Conservatism - tensions Flashcards
What is the traditional conservative view of human nature?
Traditional conservatives take a sceptical view which leads them to warn against utopian ideologies.
What is the traditional conservative view of society?
Traditional conservatives see society as a collection of small communities overseen by a paternalistic and hereditary elite that arises and grows organically.
What is the difference between those who rule in traditional and New Right societies?
Traditional is aristocratic, New Right is meritocratic.
What is the traditional conservative view of the state?
Traditional conservatives believe in a state with ruling class that is born to rule, and are prepared to enlarge the state in the interest of stability and one nation.
What is the New Right view of the state?
They wish to roll back the frontiers of the state to as to advance individual freedom and reverse dependency culture, and favour meritocracy over aristocracy.
What is the traditional conservative view of the economy?
They are sceptical of free-market capitalism, seeing its potential for inequality and threaten ‘one nation’. With globalisation capitalism also erodes national identity, leading them to favour Keynesian economics, high taxes and high government spending.
What is the New Right view of the economy?
They advocate free-market economics, with state functions entirely privatised and deregulated, with low taxes and state spending.
What is the New Right view of human nature?
New Right thinkers are more optimistic, emphasising the possibilities of individuals with initiative and liberty.
What is the New Right view of society?
New Right thinkers are sceptical about society existing at all, seeing it as merely a collection of atomised individuals.
