserve individual freedom, the government should 'roll back the state'.
48
Why does Rand feel so strongly about the Organic Society?
- An individual's thinking is severely reduced. Often to the dominant beliefs of society irrespective of whether or not they are correct or not.
- People believing the world is flat, people voting for the Nazi party and supporting Communist regimes.
49
Why is Robert Nozick less extreme than Rand?
He accepts there are humans are naturally 'pack animals' who enjoy and need for social interaction.
50
What was Rand's ideology known as?
Objectivism.
51
What are the main tenets of objectivism?
- The traditions of other Conservative beliefs are nonsense.
- Truth is found in scientific fact rather than collective beliefs of society or the 'unproven myth' of religion.
- The 'virtue of selfishness' as a postive and altruism as morally wrong if demanded by the state.
- Relgious, socialist, fascist and democratic organic societies that praise that people should sacrifice their personal values for some greater good. It is wrong for society to demand that people sacrfice personal values for collective truth.
52
Which political idea did Rand loath most?
Communism.
53
What is altruism?
The belief that humans are not born to be self-seeking but can display sympathy for others to cooperate with one another.
54
Why did Rand feel altruism was misrepresented in an organic society?
It should never be demanded by the state, but is absolutely fine, provided the individual makes it of their own accord.
55
Why do neo-liberals detest state spending on welfare?
The development of atomistic individualism makes individuals too dependant on the state.
56
What do neo-liberals feel that the abolishment of state intervention would cause?
People would no longer be dependant on the state and so would begin wondering how they could help themselves rather than being reliant.
57
Why did neo-liberals feel that Keynesian state planning was failing?
Nationalised industries were inefficient, lacked free-market dynamism and were artificially protected from free-market competition, distorting the whole market.
58
What do neo-liberals feel the role of government is economically?
Controlling inflation via a policy known as 'monetarism'.
59
What is the theory behind monetarism?
Printing money only causes inflation and erodes the value of private citizens wages / savings.
60
How did Thatcher subscribe to neo-liberal views on government intervention?
She privatised gas, electricity, water and telecomes.
61
What did Thatcher think that growing unemployment in the 1970s was due to, and why?
- Too much state intervention.
- Overprotecting failing industries
- Allowing inflation in prices and wages.
62
What did Thatcher do with coal mines?
She sanctioned the closure of many uneconomic nationalised mines.
63
What happened after Thatcher sanctioned the closure of many coal mines?
- The largest workers strike since before the war took place.
- The government won the strike and the coal industry was privatised.
- She restored market forces as it was irrational for the state to keep a failing industry afloat.
64
How did Thatcher inject market force elements into the NHS and education?
She introduced league tables and target setting to increase competition in nationalised industries.
65
To what extent to Conservatives agree on the state's role in the economy? (Agree)
- It is the role of the state to defend economic contracts and private property.
- Defend capitalism and the free market.
- Private property is vitally important as it provides psychological security for individuals within society.
- Private property reduces individuals' dependancy on the state.
66
To what extent do Conservatives agree about the state's role in the economy? (Disagree)
- Neo-liberals would abolish taxation. Neo-conservaties and traditional conservatives would argue for lower taxation. One-nation conservatives would argue for slightly increased taxation.
- One-nation conservatives argue for some state intervention in the economy. Other conservatives argue on behalf of heavy laissez-faire economics.
- Neo-conservatives are sympathetic to the free market. They are informed by pragmatism and supported government intervention to correct market failures during 2008.
- Neo-liberals want to 'roll back the state'. All other areas of Conservatism believe in an organic state.
67
What are neo-conservatists most influenced by?
Traditional Conservatism.
- Maintaining the organic society
- Upholding public morality and law and order
68
Neo-conservatists increase state involvement in society if needs arise. T/F?
True, if they feel it is good for society.
69
Why have neo-conservatists been critical of neo-liberals on topics of society?
They feel that neo-liberal ideas fragment society by not defending core conservative values like tradition, religion and societal responsibility.
70
What do neo-conservatists believe about capitalism?
It is the natural economic state, but it does not provide a set of rules to base society on.
71
Where did the unease of neo-conservatives start?
With social and sexual revolution in the 1960s ushering in an age of moral relativism that has fragmented society ever since.
72
Why do neo-conservatives not like the secular rejection of many countries in the West?
They argue it has depleted the moral and spiritual stock that has bound society.
73
What is the neo-conservatist view of the organic society?
They reject the neo-liberal vision of atomistic individualism which massively undermines societal values.
74
Why do neo-conservatives feel that anti-poverty programmes failed?
They ignored human imperfection as humans are not naturally moral or hardworking.
75
What is the primary tenet of a neo-conservative welfare state?
A safety net for those who are genuinely struggling but not handouts that erode individual responsibility. They do not want it to get too big though, as the wish to promote conservative ideas of family values and hard work.
76
What was the 'right to buy' council houses policy?
A neo-conservative attempt to remodel the welfare state in which the working class became property owners and less state dependant.
77
What is permissiveness?
There is no right or wrong, and some actions that are viewed by some are immoral are actually allowed.
78
What is anti-permissiveness?
A rejection of the theory that there is no right or wrong.
Mostly formed by Judeo-Christian teachings.
79
What do neo-conservatives argue about the post-1960s?
There was a decline in morality so they began to promote anti-permissiveness with more authoritarian policing.
80
Why are neo-conservatives critical of neo-liberalistic views of atomistic individualism?
They feel their rejection of communal customs has helped transform Western society into a materialistic moral vacuum, ignoring ethical rights and wrongs of Christian society.
Neo-conservatives in the US of A are massively pro-religion, and much of their politics is formed on this premise.
81
Why do neo-conservatives feel a need to expand the state in some instances?
They feel the state needs to have a tough approach to law and order, so the state needs to be extended to enforce this policy.
82
Why do neo-conservatives feel a need to expand the state in some instances?
They feel the state needs to have a tough approach to law and order, so the state needs to be extended to enforce this policy.
83
What is a modern example of neo-conservatism?
George W. Bush and Tony Blair going to invade Iraq and Afghanistan to curb terrorism.
84
Why is the New Right so bizarre from a policy perspective?
It marries neo-liberal views with neo-conservative views, albeit in a contentious manner.
85
Why did many neo-conservatives find solace in Nozick's work?
Many felt that his values were consistent with traditional conservative views of a small state and laissez-faire economics.
86
Why did some neo-conservatives in America appreciate Rand's views?
Her views of objectivism and individualism are reminiscent of the egoistical individualism inherent in the genesis of the American state.
87
How do neo-conservatives not reconcile all neo-liberal views?
The views on human nature, state, society and the economy were difficult to square.
* Neo-liberals believe in negative freedom only, neo-conservatives believe in positive freedoms if needs be.
* Neo-liberals want to reduce state interference in society, neo-conservatives can expand state authority to increase law and order.
* Nozick's view of individualism argue that hard drugs should be legalised. Neo-conservatives believe this is dangerous and immoral.
* Neo-conservatists are sympathetic towards rationalism inherent in free-market economics. Neo-liberals oppose all state intervention.
88
Why is neo-liberalism associated with conservatism across the world?
The Conservative party in the UK and the Republican party in the USA both advocate neo-liberal economics (laissez-faire and free trade)
89
How can the New Right be surmised?
A marriage of political convenience between neo-liberals and neo-conservatives focusing on the efficacy of the free market.
A loathing of collectivism, 'big state' and therefore complete opposition to communism.
90
Why do neo-conservatives not like the secular rejection of many countries in the West?
They argue it has depleted the moral and spiritual stock that has bound society.
91
To what extent to Conservatives agree on the state's role in the economy? (Agree)
* It is the role of the state to defend economic contracts and private property.
* Defend capitalism and the free market.
* Private property is vitally important as it provides psychological security for individuals within society.
* Private property reduces individuals' dependancy on the state.
92
What did the Representation of the People Act 1867 do?
Enfranchised many parts of the urban male working class.
93
What does Oakeshott's view of traditional Conservatism focus on, primarily?
Focus on the psychological and intellectual aspects of human imperfection.
