Conservatism Flashcards
Who are the five key thinkers for conservatism?
Thomas Hobbes
Edmund Burke
Michael Oakeshott
Ayn Rand
Robert Nozick
What two categories is Hobbes most useful for?
Society and human nature
What was Hobbes book where he developed two conservative ideas called?
Leviathan (1651)
What does Hobbes believe in terms of society?
Society should be ordered and balance the human need to live a free life.
In a ‘state of nature’, humans are free from authority and a ‘restless desire for power’ would lead to war.
Rational people would therefore sacrifice their freedom and nature rights for security through the establishment of political authority.
Government is therefore established by the joint consent of the people, and authorises those in power to preserve order and peace.
What does Hobbes believe in terms of human
nature?
Human demonstrate needy and vulnerable characteristics by:
- completing violently to obtain the basic necessities of life and other material gains
-fighting out of fear to ensure their personal safety
- seeking reputation, both for its own sake and to avoid being challenged by others.
Human capacity to reason is fragile and people’s attempts to interpret the world are distorted by self-interest and the concerns of the moment.
What two categories is Burke useful for?
State and society
What was the name of the book where Burke developed two key conservative ideas?
Reflections on the Revolution in France (1790)
What does Burke believe in terms of the
state?
Political change should be undertake with great caution and organically.
The state resembles a living organism like a plan that may be changed through gentle ‘pruning’ in order to preserve the stability and harmony of the social and political order.
Reform should be limited and cautious and be based on empiricism and tradition.
Revolutionary change threatens to cut off the ‘roots’ of the organic society leading to social and political breakdown.
What does Burke believe in terms of society?
He believes in tradition and empiricism.
They represent the accumulated and ‘tested’ wisdom of the past residing in society’s longstanding institutions, customs and practices.
Continuing respect for tradition and empiricism promotes social continuity and stability and provides the essential reference points for ‘necessary’ change.
They encourage social cohesion and security because they offer people a sense of being rooted in and tied to their particular society.
What are the names of the two books where
Oakeshott laid out his ideas?
Rationalism in Politics (1962) and On Human
Conduct (1975)
What two categories is Oakeshott useful for?
Society and the state.
What does Oakeshott suggest in terms of society?
Human imperfection- he suggests that society is unpredictable and humans are imperfect.
A ‘rationalist’ politicial leader is inclined to make decisions based on the ‘authority of his own reason.
This encourages the dngerous idea that the leader fully understands society and how it should be changed,
What does Oakeshott believe about the
state?
Political thinking and action should be guided by pragmatism and practical experience to ensure public acceptance, maintain social stability and cohesion and respond flexibly to shifting circumstances.
What two sections is Rand useful for?
Human nature and the economy.
What are Rand’s two novels called?
The Fountainhead (1943) and Atlas Shrugged
(1957)
What does Rand believe in terms of human nature?
Obiectivism- rational self-interest is a virtue.
The persuit of self interest is morally right and based on the the virtue of selfishness’.
What does Rand believe in terms of the
economy?
Freedom- support for a completely unregulated, laissez-faire economy, compatible with the free expression of human rationality.
What sections is Nozick useful for?
Human nature and the state.
What is the name of the book Nozick promoted his ideas in?
Anarchy, state and Utopia (1974)
What does Nozick believe in terms of human
nature?
Libertarianism- individuals have rights to their lives, liberty and the rewards of their labour.
They cannot be treated as things or used against their will.
Self-ownership- individuals own their own bodies, talents, abilities and labour.
This is threatened by enforced taxation to fund welfare and by state regulation over the individual.
What does Nozick believe in terms of the
state?
Taxes levied for state welfare are immoral because they treat individuals as a means/resource.
Onlv a minimal state can be justified.
This is threatened by enforced taxation to fund welfare and by state regulation over the individual (for example anti-smoking measures).
Which key thinkers are useful for the state?
Burke
Oakeshott
Nozick
Which key thinkers are useful for the economy?
Rand
Which key thinkers are useful for society?
Hobbes
Burke
Oakeshott
Which key thinkers are useful for human nature?
Hobbes
Rand
Nozick
What does laissez-faire mean?
Abstention by governments from interfering in the workings of the free market
What is empiricism?
The theory that all knowledge is based on experience derived from the senses.
Name the two One Nation conservative key thinkers?
Burke
Oakeshott
Why was Traditional Conservatism developed?
As a response to the French Revolution in 1789.
What are the main beliefs of Traditional
Conservatism?
Hierarchy, Tradition, Empiricism, Authority.
Who is the main proponent of Reactionary
Traditional Conservatism?
Thomas Hobbes
Who is the main proponent of non-reactionary Traditional Conservatism?
Edmund Burke.
Who is the main proponent of non-reactionary Traditional Conservatism?
Edmund Burke.
Who was the main proponent of traditional Conservatism as a natural disposition?
Micheal Oakeshott.
What does reactionary traditional conservatism belief about the order of society?
There should be a feudal hierarchic order within society.
Why were the beliefs of reactionary traditional conservatism challenged?
In the 18th Century the ideas were challenged by the Enlightenment and the French Revolution. Societal change due to the industrial revolution also enabled this.
What did reactionary traditional conservatism do in terms of resistance?
Resisted the decline of aristocratic power and rule.
However, as the rule of the aristocracy fell naturally, this branch too fell.
Why did Edmund Burke feel we had to oppose ideas like those in the French Revolution?
He felt that rationalist delusions had led to the bloody French revolution.
Why were Conservative ideologies so important to maintain in
Burke’s eyes?
Hierarchy, Tradition, Empiricism and Authority had to be defended against the Englightenment as they help to maintain societal equilibrium.
At what point could non-reactionary traditional Conservatism change?
After very careful consideration so as to not damage societal fabrics.
How can Burke’s ideas be seen throughout
19th Century Conservatism?
An adoption of moderate reform to keep society stable alongside commitment to the free market.
Which PM followed Burke’s ideas quite closely and what did he do?
Robert Peel.
Founded the Metropolitan Police.
Repealed the Corn Law.
What does Oakeshott’s view of traditional Conservatism focus on, primarily?
Focus on the psychological and intellectual aspects of human imperfection.
What does Oakeshott’s view turn
Conservatism into?
A natural disposition, rather than a political ideology.
What followed Traditional Conservatism?
One-nation Conservatism.
Why did One-Nation become a more dominant strand in the
Conservative party?
PM B. Disraeli saw that overly laissez-faire economics were widening inequalities and fanning flames for revolution amongst the working class.
What was the main feature of Traditional Conservatism that followed into One-Nation Conservatism?
The idea of noblesse oblige, although this concept was taken much further in One-Nationism.
Where was One-Nation Conservatism first espoused by Disraeli?
In his novel, ‘Sybil or the Two Nations’.
What was Disraeli’s ultimate aim and how did he want to achieve this?
Make society secure.
Address the tensions between rich and poor.
Renew feelings of nationalism.
Renew the feeling of community.
Why was nationalism a bizarre ideology to espouse for a
Conservative government at the time?
Nationalism had been strongly used in revolutionary states such as
France during the French Revolution.
How did Disraeli paraphrase his update to noblesse oblige?
‘The palace is not safe when the cottage is angry.
What were Disraeli’s reforms to noblesse oblige based on?
Empiricism.
He was fearful of the working class revolting so he tried to appease them.
What were Disraeli’s reforms to noblesse oblige based on?
Empiricism.
He was fearful of the working class revolting so he tried to appease them but he followed Burke’s belief that society must ‘change to conserve’.
What was an early one-nation reform?
the Representation of the People Act 1867.
What did the Representation of the People
Act 1867 do?
Enfranchised many parts of the urban male working class.
How did Disraeli describe the Representation of the People Act 1867?
‘A leap in the dark’.
Who is the modern proponent of one-nation
Conservatism?
Harold Macmillan.
How did Macmillan espouse one-nation
Views?
Built 300,000 new houses a vear after the Second World War under
Churchill.
How did Macmillan attempt to steer the
Conservative party?
Traditional laissez-faire economics alongside the socialist collectivism of state planning.
What did Macmillan view as the biggest threat to the preservation of society?
Unemployment.
Macmillan followed empiricism. T/F?
False. He adopted the rationalistic views of John Keynes to combat unemployment.
Why was the Macmillan administration so interesting from a one-nation perspective?
They made it clear they were willing to abandon most Conservative values.
Empiricism - Rejected to follow rationalistic views of John Maynard
Keynes.
Tradition - The Life Peerage Act 1958’ that saw life peers being appointed (including female peers)
An embrace of social liberalism.
How did Cameron support social liberalism?
He passed a bill for homosexual marriage in 2013.
How do Disraeli and Macmillan differ in terms of one-nation application?
Disraeli based everything on empiricism and a scepticism of human nature.
Macmillan based everything on rationalism with an advocation of
Keynesian economics.
Why did the New Right see a rise in popularity in the 1970s?
The failure of Keynesian economics.
How were Keynesian economics failing?
High inflation.
Low economic growth.
(stagflation)
High unemployment.
Who is most associated with the New Right?
Thatcher in the UK.
Reagan in the USA.
What is the New Right?
A marriage of neo-liberalism (classical liberalist economics) and neoconservatism (traditional conservatist society)
What are the main ways in which neo-liberalism differs from
Conservatism?
Society is atomistic (not organic)
A positive view of human nature
How did the New Right square the differences between neoliberalism and Conservatism?
They made the neo-liberal policies mostly concerned with economics and atomistic individualism rather than societal views.
How did Nozick argue that the legitimacy of the state to intervene was nonsense?
… the state’s claiom to legitimacy induces its citizens to believe they have some duty to obey its edicts, pays its taxes, fight its battles and so on.’
What do neo-liberals feel about the state?
An incredible antipathic view towards the state as they feel it subverts freedom of the individual rather than the traditional and one-nation view that it props up individual freedom.
Who influenced Robert Nozick’s views on self-ownership?
John Locke’s rationalism - the individual rights of man.
Immanuel Kant - an individual cannot be used as a thing or resource by society.
Why do Nozick and Rand believe in atomistic individualism?
They feel the problems surrounding duty and obligation to the state present themselves in the organic society. Nozick and Rand argue that a person should have no other obligation other than to himself and (maybe) his family.
What type of government do neo-liberals argue for?
Miniaturist government.
What is the primary role of the state in neoliberal governance?
‘the narrow functions of force, theft, enforcement of contracts and so on’
To preserve individual freedom, the government should ‘roll back the state’.
Why does Rand feel so strongly about the
Organic Society?
An individual’s thinking is severely reduced. Often to the dominant beliefs of society irrespective of whether or not they are correct or not.
People believing the world is flat, people voting for the Nazi party and supporting Communist regimes.
Why is Robert Nozick less extreme than
Rand?
He accepts there are humans are naturally ‘pack animals’ who enjoy and need for social interaction.
What was Rand’s ideology known as?
Objectivism.
What are the main tenets of objectivism?
• The traditions of other Conservative beliefs are nonsense.
• Truth is found in scientific fact rather than collective beliefs of society or the ‘Unproven myth’ of religion.
• The ‘virtue of selfishness’ as a postive and altruism as morally wrong if demanded by the state.
• Relgious, socialist, fascist and democratic organic societies that praise that people should sacrifice their personal values for some greater good. It is wrong for society to demand that people sacrfice personal values for collective truth.
Which political idea did Rand loath most?
Communism.
What is altruism?
The belief that humans are not born to be self-seeking but can display sympathy for others to cooperate with one another.
Why did Rand feel altruism was misrepresented in an organic society?
It should never be demanded by the state, but is absolutely fine, provided the individual makes it of their own accord.
Why do neo-liberals detest state spending on welfare?
The development of atomistic individualism makes individuals too dependant on the state.
What do neo-liberals feel that the abolishment of state intervention would cause?
People would no longer be dependant on the state and so would begin wondering how they could help themselves rather than being reliant.
Why did neo-liberals feel that Keynesian state planning was failing?
Nationalised industries were inefficient. lacked free-market dynamism and were artificially protected from free-market competition, distorting the whole market.
What do neo-liberals feel the role of
government is economically?
Controlling inflation via a policy known as
‘monetarism’.
What is the theory behind monetarism?
Printing money only causes inflation and erodes the value of private citizens wages / savings.
How did Thatcher subscribe to neo-liberal views on government intervention?
She privatised gas, electricity, water and telecomes.
What did Thatcher think that growing unemployment in the 19705 was due to, and why?
Too much state intervention.
Overprotecting failing industries
Allowing inflation in prices and wages.
What did Thatcher do with coal mines?
She sanctioned the closure of many uneconomic nationalised mines.
What happened after Thatcher sanctioned the closure of many coal mines?
The largest workers strike since before the war took place.
The government won the strike and the coal industry was privatised.
She restored market forces as it was irrational for the state to keep a failing industry afloat.
How did Thatcher iniect market force elements into the NHS and education?
She introduced leage tables and target setting to increase competition in nationalised industries.
To what extent to Conservatives agree on the state’s role in the economy? (Agree)
• It is the role of the state to defend economic contracts and
private property.
• Defend capitalism and the free market.
• Private property is vitally important as it provides psychological security for individuals within society.
• Private property reduces individuals’ dependancy on the state.
To what extent do Conservatives agree about the state’s role in the economy? (Disagree)
• Neo-liberals would abolish taxation. Neo-conservaties and traditional conservatives would argue for lower taxation. One-nation conservatives would argue for slightly increased taxation.
• One-nation conservatives argue for some state intervention in the economy. Other conservatives argue on behalf of heavy laissez-faire economics.
• Neo-conservatives are sympathetic to the free market. They are informed by pragmatism and supported government intervention to correct market failures during 2008.
• Neo-liberals want to ‘roll back the state’. All other areas of Conservatism believe in an organic state.
What are neo-conservatists most influenced
by?
Traditional Conservatism.
• Maintaining the organic society
• Upholding public morality and law and order
Neo-conservatists increase state involvement in society if needs arise. T/F?
True, if they feel it is good for society.
Why have neo-conservatists been critical of neo-liberals on topics of society?
They feel that neo-liberal ideas fragment society by not defending core conservative values like tradition, religion and societal responsibility.
What do neo-conservatists believe about capitalism?
It is the natural economic state, but it does not provide a set of rules to base society on.
