conservatism ideas

Question 1

what are the main conservative principles?

Answer 1

pragmatism
tradition
organic society
human imperfection
paternalism 
libertarianism

Question 2

what is pragmatism?

Answer 2

practical experience and precedent over ideology and theory
the past should be taken into account when making decisions in the present

rejects theory and ideology in favour of practical experience

Question 3

what key thinkers are associated with pragmatism?

Answer 3

Burke

Oakeshott - ‘to be a conservative is to prefer the tried to the untried’

Question 4

what is an example of pragmatism?

Answer 4

1951 once conservatives back in power, they made no attempt to reverse labours nationalisation of British industry of newly created welfare state because they were popular and had been working well

Question 5

what is tradition?

Answer 5

refers to the institutions, customs and practices that have developed over time and become entrenched in society (e.g. the church, family and monarchy)

Question 6

why do conservatives support tradition?

Answer 6

originally the say society’s institutions and practices as god-given so changing them would be challenging the will of God

also tradition fosters social cohesion and security, provides individuals with a sense of belonging

Question 7

what is an example of conservatives supporting tradition?

Answer 7

conservative were opposed to labour’s constitutional changes in late 1990s, they said devolved assemblies and House of Lords reform would undermined constitutional stability of the UK

Question 8

what key thinker is associated with tradition?

Answer 8

Burke says tradition constitutes the accumulated wisdom of the past

Question 9

what is human imperfection?

Answer 9

a pessimistic view of human nature that humans are flawed making them incapable of making good decisions for themselves

Question 10

what are the types of human imperfection?

Answer 10

psychological imperfection - peoples fear of insecurity and isolation
moral imperfection - people driven by selfishness and greed
intellectual imperfection - peoples inability to understand the world around them

Question 11

what is an organic society?

Answer 11

humans are dependent and security seeking so cannot exist separately from society

humans accept the responsibilities that of with belonging to a society

based on the conservative belief of hierarchy and authority

Question 12

what is organicism?

Answer 12

society is like a living organism, with all its parts working together in harmony to ensure that the body remains healthy

Question 13

what is hierarchy?

Answer 13

there are different classes of people and inequality is normal

Question 14

what is authority?

Answer 14

the upper class is best places to make decisions for all

authority comes naturally from above and rests on an accepted obligation from the below to obey

Question 15

what is paternalism?

Answer 15

the idea of government by people who are best equipped to lead by virtue of their birth, inheritance and upbringing

Question 16

what does Burke say about paternalism?

Answer 16

the natural aristocracy president over society and provide guidance and ensure security
the natural authority ‘know what is best’ for the rest of society

Question 17

what is noblesse oblige?

Answer 17

the idea that those higher in society have a moral obligation to look after the rest of society

Question 18

what is libertarianism?

Answer 18

emphasises the rights of individuals to liberty, advocating for minimal state intervention and maximum economic freedom.

Question 19

what key thinker is associated with libertarianism?

Answer 19

Burke - advocated free trade and a market economy on the grounds that such arrangements were efficient, just and natural

Question 20

what should be done in order to combat human imperfection?

Answer 20

• tough stance on law and order to deter criminal behaviour
• foreign policy should be based on national security not co-operation and harmony
• human behaviour is competitive so a political system should recognise that self-interest is a more powerful motivator than altruism

Question 21

why are hierarchy and authority important for society?

Answer 21

the hierarchical structure of organic society is reinforced by authority which perform a vital and positive function, by providing humans with security, direction and support

Question 22

what are the origins of paternalism?

Answer 22

Disraeli warned that Britain was dividing into two nations, the rich and the poor, which increased likelihood of revolution

this could be stopped by the privileged accepting their duty to look after the less fortunate

the well-off could preserve their advantage while strengthening social cohesion

Question 23

how did one-nation conservative pursue paternalism?

Answer 23

conservative government in 1950s and 60s were a centre ground between free-market economics and state planning because the former led to social fragmentation while the latter stifled individual initiative

harold McMillan claimed this produced ‘private enterprise without selfishness’

Question 24

what did Neo-liberals say about paternalism?

Answer 24

reject the idea of paternalism, because they aim to reduce the state so the unregulated market can generate a more efficient economy leading to increased growth

Neo-liberal faith in individualism challenges notions of paternalism, view welfare programmes negatively and producing dependency culture

Question 25

what branch of conservative is libertarianism associated with?

Answer 25

New Right (Neo-liberalism) - associated with the policies of Thatcher and Reagan as it rejects state intervention and champions free-market economy