Conservatism Flashcards
What is the view of human nature by conservatives?
- A pessimistic view, people are imperfect insecure and limited
- It is immutable - cannot be altered by changing economic, social or political conditions
- Contend that idealistic or utopian political ideologies will never curb natural human aggressiveness
- Capitalism works because it human nature is naturally competitive and self intrested
How does the liberal new-right’s view of human nature vary from the traditional/one nation view?
- Adopt atomistic individualism
* Say that human beings can be self reliant and rational in their decision making
What is the varying conservative view of the state?
- Traditional conservatives: authoritarian state that aims to suppress the naturally violent nature of humanity and maintain order
- One Nation: A neutral agency, role to preserve social order through welfare programmes, economic interventionism and defence of traditional institutions
- New-right: wants less intervention on economic grounds but for strong state in terms of social measures (increased police powers, tougher sentences)
How does each branch of conservatism view society?
- Traditional and one nation: organic society, work together harmoniously to ensure healthy social body. Any changes to this could threaten order.
- Belief based in in hierarchy and authority and it providing security, the leader’s natural top-down control sustains order
- New-right: liberal new right reject notion such as hierarchy and paternalism with society is made of rational free individuals in a free market
How do conservatives have unity in their view over the economy?
All favour private investment
How do conservatives vary in their view of the economy?
- One nation: have a mixed economy of private and public concerns and state welfare programmes in an aim to try to avoid issues of the free market
- New right: argues that the state intervention in the economy needs to be reduced, the liberal new right in particular calls for free-market economics on the grounds it meets consumer demand, maximises use of resources and generates prosperity
Name the 6 foundations of conservative ideology
- Pragmatism
- Tradition
- Human imperfection
- Organic society
- Paternalism
- Libertarianism
What is pragmatism and how does each branch of conservatism subscribe to it?
Pragmatism: the rejection of ideology or theory for practical experience
• Traditional: a way of facilitating gradual natural change, allowing for necessary change to preserve the existing state
• One Nation: Similar view but adopted a pragmatic approach to the economy by adopting private and public interests
Why do conservatives endorse tradition
- Institutions (church, parliament, monarchy) that have survived the test of time and have the accumulated knowledge of the past
- Originally tied to a ‘god given right’
- They provide a strong sense of identity and are familiar to people thus providing security to them and fosters social cohesion
What is human imperfection?
- Conservatives have pessimistic view of human nature as flawed and never able to reach perfectionism
- Human nature must be kept in check in order due to the capacity for evil
How do conservatives say humans are imperfect?
- Morally - selfish and greedy, therefore robust law and order system required to keep this in check
- Psychologically - limited and dependent, crave safety and security
- Intellectually - intellect and reasoning is limited and do not have the capacity to make sense of a complex, changing world
Describe the concept of an organic society
- Conservatives say that we are dependent and groups within society (family, local community) help to provide security we crave
- Human must accept responsibilities that come with being part of such groups (e.g being a parent, a respectful child/student)
- Society has developed and exists in a symbiotic way with groups dependent on each other to work to keep the ‘body’ of society alive
What do conservatives believe will happen if the organic nature of society is disrupted?
- Attempts to re figure it would alter the balance of the nature of society and could destroy it
- By removing the order/balance/hierarchy would remove the sense of security provided by tradition, people not know where they belong in society
Describe the conservative view of paternalism
- Governing is done by people best equipped to lead - by virtue of birth, inheritance and upbringing, a ‘natural aristocracy’
- Linked to hierarchy and organic society
- Two types - soft where the recipient gives consent and hard where paternalism is imposed
How do the two branches of conservatism vary in their views of paternalism?
- Traditional: would endorse hard paternalism, the state is strongly authoritarian and controls society with a firm hand with the best interest of the organic society at heart
- One Nation: soft paternalism, the idea of ‘noblesse oblige’ with there a duty of care for the poor who are governed by the ruling elite
