Conservatism

Question 1

What are the strands of conservatism

Answer 1

Traditional conservatism (Hobbes/ Burke)

One nation conservatism (Oakeshott)

Neoliberalism (Nozick and Rand)

Neoconservatism (Thatcher)

Question 2

What did Rand say about the small state

Answer 2

‘The small state is the strong state’

Question 3

What did Nozick say about human nature

Answer 3

‘Humans are freedom loving pack animals’

Question 4

What did Oakeshott say about pragmatism

Answer 4

‘He who forgets the past is doomed to repeat it’

Question 5

Conservative agreements over the state

Answer 5

• the state is necessary to protect its citizens (e.g property rights and law and order)
• most conservatives believe the state is a force for stability in society, can help prevent divisions

Question 6

What did Burke refer to when referencing organic society

Answer 6

Little platoons

Question 7

How did Hobbes describe life in the state of nature

Answer 7

‘Nasty, brutish and short’

Question 8

What would Hobbes say a bad state is better than

Answer 8

No state at all

Question 9

Conservative disagreements over the state

Answer 9

• many conservatives eg Rand view the state as a limiting and damaging force
• neoliberals advocate a smaller state than neoconservatives or other strands would be comfortable with
• neoconservatives and neoliberals clash over the role of the state in society (authoritarian vs libertarian)
• one nation and neoliberals clash over the role of the state in the economy (Macmillans middle way economics vs free market capitalism)

Question 10

Conservative agreements over society

Answer 10

• society should be a framework for individuals (Hobbes)
• all conservatives prefer a smaller state role in society
• Many conservatives hold an organic view of society
• most conservatives believe in a natural hierarchy

Question 11

Conservative disagreements over society

Answer 11

• one nation conservatives disagree with the new right over natural hierarchy vs meritocracy
• traditional/ one nation conservatives disagree with neoliberals over the need for pragmatism/gradual change (Burke ‘evolution not revolution’ )
• division within the new right over traditions in society vs independence/ lack of obligation

Question 12

Conservative agreements over the economy

Answer 12

• All conservatives support a form of capitalism and lean toward free markets
• All conservatives believe in private property rights
• Most conservatives believe in pragmatism within the economy
  (Oakeshott ‘he who forgets the past is doomed to repeat it’)

Question 13

Conservative disagreements over the economy

Answer 13

• pragmatism vs ideology
• free markets vs middle way economics (MacMillan)
• dynamism of markets vs gradual pragmatic change
• disagree over rationalism and whether humans can act rationally in their own self interest

-noblesse oblige paternalism vs neoliberal atomism

Question 14

Conservative agreements over human nature

Answer 14

• most conservatives agree that humans can’t live outside of society (Durkheim’s anomie)

-most conservatives agree on an innate need to form a society

• the family and its support mechanisms are vital in the life of the individual
• human nature pursues private not public ends

Question 15

Conservative disagreements over human nature

Answer 15

• optimistic vs pessimistic view (security seeking vs self seeking, self reliant, governed by reason)
• fear of human nature (Hobbes) vs human nature shouldn’t be restrained (Nozick)
• disagree over whether human nature relies upon traditions