Conservatism mocks

Question 1

Give one way Conservatives agree over the role of the state, giving thinkers.

Answer 1

Need for state to base practice in tradition
Burke (traditional): “The individual is foolish, the species is wise.”
Oakeshott (one nation): “society’s present direction stems from its past development”
(Linked to belief in tradition and its origin in the turbulent change of the mid-1800’s)

Question 2

Give two ways Conservatives disagree on the role of the state, giving thinkers.

Answer 2

Need for pragmatism?
Oakeshott (one nation): “to keep the ship afloat at all costs”
Thatcher (New Right): more ideological, defunded the NHS, based on Nozick’s dislike of the welfare state
(wider disagreement about pragmatism and the quality of ideology)

Internal disagreement within the New Right about the size of the state
Nozick (neoliberal): ‘roll back the frontiers of the state’ for individual liberties, “individuals have rights and there are things no person or group may do to them.”
Thatcher (neoconservative): larger state to ensure order and tradition, Section 28 and backing of police against all forms of protest and disorder
(the New Right contradiction - The Politics of Imperfection)

Question 3

Give one way Conservatives agree over society, giving thinkers

Answer 3

Need for traditional society that should not be disrupted
Chesterton (Traditional): “Democracy of the dead”
Thatcher (New Right): ‘Victorian values’ and the promotion of tradiotional family structures, such as with the defunding of the welfare state
(agreement on tradition)

Question 4

Give two ways Conservatives disagree on society, giving thinkers.

Answer 4

The person as part of society vs. seperate
Disraeli (one nation): organic society
Rand: atomism and Thatcher “There is no such thing as society”
(Wider disagreement on organic society)

Internal disagreement within the New Right about level of freedom for individuals within society
Nozick (Neoliberal): libertarianism and a liberal ‘permissive’ society where people are ‘left alone’
Kristol and Scruton (Neoconservative): imposition of a strict moral code
(wider disagreement on human imperfection)

Question 5

Give one way Conservatives agree on human nature, giving thinkers.

Answer 5

Humans as imperfect and the necessity of paternalism
Hobbes (Traditional): state of chaos and ‘power after power’
Oakeshott (One nation): “imperfect but not immoral”
(agreement over imperfection)

Question 6

Give two ways Conservatives disagree on human nature, giving thinkers.

Answer 6

Do people seek order or freedom?
Hobbes (traditional): state of nature vs. state of order
Nozick (neoliberal): libertarianism and the want to be ‘left alone’.
(wider disagreement on human imperfection)

How it affects their approach to society
Disraeli (one nation): organic society, ‘two nations’ and noblesse oblige
Thatcher (New Right): imposition of traditional family structure due to moral imperfection

Question 7

Give one way Conservatives agree on the economy, giving thinkers.

Answer 7

Importance of private property
All: property as having psychological (identity) and social benefits (stake in society)
Thatcher (New Right): ‘Right to Buy’ and the creation of a ‘property-owning democracy’

Question 8

Give two ways Conservatives disagree on the economy, giving thinkers.

Answer 8

Pragmatism or ideology
Oakeshott (one nation): take what works, “keep the ship afloat.”
Rand (New Right): Neoliberal belief in the free market
(Disagreement on pragmatism)

Welfare
Disraeli (One nation): noblesse oblige and the need to avoid further divisions between the ‘two nations’
Murray (New Right): ‘perverse incentive’ and ‘dependency culture’
(Disagreement on pragmatism)