conservatism Flashcards
what is classical liberal attitudes to the state?
state is necessary because it prevents social disorder and the exploration of the disadvantages and vunerable.
however state power is suspect because as human nature is self seeking people could use any position of power to benefit themselves at the expense of others.
the concentration of state power has to be opposed since it encourages people to pursue their own self interest and to use other people for their own ends.
as such limited government has to be established based on consitonalism the separation of powers checks and balances and a bill of rights
devolution and federalism could be used to prevent the concentration of state power.
what is pragmatism?
-does reject theory and ideology in favour of practical experience the approach to society should be flexible. decisions should be made on what works best.
-does also imply a flexible approach to politics in that what is in the best interest of the people, what is acceptable to the public and what would maintain social stability and cohesion.
how did Oakeshott summarise this?
- ‘to be a conservative is to prefer the tried to the untried’.
what is conservative preference for pragmatism strongly linked to?
-strongly linked to the view of human rationality.
would contend that humans do lack the intellectual ability and powers of reasoning to fully comprehend the complex realities of the world.
-conservative tend to dismiss ideas that claim to improve life. pricples such as human rights, classless society and equality are dangerous because they can promote a reordering of society that does lead to a worse rather than better condition.
-conservatives do try to avoid rigid ideological approach to issues, preferring to act in a pragmatic way that does emphasis caution, moderation and a sense of historical continuity..
what do critics say about pragmatism?
-does lack political pricples and encourage politicians to follow rather than lead public opinion.
what do traditional conservatives say about pragmatism?
-traditional conservatives such as thinker burks did argue that cautious pragmatism enables a society to adapt to changing circumstances by introducing moderate changes/reforms rather than reject change completely and risk revolution. A key to this aim is a change to conserve policy is to safeguard the essential features of society such as propoerty, tradition, order and established intuitions such as the monarchy.
Edmund burk did say that it is an essential element in facilitating natural or inevitable change within a society. the type of change should not be opposed as a state without the means of some change is without the means of its conservation. For the state to keep going it would have to adapt to some extent.
-burk view did maintain that it would bring about necessary change peacefully through evolution where the unbending pursuit of revolution or reaction would lead to conflict or chaos.
key features of society such as order propoerty, tradition and established institutions can only be preserved through pragmatic policy that does take into account shifting circumstances and recognise occasions when it is necessary to change to conserve.
what do one nation conservatives say about pragmatism?
-they do say that they hold similar attitudes to social reform. however more recently they have adopted a pragmatic middle way approach to the economy that combines market competition with government regulation.
these conservatives do argue that this moderate economic course promotes growth and social harmony by encouraging wealth creation through private enterprise and generating the funding for state welfare programmes.
what is tradition?
Does refer to the instiions, customs and belief’s of a society that has developed over time. the term does also implies that such practises will be passed on from generation to generation.
according to Chesterton ‘tradition does mean giving votes to the most obscure of all classes, our ancestors. it is the democracy of the dead. tradition does refuse to submit the small and arrogant oligarchy of those who merely happen to be walking about.’
what are the arguments in favour of pragmatism?
human nature, humans lack the intellectual ability to fully understand the complex realities of the world. theories abstract ideas or ideologies do claim that to explain or improve the condition of human life are rejected as potentially destabilising.
society, abstract ideas and pricples such as equality and rights are dangerous as they could lead to radical change (often through revolution) that does produce worse rather than better conditions.
the state a pragmatic approach that emphasise caution, moderation, gradualism and Contuity will introduce necessary change or reform without endangering social cohesion or stability.
the economy, the one nation conservative approach does justify pragmatism by saying that it does promote growth and social stability by creating wealth through the private sector.
what are the arguments in favour of tradition?
human nature, tradition does provide humans who are weak and security seeking with the social framework to make sense of society and their place within it.
society long established intuitions customs and practises give communities and nations a strong sense of identity that encourages social cohesion and security. any attempt to remove the traditional base of society will lead to insecurity and instability.
the state tradition does represent the accumulated wisdom of the past. state intuitions and practises have proved it to be fit for purpose over time examples include the monarchy, consition and the house of lords. should be preserved for the benefit of future generations.
the economy the capitalist market system has endured as an efficient, dynamic and productive form of economic organisation. it should be maintained as long as it does not undermine conservative values.
what do conservative say about tradition?
-some believe it as god given. human that therefore attempt to change these social arrangement are challenging the will of god and are likely to undermine society rather than improve it.
-drawing on edmund bruk , conservatives do maitain that tradition consititues the accumulated wisdom of the past. they have demonstrated their value to earilers societies and showed that they are fi for purpose.
-for this reasons they should be preserved so that current and future generation can also benefit from them. for example the monarchy has prmoted a sense of national unity and pride over the centuaries as seen in 2011 royal wedding.
-tradition does establish a conuity and social stbaility.
what does bruke say to back the argument of tradition?
he did state that society was a partnership not only between those who are living but between those who are living those who are dead and those who are born. each generation had a Solem duty to safeguard and pass on accumulated wisdom of tradition to the next generation.
how can change be justified according to conservatives?
reform or change could only be justified if it evolves naturally in a peaceful, gradual way in order to strengthen existing instions, customs and practises.
conservatives say that by seeking to destroy all traditional political and social isntiions.
the French in 1789 and Bolsheviks were cutting themselves off from their past and paving their way for regimes that were more tyrannical that the one they had toppled.
why do they put forward tradition?
- does provide society and the individual with a strong sense of identity.. long established instions, customs and practises are familiar and provide individuals with sense of belonging to society.
-it does foster social cohesion and security as it does offer humans a reassuring collective sense of who they are and establish ties between people and specific societies.
-any attempt to cut of traditional basis of society will lead to instability, insecurity and anxiety.
conservative opponents of the labour government in late 1990s did argue that devolved assemblies and house of lords reform would undermine the consitional stability of the uk and create a mood of public uncertainty.
what are the conservative view of human imperfection?
-do argue that human are flawed and incapable of reaching a state of perfection.
-conservatism does also stress that human nature is immutable.
-human perfection has to be kept in check due to the human capacity of evil.
conservatives do stress that
-a tough stance on law and order is required
-foreign policy had to be based on national security rather than liberal notion of international co operation and harmony
-human behaviour is competitive, self interest is more powerful than altruism.
for conservatives humans are flawed psychologically, morally, and intellectually.
three aspects of human imperfection
phycological
-an ordered society does provide security, predictability, and stability. liberty bring choice change and uncertainty.
-people need social order rather than liberty
-they need safety and security knowing their place in society
what is the moral aspect of human imperfection?
humans are morally imperfect.
-human nature does account for anti social or criminal behaviour, not social or economic deprivation
-tough law and order system that punished conduct is the only Deterrent capable of taking human moral imperfection
what is the intellectual aspect of human imperfection?
-all humans lack the intellect and power of reasoning to understand a complex world
-conservative reject theories and ideologies that claim to explain or predict the development of human society.
-humans should be pragmatic and rely on history
-humans should draw on history experience to understand their place in the world
-humans do not posses the mental faculties to make sense of a complex world
what is the conservative view of the organic society or state?
-people cannot exist separately from society as a whole or from social groups such as the family or local community.
-society and social groups do provide individuals with a sense of Secuity and purpose and prevent the development of an anomie. which is a condition of instability affecting individuals and societies produced by a breakdown in social standards and values by a lack of purpose or ideals.
-humans accept the duties, responsibilities that go with belonging to a society such as being a caring parent.
what does an organic state or society say it repsents?
- for conservatives it does represent true freedom, a willing acceptance of the value of social obligations and ties. if people did not acknowledge these reasonability’s human society would lack social cohesion and descend into atomism.
what do conservatives endorse?
organsicim, the idea of an organci society or state. this perspective views society as a lving organsim, with all parts working together to ensure that the body does reamin healthy.
what do conservatives endorse?
organismic, the idea of an organic society or state. this perspective views society as a living organism, with all parts working together to ensure that the body does remain healthy.
what do conservative believe underpin the idea of an organic society?
belief in hierarchy and authority. conservatism had traditionally argued that society is naturally hierachal , based on fixed social ranks and inequalities.
individuals vary in terms of their talents, intellect, skills and work rate.
what do conservative say about an organic society inequality?
-they do maintain that however an organic society must rest on inequality, different classes and groups do have to perform specific roles. for example some do have to provide leadership or manage commercial Enteprises.
-it does produce natural inequalities in terms of financial rewards and social status
-it is justified by for example manager and employers enjoy high living standard than their workers but they carry the burden of protecting jobs and economic well being of their workforces.
-it is therefore argued that organic society does encourage paternalism as a mean to ensure social cohesion..
what do traditional conservatives say about hireachy?
an organic society has to be organised as a hierarchy because people are not equal e.g in terms of their ability and work rate. Different jobs are rewarded differently depending on the contribution that they make.
what do they say organic society is reinforced by?
-authority conservativism does contend that authority develops naturally or organically in much the same way as society. this form of authority operates in a top down manner, shapes relations between the different social groups and permeates all social instions. authority does reside with political leaders, employers, mangers, teachers.
-they argue that authority does perform a vital and positive function providing humans with security, direction and support. Authority does promotes social cohesion. the leadership exercised by those in authority is an example to be admired, respected and accepted.
-alot would assert that actions of people holding authority are limited by natural responsibilities that accompany their privileged position.
what is paternalism?
it is the traditional conservative belief that government should be conducted by those best equipped to lead and make decisions through birth, inheritance and upbringing. paternalism is strongly linked to conservative views on hierarchy, order and organic society..
it does represent a form of benign power exerted from above the state that governs in the interest of the population as a whole. one nation conservativism softened this action..
what did burk argue about paternalism?
natural aristocracy presided over society alot like a farther did over his family the social elites does provide leadership because of its innate or hereditary abilities just as a farther exercises authority, ensures
protection and provides guidance.
what are aspects of paternalism?
-skills and talents cannot be obtained by hard work or self improvement. those at the top have a duty to care for the lower social ranks.
wisdom and experinece of paternalistic leaders confer natural authority as they known what is best for the rest of society. these leaders were drawn from aristocratic elite that had been educated in the values of social obligation and publi service. the cecil family and stanely family a good example of high born paternalistic conservative political leaders.
where had paternalism been evident?
-one nation paternalistic conservativism has relied on government regulation of the economy, and social welfare measure to improve conditions for the poorest in society.
-david cameron did call on paternalism when he called for compassionate conservativism.
what does neo liberalism say about paternalism?
-does reject the idea of paternalism
-based partly on free market economics, neo liberalism does aim to reduce the size of the state so that the unregulated market can generate a more dynamic and efficient economy leading to increased growth and prosperity.
-from this perspective government intervention in the economy or state control undermines human initiative and enterprise, resulting in economic stagnation..
-the neo liberal faith in individualism does challenge conservative notion of paternalism.
-by stressing the importance of self help individual, responsibility and personal initiative, neo liberals view welfare programmes and social reform negatively,,
-in their view they promote a dependency culture among poorer people and undermine the free market.
what does the new right say about paternalism?
he New Right, however, rejects paternalism, suggesting that government intervention in the economy leads to inefficient outcomes for all, and that the welfare state saps people’s motivations and promotes a ‘dependency culture’, where people rely on state ‘handouts’ rather than working for themselves.
what do one nation conservatism say about paternalism?
Paternalism is strongly seen in the One Nation tradition, where the state had a responsibility to look after those who were least well-off in society.
-by the mid 20th centaury one nation conservatism had added a middle way economic approach to social reform in its pursuit of paternalistic policies.
-moderate conservative government of the 1950s and 1960s did steer a course between free market economics and state planning, on the ground that the former led to social fragmentation and failure to protect the poorest, while the latter stifled individual initiative and Entreprenurial flair.
-economic policy combined government regulation and market competition to produce, in the word of harlo Macmillian private enterprise without selfishness.
-however there were limits to paternalism in a sense that improving conditions for poorer groups was motivated by a desire to strengthen hierarchical nature
what is libertarianism?
-does emphasis the right of individuals to liberty, advocating only minimal state intervention in the lives of citizens.
-liberatarism with its emphasis on maximum economic freedom and minimal government regulation in social affairs, provides a rival conservative core value to paternalism
how did burk advocate for libertarianism?
-burk advocated free trade and a market economy on the ground that such arrangements were efficient, just and natural.
what do neo liberalism say about libertarism?
- associated with the policies of uk conservative prime minister Margret thatcher and us president Ronald Regan neo liberalism reject state intervention and champions the free market economy. it does fundamentally oppose Keynesian style demand management and welfare programmes.
-according to neo liberals economists the free market is the only mechanism that can efficiently supply good and services on the basis of consumer demand.
-they justify there opposition to state intervention by calling for individual liberty, personal freedom can only be guaranteed by rolling back the state particularly social welfare programmes.
-neo liberal objection to the state is partly economic and partly moral
n its modern form, libertarian conservatism is more commonly known as the liberal New Right or
neo-liberalism.
what are the different views within conservatism on hierarchy?
traditional conservatives say a hierarchy is a functional necessity because different people have to do different jobs and are rewarded differently (in pay and status) depending on contribution that they make. hierarchy ensures that everyone works together harmoniously for the overall health of the social body.
-traditional conservatism does defend he established order in society based on a commitment to organicism, hierarchy and paternalism.
what do conservatives say about hierarchy?
Throughout the ages, conservatives have believed that the existence of a hierarchy facilitates an organic society[1] which evolves naturally according to the needs of society. Only a natural evolving process can ever secure our fundamental need for stability.
what did Edmund burk say about in relation to hierarchy?
edmund Burke’s ‘Reflections on the Revolution in France.’ Burke warned against the consequences of seeking to impose abstract ideals and ignoring the importance of tradition within French society.
-Without a sense of hierarchy, society itself could collapse. People from all walks of life have a part to play in the maintenance of society and – in the words of the seminal conservative philosopher Edmund Burke – we should “love the little platoon in society to which we belong.”
what do conservatives say about authority?
Authority means the ability / power / right to give orders, make decisions and enforce compliance with those decisions and laws. It is usually associated with the existence of a person or organisation, such as a government, that has political or administrative control and power.
According to conservatives, without a sense of hierarchy and respect for authority, society would descend into a state of anarchy
what do conservatives say about authority?
- Thomas Hobbes. He argued that without order we would revert to a state of nature in which life would be “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short.” It would also be characterised by “a war of all against all.”
-In order to prevent this, Hobbes argued in favour of a “Leviathan” whose authority would develop from the people themselves. Crucially, Hobbes claimed that a Leviathan would be prevented from becoming a tyrant because he – like everyone else – wished to preserve a state of affairs most favourable to himself.
what do other philosophers say about authority?
During the Enlightenment, the Scottish philosopher David Hume argued that the most satisfactory form of government would be based upon uniform and general laws. He believed that such a government was most likely to please those living under its command.
what do conservatives say about immigration?
-one aspect of neo conservatism is a concern about the nation a desire to strengthen national identity in the face of perceived threats form within and without.
- the value of the nation from their perspective is that it binds together giving it a common culture and civic identity, which is stronger for being rooted in history and tradition.
-national patriotism does strengthen political will
-the most significant threat from the nation is multiculturalism which does weaken the bond of nationhood by threatening political community and creating the spectre of ethnic and racial conflict.
-neoconservative have been in the forefront of campaigners for stronger control on immigration and sometimes for a privileged status to be granted to the host of community culture.
what do conservatives say about mutlicultralism?
it is the idea that in a society there should be a positive endorsement of communal diversity, based on the rights of different cultural groups to recognition and respect.
-most of the anti immigration nationalist backlash against multiculturalism draws from essentially conservative assumptions.
-they say there objection to it is that shared values and common culture are a necessary precondition for a stable and successful society.
what do conservatives argue about multiculturalism?
-has led to people from diffrent cultural groups leading seperate lives in sergegated communtiies.
-conservatives do agrue that human beings are limited , dependent and secuirty seeking.
-they fear diversity and are drawn to others that share the same lifestyle, customs and shared values as themselves.
-multicultalrism is based on the recognition and celebration of diffrence which does directly clash with human nature. there can be no diveristy within unity as multicultural societies would lead to sergegation, conflcit and instability.
-conservatives would say that immigration has increased this concern and recent immigrants do not idenitty with the traditions and politcal outlook of the state, leading to a weakening sense of national identity.
what do conservatives say multiculturalism lead to?
- an increase in multiculturalism will lead to a rise in resentment among the majority population. treating all creatures as equal will damage the culture of the majority community leading to hostility driven by fear.
-david cameron did argue “We have even tolerated segregated communities behaving in ways that run counter to our values” . In France, President Sarkozy made this point even more clearly in 2011 when he claimed. “We have been too concerned about the identity of the person who is arriving and not enough about the identity of the country that is receiving him”.
what do conservative say about intergration?
-it is the idea that the culture and belief of immigrants should be mixed with the culture and beliefs of the host nation.
-argument in favour of integration is that this stops there being a host nation culture and a seperateimmigrant culture, but instead culture is mixed or integrated. it does mean that the culture of the country is continually revised.
what do they argue about integration?
conservative critics of integration do say that those who argue for a new and inclusive national identity that is not based on national traditions are in fact detemring the history and culture of the majority.
-they assert that critics of those against integration do seek to demonise the culture of the host nation by associating it with a history colonisation, racism, and exploitation which makes the host nation look bad
-conservative critics of integration complain that by favouring minority right in promoting the interest of minorities a situation is created in which reverse discrimination is expected by the majority.
-enoch powells river of blood speech does highlight his racial hatred.
what is assimilation, the conservative solution to diversity?
-assimilation is the process of affecting the relationship between diffrent social groups in a one way direction
-in assimilation the minoirty gorups are expected to adopt the values and bleief of the majoirty..
-according to conservatives assimilation does create the strong homogenised national identity necessary for civic unity.
-cultural differences are reduced by forcing minorities to adopt the customs and beliefs of the majority
what is welfare?
it is defined as support for those who face vulnerability and improvement.. such support can be for preferable circumstances for example unemployment or illness welfare especially that delivered through the welfare state supports people who are in work and out of work.
what is the support for welfare?
-welfare is important for reasons of equity and efficiency. protecting the vunerable and impoverished is important as a moral imperative. society should support those in hardship. it is to some extent unfair to deny people resources and oppounities to have a reasonable standard of living or experience social mobility.
-it can also help people overcome the challenges that they face and it can allow them to become financially independent, thereby reducing the burden upon public finances in the long run an widening the talent pool available for uk businesses.
what do conservatives believe about welfare.
-support for welfare is low. in contrast ot the high levels fo support enjoyed by other major areas of publci spending such as the nhs the propotion of public idetitying welfare as a first or secodn spending prioirty for goverment is down from 13% in 1990 to 5% in 2012.
according to bright blue report 69 per cent of conservative voters do agee that welfare benefits are too generous, compared to only 25 per cent of laboru vote and 25 per cent of liberal democract.
where is conservatives disagreement for welfare illustrated?
a series of reforms have been implemented to try to reduce the size of the welfare budget the government welfare budget has increase in recent decades, no costing 120 billion a year and accounting for over 17 peer cent of all public spending.
main attempts to slim the welfare budget do include the introduction from 2015-16 a cap on the department for work and pensions annual manged expenditure which includes working age benefits and pensions the means of testing of child benefits since 2013-14 and limiting the up rating of benefits to !% equating to a cut in real terms..
conservatives do also encourage more people to work, alot of families do not receive substantial increases int heir incomes as they move into work because the rate at which their benefits are withdrawn. to make work pay the government has introduced the universal credit with a standard taper rate of 65% of earned income.
the government has also introduced greater conditionality on those claiming benefits for example workfare to make people work ready.
the mandatory work activity programme ahs imposed workfare upon some jsa claimant’s. further plans for workfare for 18 to 21 year old out of work for more than 6 months have been announced by David Cameron
they also introduced greater fairness, steps have been taken to ensure that government does not provide funding which results in those on out of work benefits gaining more than the average household earnings. this is the justification for the benefit cap.
what factors influence the support the public have for the welfare system?
the economic cycle
personal experience
the media
intuitional structure of the welfare system
political leadership
the views and principles of individuals
research does show that the number of negative stories about benefit claimants in the media actually fell from 1998 to 2006 th eeprido during support fell sharply
what did Edmund burke say about the government?
Edmund Burke wrote that “government is a contrivance of human wisdom to provide for human wants”.(1) Governments have a wide range of possible actions.
what do conservatives say about laissez faire system?
A laissez-faire system is an economic system in which the government tries to avoid interfering in the economy; it is closely associated with capitalism. Conservatives argue that a system based upon private ownership (namely capitalism) is superior to the statist alternative for a number of reasons.
why do conservative believe in a laissex fair system?
it does facilitate those who wish to get on in life. the conservative party has consistently sought to present itself as offering help to hard working individuals and families. in order to back up this argument one could consider policies such as providing mortgage tax relief to the sale of council homes at a substantial discount.
-conservatives are also sympathetic towards laissez fair capitalism as they feel it does benefit everyone.. the economic activity generated by those on high incomes is advantageous of all members of society due to economic growth, greater levels of consumer choice and an increase in investment. while the result of the trickle down effect is an uneven distribution of wealth an in income conservatives take the view that such an outcome is both inevitable and desirable.
-conservatives also say that the freerer the market the freer the people.. the ability so spend the wealth we earn is an important element of the free market. state intervention within the economy inevitably limits our economic freedom as it does entail the government confiscating our wealth. for instance home ownership does mean that we are relatively free to do as we wish with our property.
what do conservative say about property?
-conservatives do take a positive view of an economic system that is based on private ownership. all conservatives do believe that laissez fair capitalism is a lot better system that common ownership of the means of production.
the individuals would be a lot likely to respect their own and other propoerty as opposed to the bureaucratic hand of the state.
-he/ she had a very clear incentive to improve their homes in terms of its sentimental and financial value.
-all conservative do reject the liberal argument that they have a right to property. instead there should be an emphasis son obligations that do derive from private propoerty such as respect for others.
-issue of private property is the dividing line between left and right within the political spectrum. the left do disagre as the collectivist anarchist Pierre-Joseph Proudhon argued that “all property is theft.
what do conservative say that private property does benefit us by?
-does provide us with a sense of security it offer physical and phycological protection from the pressures of the world outside and something to fall back on during difficult financial times.
-homeowners have a stake in society as they promote conservative values such as maintenance of law and order.
-it does enable us to reflect our sense of individuality and what values are important to our family.
-it does also enable us to pass down our wealth to members of our own family.
what is neo liberlalism?
promoted by the work of economists such as Milton firedmand and Fredrick Hayek principally champions the free market economy.
-it does see the free market as the only mechanism that can meet consumer demand for good and services efficiently and widely maximise the use of resources and achieve the greatest overall prosperity.
-they argue government intervention cannot solve economic problems such as inflation in the 1970s or properly allocate resources within a developed economy.
-government involvement does cause these economic problems or make them worse.
what do they say about the free market?
it has to be protected against three main threats monopolies, inflation and government intervention.
businesses or industrial int heir view do reduce economic competition leading to distorted prices and consumer choice.
-neo liberals does contend that inflation is the great evil in the market economy as any fall in the value of money does discourage economic activity and cause a break in the relationship between price level and demand.
-overcoming inflation is they argue the one vital role the government can play in the economy.
what did Friedman say about keynesian policies?
-stimulate demand create inflation by encouraging government to print too much money or provide too much credit.
-his solution known as monetarism is for the government to reduce inflation by controlling the money supply through cuts in public spending.
-Regan and thatcher did pursue monetarist policies to take inflation in the 1980s.
-neo liberal approach to economic policy is known as supply side economics to distguish it from the Keynesian focus on demand.
what do liberal new right think of goverment intervention?
-it is the most potent threat to the free market.
-state planning, nationalisation and high taxation are aspect that are all rejected on the ground that they disort the market and contribute to economic problems.
-Marget thatcher did embark on extensive policy in the 1980s that transferred state owned industries to the private sector.
-thatcher said nationalised industries were inefficient and lacked dynamism associated with the private sector need to generate profits.
what do neo liberlas think of welfare?
in their view welfare and social programmes expand, irrespective of demand due to the vested interest of the professionals concerned (such as doctors, teachers, administrators) and politicians (who promise increased government spending on these service in order to secure votes at election time). The end result is high taxation, rising inflation, and increasingly inefficient and bloated state services artificially protected from the free market competition.
a lot of neo liberals do maintain that improve efficiency, public services, and other government agencies should be exposed to the competitive forces of the market economy.
what do neo liberals think of individualism?
they advocate atomistic individualism (the idea that individuals are rational, self interested and self sufficient) which is clearly linked to the liberal new right belief in free market economics.
according to the liberal new right the freedom of the market is the guaranteed individuals freedom.
the liberal new right do say that although humans may be selfish, they are rational and entitled to pursue their own interest in their own way as long as they accept others can do the same. this approach to individualism claim neo liberals releases human potential and creates natural harmony through free relations between people.
-neo liberals view freedom in negative terms, stressing the need to remove external constraints or limitations on the individual. individual freedom can only be preserved by opposing collectivism and rolling back the state.
what do neo liberals say about welfare?
they critsice welfare policies for creating a dependency culture and infringing propoerty rights by imposing high taxes on individuals to fund benefit payments. such as system in their views actually institionalises poverty and unemployment and undermines atomistic individualism.
what is neo conservativism and how do they view the state?
- other element of the new right known as neo conservatism can be seen as a mild type of authoritarianism.
-development of neo conservatism was a reaction against the reform ideas, and permissive attitudes of so called liberal 1960s.
-the changes threaten society with social fragmentation which can only be stopped by strong political leadership and authority.
-both compeonents of the new right neo liberalisms and neo conservatism do agree on the nessceity of reducing the state role in the economy.
how does neo conservatism differ from one nation conservatism in its attitude to the state?
-stress authority and the need to preserve society that shows that the conservative new right is influenced to some extent by traditional conservative notion of organismic.
-it is a lot more authoritarian than one nation conservatism as it does seek to strengthen society by reasserting authority and social discipline rather than through social reform and welfare measures.
what do neo conservatives stress?
- a need to uphold social order and protect public mortality. They maintain that since the 1960s authority and respect have declined in western nations leading to high crime figures and more anti social behaviour.
-argue for re imposition of authority and discipline at every level of society to restores authority of traditional social structures such as family with its natural internal relationships based on hierarchy and parichy.
what do neo conservatives say about the state?
-do promote strong state or state auhtriasim with increased police power and harsher punishments to Tackle crime and public disorder.
-both thatcher and Regan adopted a tough stance on law on order in the 1980s believing that prison sentence did provide hard lessons.
what do neo conservative say in relation to freedom or alternative lifestyle ?
-reject permissiveness suggesting there is no objective right and wrong
-the anti permissiveness could stem from the emergence of anything goes culture in some western countries during the 1960s
-Margret thatcher did condemn this as she advocated Victorian values and organisation such as the moral majority in the usa did campaign for traditional values.
-individual concerned that would adopt a immoral lifestyle is unacceptable to religious elements within the neo conservative ranks in the usa
-people should not be free to choose different moral positions as it does prevent the development of common moral standards.
what does the conservative new right think of multiculturalism?
- it does threaten social and national unity by dividing society along ethnic racial and religious lines.
new right is found in two distinct but opposed ideological traditions?
neo-liberalism or the liberal New Right – a modernised version of classical liberalism, based
on a commitment to the free-market economy, the minimal state, and individual freedom and
responsibility
* neo-conservatism or the conservative New Right – an updated form of traditional conservative
social thinking, based on a commitment to order, traditional values and public morality
what does the new right say?
the New Right contains radical,
traditional and reactionary elements. Its determination to abandon government interventionism in
economic and social affairs, and attack ‘permissive’ social attitudes (the belief that people should
make their own moral choices) is clear evidence of the New Right’s radicalism. At the same time,
neo-conservatives stress the benefits of traditional values. New Right conservatism also exhibits
reactionary tendencies. Both neo-liberals and neo-conservatives often appear to want to turn
the clock back to the 1800s, which they regard as a mythical age of economic liberty and moral
responsibility.
what do traditional conservatives say about society?
-living or organic entity with complex interconnections and relationships.
any changes will affect other parts in negative ways.
-radical or abrupt changes are to be avoided when change is desirable to adapt to a new situation an organic society must evolve naturally in its own speed through small pragmatic reforms to minimise any harmful consequences.
-it does defined the established order in society based on a commitment to organicism, hierarchy and paternalism.
what do traditional conservatives say about hierarchy?
-organic society if founded on tried and tested intuitions that in various ways do confer privileges, authority, responsibilities and obligations.
- these social arrangements are held in place by custom and tradition accumulated wisdom and experience of the past.
-any changes introduced must preserve the best features of society and reconcile them to new circumstances.
-reform has to be pragmatic drawing on the lesson of history and tradition to establish practical, effective solutions.
-also any implementation of ideological blueprints to bring about an ideal society could only lead to disaster. swift changes do lead to social breakdown and destruction.
what do traditional conservative say about a hierarchy in society?
-it has to be organise into a hierarchy as people do not have the same abilities, talents and energy so it is natural that society reflect this and artificial that all human should be considered equal.
a-all people do different jobs and should be rewarded differently depending on the contribution that they make.
-it ensures that everyone works together harmoniously for the overall health of the society.
what do traditional conservatives say in relation to elitsim?
during the 18th and early 19th centauries the leadership of society was assumed by the aristocracy. traditional conservatives justified this form of elite rule as they say it was natural since for generations the upper class had been raised to govern at all levels and had been educated in the values of social obligation and public service.
-they also justify it by paternalism or nobles oblige
-longstanding practise of the elite dues ensure those position in authority could drawn class and family tradition of leadership, duty and social responsibility and this is meant that they were best placed to make decision on the behalf o society.
-they justify it in other word by soft paternalism in their view other social groups within an organic society accept that the natural leaders are equipped to act in the best interest of all.
one nation conservatism who is it central figure and what is it about?
its central figure is bejamin disreali, he felt that capitalism did encourage a self interested individualism that undermined the idea of social responsibility and threatened to split Britain into two nations the rich and the poor.
what did Disraeli call for in one nation conservatism?
-he did call for conservatism to renew its commitment to the concept’s of reform and social obligation
-his motives were pragmatic and pricpled.
-reforms to improve the poorest in society would reduce the likelihood of large scale social discontent preserving the position of the upper classes.
-measures would probably increase working class support
-he did maintain that the rich had a duty to help the poor.
what did Disraeli say about organic society in one nation conservatism?
organic society did depend not only on top down authority but also on the governing elites acceptance of social responsibility for less fortunate people
-in an industrialised society Disraeli did conclude conservative paternalism should now embrace social reform or welfarism to strengthen national unity and thus preserve one nation.
what were the main features of one nation conservatism?
-maintenance of traditional insitions
speeches at Manchester and crystal palace in 1872 Disraeli did Signal his determination to uphold traditional British intuitions, such as the monarchy and the church of England.
-was based on one nation view such insitions had proved themselves over time, provided stability and offered a focus for national loyalty and identity across the classes.
-his defence of these insitions did include creating the title empress of India in 1876 for queen Victoria to link the monarch with British sense of imperia pride.
imperialism
-at Manchester and crystal place in 1872 Disraeli also praised imperialism arguing that the British empire did allow Britain to play an influential role in the world stage
-his support was an important element in one nation as the theme of empire appealed to all classes.
reforms to improve condition for the working class
social and other reforms were introduced to forge an alliance between the traditional ruling class and the workers and to offset the negative effects of laissez faire capitalism and remove the possibility of revolution.
what does one nation conservatism think of welfare?
reforms to improve condition for the working class
social and other reforms were introduced to forge an alliance between the traditional ruling class and the workers and to offset the negative effects of laissez faire capitalism and remove the possibility of revolution.
examples artisans dwelling act 1875
sales of food and drugs act 1875
conspiracy and protection of propoerty act 1875
second reform act 1867
