Conservatism

Question 1

What is tradition?

Answer 1

Institutions, beliefs and customs that society has developed over time

These practices/institutions are passed down over time

Question 2

What does tradition create?

Answer 2

Social cohesion and security —> people feel reassured living in society as it has worked for many generations before them

Question 3

What key thinker is associated with tradition?

Answer 3

Edmund Burke

Question 4

What is pragmatism?

Answer 4

Being practical

Humans are unable to actually understand the complex world

People should move away from ideology and towards decisions that make changed in a cautious and limited way

Question 5

What does pragmatism do?

Answer 5

It looks at what HAS worked in previous generations

This creates stability as people use tradition for the best examples

Question 6

What are the key thinkers associated with pragmatism?

Answer 6

Hobbes

Burke

Oakeshott

Question 7

What is Human Imperfection?

Answer 7

Humans are fundamentally flawed and incapable of understanding the complex world around them

Therefore people will make poor decisions that benefit only themselves

Question 8

How should society combat human imperfection?

Answer 8

Society should make boundaries for this through a tough stance on law and order and foreign policy based on security rather than co-operation and promoting self interest rather than altruism

Question 9

What are the three aspects of human imperfection?

Answer 9

Psychological: humans desire familiarity and safety within society, people need an ordered society to provide this security and stability

Moral: humans are naturally selfish and imperfect - they may commit crime which benefits them only - tough law and order is required in order to prevent this

Intellectual: humans are unable to fully understand the world around them - humans should be pragmatic and rely on tradition to understand their surroundings

Question 10

Key thinkers associated with human imperfection?

Answer 10

Hobbes and Oakeshott

Question 11

What is an organic society?

Answer 11

Society functions like a living organism, all of its parts work together to maintain cohesions of the whole society

Atomism is therefore avoided

Question 12

What are the main features of an organic society?

Answer 12

Hierarchy: based on inequalities of skills and intellect
Different groups are required to perform different tasks within society for it to function fully
Traditional institutions which should not be changed radically or frequently
Paternalism: where the most advantaged have the greatest responsibilities
Top down authority: which provides humans with direction and knowledge of direction to growth

Question 13

Key thinkers associated with organic society?

Answer 13

Edmund Burke

Question 14

What is paternalism?

Answer 14

The govt should be led by those who are quipped to lead and make decisions

It represents top down authority that governs the whole of the population and the elite have the right to this authority

It also instructs those with wealth to help the less fortunate in society (one nation conservatism)

Question 15

Libertarianism

Answer 15

Reject paternalism and advocates from individual liberty, maximum economic freedom and minimal government intervention

Built on by neo-liberals who object state welfare as it creates a culture of dependency and people don’t work for their money or goods

Question 16

Traditional Conservatism key ideas:

Answer 16

Emerged in the late 1700s in response to the French Revolution and enlightenment

Edmund Burke

Organic society
Hierarchy
Gradual reform
Pragmatism
Tradition

Question 17

One nation key ideas

Answer 17

Emerged in the 1800s as a result of laissez-faire capitalism threatening the organic society and the increased industrialisation of the UK

Founder of one nation PM Disraeli - based on the ideas that the govt. is responsible;e for every single citizen within a society and laws govern everybody

Question 18

Three main ideas of Disraelis one nation conservatism

Answer 18

1. Maintain tradition (monarchy, the CofE and other traditional institutions had shown themselves to be stable and respected over time and give people a sense of pride)
2. Imperialism: the British empire allowed the Uk to play an influential role on a global scale - an empire appealed to all social classes
3. Social reform: offsetting the negative effects of laissez-faire capitalism and reducing the chances of revolution

Question 19

Keynesian Economics

Question 20

The New Right key ideas

Answer 20

Margaret Thatcher 1970s rivalled one nation (Thatcherism)
Combined neo-liberal and neo-conservatism

Economics throughout Western Europe faced inflation and unemployment, this was combatted with the new right in the UK and US with Reagan (Reaganism)

Question 21

Three main ideas of the New Right

Answer 21

Radical: opposes social and economics intervention in peoples lives
Traditional: family values, institutions and beliefs
Reactionary: economic freedom, individual moral responsibility, the ability to return to a previous state if the status quo isn’t working

Question 22

Neo-Liberalism