Conservatism Flashcards
Which key thinkers support pragmatism?
Burke
Oakeshott
Describe pragmatism
- practicality
- focusing on what works
What branches of Conservatism favour pragmatism?
- Traditional
- One Nation
New Right is a lot more ideological in their outlook
Pragmatism on change
- against radical change
- evolution not revolution
What does pragmatism entail a complete rejection of?
- abstract ideas/theory/ideology
Give two pragmatism quotes
‘what counts is what works’
‘if it ain’t broke don’t fix it’
When did conservatism make a complete break from pragmatic conservatism?
1979 General Election
Thatcher’s ideological stance
What does pragmatism emphasise?
caution
moderation
continuity
stability
Principle of Tradition
accumulated wisdom of past societies, e.g. monarchy and parliament
favours customs and practises of the past
Root of Tradition
Religion
What does tradition enhance?
human security
Burke on Tradition
each generation has a duty to pass these traditions on to the next generational
Building blocks of society that should be passed down to our children:
institutions
monarchy
british constitution
nuclear family
marriage
What does destroying tradition lead to?
tyrannical regimes e.g. Soviet Russia and French Revolution
Example of todays conservative party favouring tradition
2/3 tories voted against same sex marriage in the house of commons
Conservative view of human nature
- pessimistic
- imperfect, insecure and limited
- psychologically, morally and intellectually flawed
What do conservatives believe is needed to keep humans in check?
- tougher stance on law and order
- national security over international cooperation
- self interest over altruism
What do conservatives believe will never keep humans in check?
idealistic or utopian political schemes such as ones based on fraternity or equality
What do conservatives believe is the only viable economic system?
capitalism as it human nature is essentially competitive and self interested
New Right on Human Nature
atomistic individualism means human beings are self reliant and rational in decision making
Rand and Nozick
What type of society does conservatism favour?
organic society
Define organic society
society operates like an organism
the whole is more than a collection of its individual parts
What makes up a organic society?
- family
- law and order
- religion
- institutions of power
What does an organic society enable?
stability
What is paternalism?
the idea that government should ‘parent’ their ‘children’ - governing their best interests
What is noblesse oblige?
those of a high rank/status have an obligation to rule
What is the disadvantage of paternalism?
it increases dependency
Which branch of conservatism rejects paternalism?
neo-liberals
Why do neo-liberals reject paternalism?
- freedom should be valued above all else
- paternalism increases dependency
- paternalism stifles individual initiative
- paternalism leads to economic stagnation
What is libertarianism?
the right of the individual to liberty
What is libertarianism suspicious of?
authority and state power
Neo-Liberalism
favours minimal state and elimination of government intervention
Neo-Liberalism economic policy
laissez faire economics
What branch of Conservatism supports neo liberalism?
the New Right (Thatcherism)
What is neo conservatism?
- authority and discipline in moral and social matters
What does neo conservatism advocate?
- increased police powers and harsher sentences
Hobbes ‘Leviathan’
all obey government no matter how corrupt to avoid disaster and conflict
Hobbes on Human Nature
humans are needy and vulnerable
humans are easily led astray
Hobbes ‘State of Nature’
there was no authority in early human history
life was chaotic and brutal
authority and government is needed
What were Burke’s main principles?
- values tradition
- change is needed with great caution to maintain an organic society
What revolution did Burke support and why?
American Revolution
the aim was to protect ancient rights
What revolution did Burke critique and why?
French Revolution
it was based on theory and idealism
Burke on Human Nature
critical of individualism:
cannot rely on individual reason
can rely on tradition and custom
What does Burke believe tradition and customs are naturally based on?
practical knowledge and evidence not theory
an organic society develops naturally
Oakeshott on Human Nature
lack understanding of complex modern world
Oakeshott on Society
- modern society is unpredictable, therefore complex
- society cannot be understood in abstract ideas/principles
What approach is Oakeshott critical of?
- rationalism
- favours pragmatic and empirical approach
- abstract ideas do not work
Nozick on human nature
positive view
humans are rational who have the right to their own lives and liberties
What value does Nozick believe is fundamental to conservatism?
liberty
Nozick on the role of the state
minimal state
strictly limited to protection of person/property/contract
What approach does Nozick favour?
individualism
we have self ownership of mind/body/abilities
What was Ayn Rand’s main principle?
humans must pursue their own happiness as the highest moral aim
Rand on Human Nature
rational and ethical egoism
rational selfishness
Rand on role of the state
vital but limited
What economy does Rand support and why?
- free market capitalism
- it protects the right of the individual whilst separating from state and economics
Rand on Society
- society doesn’t exist
- atomism: we are a collection of individuals pursuing own happiness
Three branches of Conservatism
- Traditional
- One Nation
- New Right
How does human nature differ from traditional conservatism to new right conservatism?
traditional - pessimistic view, humans need guidance, humans are flawed
new right - humans are rational individuals who have the right to their own liberties
Traditional Conservatism on the state
paternalism, natural hierarchy, born to rule
One Nation on the state
states primary role is to preserve social order through welfare programmes, economic interventionism and the defence of traditional institutions and values (e.g. family and respect for authority)
Neo Liberals on the state
- rolling back the state
- state intervention stifles economic initiative and growth
- state intervention creates a dehabilitating dependency culture
Neo Conservatives on the state
- states role needs to be reduced
- calls for ‘strong state’ which is based on increased police powers, tougher punishments and anti permissive policies to combat crime, anti-social behaviour and permissive attitudes
One Nation on noblesse oblige
- supports it
- believes it can be developed to strengthen national unity
Which branches of Conservatism support organic society?
Traditional
One Nation
Which branches of Conservatism support noblesse oblige?
Traditional
One Nation
Which branches of Conservatism support paternalism?
Traditional
One Nation
Neo Liberalism on society
- rejects assumptions that underpin organic society e.g. natural hierarchy and paternalism
- view society as composed of independent and rational individuals operating within a free markert
How does One Nation conservatism remove the possibility of revolution?
reforms to improve working conditions for working class
in order to offset the negative effects of laissez faire capitalism
forged an alliance between classes
Who established One Nation conservatism?
Benjamin Disraeli
Sought to redefine conservatism
In order to appeal to the masses
Preserve institutions of power and the state
New Right economic policy
monetarism
less money in circulation = more value of money
less inflation so less strikes
more productivity and more investment
New Right on the state
should not intervene areas of private morality
state needed to be stripped back to the minimum
Neo Liberal features of Thatcherism
- monetarism
- privatisation
- deregulation of private sector
- restricting trade union power
Neo Conservative features of Thatcherism
- defence of traditional family values
- strong law and order
- opposition to promotion of homosexuality
- strict censorship laws
