5.1g Radical Conservative Ideas

Question 1

Libertarianism

Answer 1

Libertarianism is the promotion of freedom, free choice and autonomy, mainly focused on applying these concepts to the economy.

Libertarians take positions similar to classical liberals - supporting freedom, individuality and as little government interference in the economy as possible.

Question 2

Libertarianism: State functions

Answer 2

Libertarians favour a ‘night-watchman state’ - where the only functions of the state are to protect private property and maintain law and order.

The state only has a military, police and courts.

This is an extreme and radical idea which many conservatives would reject.

Question 3

Libertarianism: Economy

Answer 3

Libertarians support a free market economy, believing that individuals should be responsible for their own economic choices and that the government should not intervene.

In a free market, the price of goods and services are set by the forces of supply and demand.

Libertarians believe that government intervention makes a market inefficient.

Question 4

Libertarianism: Moral values

Answer 4

Libertarians support freedom from government intervention in an individual’s personal life.

Libertarians tend to accept things that have been historically more controversial in people’s personal lives, just as long as it does not harm others.

For example, libertarians in the US support the right to own a gun.

Libertarians have historically supported the right of gay people to marry.

This goes against conservative ideas of anti-permissiveness.

Question 5

Laissez-faire

Answer 5

Laissez-faire is a political and economic system which supports as little government intervention as possible in business and the state.

This is also associated with neo-liberalism and with classical liberal thinkers like Adam Smith.

Question 6

Conservative Party

Answer 6

The Conservative Party adopted the economic stance of laissez-faireism under the leadership of Robert Peel.

However, laissez-faire is a policy that tends to be supported by liberals and neoliberals.

For much of the 19th century, the Conservative Party did not support free trade, an important part of laissez-faire economics.

Question 7

Atomism

Answer 7

Atomism is the idea that society is made up of individuals who look after themselves. These individuals are self-sufficient and self-interested.

These individuals come together to form society.

Conservatives believe that atomism binds society together through entrepreneurship rather than socialist principles of equality.

Atomism is associated more with radical ideas - such as neoliberalism, rather than traditional and one-nation conservative ideas.

Margaret Thatcher once said that “there is no such thing as society”.

Question 8

Egoistical individualism

Answer 8

Atomism is also known as egoistical individualism.

This links to Ayn Rand’s idea of selfishness as a positive trait.

Rand believed that we should actively seek to look after own interests, instead of relying on the state.

Crucially, this type of selfishness should not be at the expense of others.