CONSERVATISM - One-nation Flashcards
Early One-nation
Why did the development of O.N Conservatism happen?
Industrial revolution led to poor conditions and unemployment - it became evidence that there was a mass population who were missing out on these advancements living in absolute poverty.
Early One-nation
What did Benjamin Disraeli argue?
He argued that the Conservatives had to recognise that some change was necessary to maintain social order.
Similar to the paternalism argued by Burke.
Early One-nation
What did Disraeli change?
He proposed the development of traditional conservative ideas, adjusting them to the needs of Industrial Britain.
He adopted a new approach to prevent the country splitting into two nations.
This was a pragmatic decision.
Early One-nation
Organic society and Disraeli
Organic society is held together by an acceptance of duty and obligations between all levels of society.
Society is naturally hierarchical but that means there is an inequality of responsibilities.
Early One-nation
Example of One-nation policies (Early)
1867 Reform Act, which Disraeli campaigned hard for, which gave the vote to more of the W.C following the 1832 Reform Act
Later One-nation
1970s key thinker?
Michael Oakeshott
Later One-nation
Following WWII
Following WWII, Conservatism dominated the O.N approach, which allowed the Conservative party to agree to maintain the welfare state, Keynesianism, and other reforms introduced by the Labour Party (also an indicator of pragmatism)
Later One-nation
Recent years
Thatcherism severely hindered the influence of the O.N approach but Cameron and May brought back some elements of O.N in their social policies which claimed to be compassionate conservatism.
PRAGMATISM
Early One-nation
Threat of disorder and insurrection persisted through the 19th century, fuelled by demands for a greater democracy.
Believing that socialism was a new and grave threat to stability, Disraeli understood that the case for orderly change would need to be refined.
Disraeli pursued this ‘one nation strategy’ and so he went further and argued for state-sponsored social reform.
PRAGMATISM
Later One-nation
The clearest example of this pragmatism occurred between 1951-1964 when a series of moderate Conservative administrations governed the UK.
When in opposition, the Conservative Party opposed many aspects of the Labour government’s domestic reform programme between 1945-1951.
However, once in power, the Conservatives made no attempt to dismantle Labour’s newly created welfare state, because they knew it was popular.
Harold Macmillan had proposed this with his ideas of a middle way.
PRAGMATISM
Oakeshott
According to Oakeshott, modern society is unpredictable + complex.
Thus, it cannot be understood through abstract principles.
Rational attempts to make sense of society’s behaviour distorts and simplify facts.
Oakeshott concluded that parliamentary govt in Britain developed pragmatically over time.
This gives a sense of historical continuity – it is flexible, unlike rigid theories which encourage dogmatic decision-making.
Early One-nation
Where did the term One-nation come from?
Disraeli’s 1845 novel called ‘Sybil: or the two nations’
Early One-nation
Sybil 1845 quotes
QU:
‘Two _____; …. who are ________ by a different breeding, are ____ by a ________ food…. and are ____ governed __ the _____ laws’
Two nations; who are formed by a different breeding, are fed by a different food… and are not governed by the same laws’
Early One-nation
Cottage QU
‘The palace is not safe when the cottage is not happy’
Early One-nation
Consequence of Disraeli’s ideas
Disraeli was primarily responsible for introducing the Second Reform Act 1867 which extended the right to vote to the W.C for the first time.
This was opportunistic behaviour which tried to appeal to the new W.C voters.
In the 1870s, Disraeli’s government passed a number of reforms which related to the W.C housing, sanitary improvements, education, and other social issues.
