conservatism Flashcards
What does it mean to be pragmatic?
To reject ideology and to approach society and politics with the attitude of ‘what matters is what works’.
Can One-Nations conservatism be described as pragmatic?
Yes.
Name 2 examples of CON pragmatic leaders?
John Major:
-He was a more one-nation CON, and felt Thatcher’s poll tax was not a pragmatic decision, more an ideology, so when major became PM, he replaced it with council tax.
David Cameron:
-due to the coalition, the party changed its ideas to the most electorally and socially pragmatic policies.
What type of CON didn’t accept all ideas of tradition and that tradition is important?
New Right CON.
Did Burke accept or reject ideas of tradition? Evidence?
Accept:
-he wrote after the 1789 French Revolution about the dangers of rejecting ideas of the past.
Does Burke believe in human imperfection?
YES, he believes society cannot change, but organically evolve over time.
What is organic change?
the idea that social change should not be radical or mechanistic. It is gradual rather than evolutionary.
Why don’t conservatives agree with revolutionary change?
because they think it disrupts order and hierarchy and so it is dangerous to law and order and also private property.
What is human imperfection?
it’s the idea that human nature is flawed and unable to be perfected.
As a result of human imperfection, what do conservative’s believe they can not do?
make good decisions for themselves.
What 4 types of imperfection do conservatives think we have?
-psychological
-human
-moral
-intellectual
What does ‘change to conserve’ preserve?
status quo (how things are) and also the CON Party relevancy.
What is ‘change to conserve’?
A belief held by conservatives that it is important to adapt to the changing society, as long as the adaptations conserve basic principles of social order, hierarchy and tradition.
Name 2 examples of ‘change to conserve’.
-CON party allowed women to the vote in 1918 and 1928. Campaigns for this were disruptive to social order.
-Cameron changes throne succession rules so female heirs could be recognised for the first time. Kept tradition of monarchy but still organically changed how it works.
What are Conservatives’ views on authority?
That it is important to preserve order.
What other 3 ideas is authority linked to?
Social contract, paternalism and hierarchy.
What are the 3 different types of authority, according to theorist Max Weber?
Charismatic Authority
Rational-legal Authority
Traditional Authority
What is charismatic authority?
(according to theorist Weber)
Where authority comes from the personality and the characteristics of the leader.
What is random-legal authority?
(according to theorist Weber)
Where authority comes from the legal system and rationalism.
What is traditional authority?
(according to theorist Weber)
Where authority comes from tradition and custom, and acceptance of the historical state of affairs.
Why did Max Weber (theorist) argue that Conservatives prefer traditional authority?
As it reflects cultural customs and respects historical traditions.
Name 2 examples of traditional authority in the UK?
The UK has had 56 PM’s so far, and 42 of them have studied at Oxford or Cambridge.
The monarch.
What do conservatives believe about political systems and structures that have hierarchy?
That they are the best types of political systems and structures
What do Conservatives believe in regards to hierarchy?
That we are all born with different merits and abilities, and so some people are more suited to leadership and high status.
