Conservative Flashcards
T: soft paternalism
Soft paternalism - the elite are best placed to make decisions on behalf of society - For Hobbes, this meant a monarch, while for Burke, it meant an aristocratic government
T: Noblesse Oblige and views of Hierarchy
> Noblesse oblige - nobility -> social responsibility to care for those less fortunate
Hierarchy required - as people don’t have the same abilities, different people do different jobs and get rewarded differently
T: Society
Society is a living entity change to one thing will affect others
“Society is indeed a contract … between those who are living, those who are dead, and those who are to be born.” - Burke
Burke claimed that society needs to reflect on the past, consider the present and meet the needs of future generations.
Traditional institution in society: Burke: the accumulation of wisdom has proved fit for its purpose over time and survived and therefore should be preserved for future society.
T: Traditional
> Tradition provides a strong sense of identity and can also foster a sense of belonging - change can lead to instability and insecurity
Traditional founded on key institution: Family, Monarch and Church
N: View on society
> Society doesn’t exist in any particle form - is a loose collection of individuals
Society is atomistic a mere sum of its individualism
‘There is no such thing as society, only individuals and their families’ - Thatcher
Neo-liberals advocate for a limited government, minimizing state interference in individual lives. They oppose state involvement in society and the economy, believing the state should focus on protecting human rights through minimal intervention, mainly in functions like force, theft prevention, and contract enforcement. Neo-liberals reject state-sponsored welfare and view state taxation for such programs as ‘legalized theft.
O: society
> Support the idea of an organic society
Organic society depended not only on ‘top down’ authority, but also on the governing elite’s acceptance of social responsibility for less fortunate people. Disraeli - warned of the division between rich and poor and a possible social revolution
Diserali was keen to defend the traditional institutions of the monarchy and church, linking monarch to imperial pride
Theresa May - Shared society
T: Cautious Pragmatism
> Burke argued that cautious pragmatism brings necessary change through evolution - change to conserve, “Never despair, but if you do, work on in despair.”
Pragmatism - Decisions should be made based on what works. It should take account of what is in the best interests of the people, what is acceptable to the public and what will maintain stability -> Oakeshott: ‘To be a Conservative is to prefer the tried to the untried
T: Natural aristocracy
> ‘natural aristocracy’ presided over society much like a father did over his family.
The social elite provides leadership because of its innate or hereditary abilities, just as a father exercises authority, ensures protection and provides guidance
T: views on trade
> Trade should involve ‘organic’ free markets and laissez-faire capitalism.
Burke stressed the need for private property rights to be respected and that it was the duty of the state to protect and defend private ownership
O: Economy:
> One nation paternalistic conservatism focuses on regulation of the economy and social welfare to improve the conditions of those less fortunate. Dc’s - Compassionate conservatism
One nation conservatives think the state should preserve social order through welfare, economic intervention and traditional institutions
Capitalism - creates divisions that threaten one-nation
Coined term “middle way” to combine state ownership regulation of certain aspects of economic activity combined with the drive and initiative of private enterprise
DC - compassionate conservatism
‘private enterprise without selfishness’. - harold Macmillan
Oakeshott- Free markets are volatile and unpredictable, and may require pragmatic moderation by the state,
O: reforms:
> Reforms to improve conditions for the poorest in society would reduce the likelihood of large-scale social discontent -> For Disraeli, reforms to improve the conditions of the poor were both pragmatic and principled. Not only would it help prevent unrest, but the privileged also had a moral duty to help the poor
Such measures would probably increase working class support for the Conservative Party too. Disraeli also maintained that the wealthiest and most privileged social groups had a moral duty to help the poor. -> Reforms: 1875 sale of foods and drugs act
N: view on economics
> a belief in free-market economics, unregulated market capitalism delivers efficiency, growth and widespread prosperity
State planning, nationalisation and high taxation - REJECTED - contribute to economic problems
Welfare state causes dependency culture
Free Market must be protected from: monopolies - reduces economic competition, inflation -discourages investment
N: state intervention
> Thatcher’s justification was that nationalised industries were inefficient and lacked the dynamism associated with the private sector’s need to generate profits
Ayn rand - She also believed in a very limited government, whose only role would be to protect the individual by using threats of force
N: government rights:
Rand - The government itself, however, has no rights and status ‘except the right delegated to it by the citizens
N: role of state?
> Personal freedom can only be guaranteed by ‘rolling back’ the state, particularly social welfare programmes.
N: mixed economy?
Neoliberals also dismiss the mixed economy and public ownership on the grounds of expense and inefficiency
N: keynesianism
A free market allows people to be free - rejects state intervention, opposed to Keynesianism - more recently associated with Thatcher and Reagan - neo liberals
T: man’s falliability
Burke stressed mankind’s fallibility and its tendency to fail more than succeed, therefore rejecting change-based ideals
T: Human’s intelligence
The intellect and reasoning of humans are limited. Humans do not possess the mental faculties to make sense of a complex modern world. Consequently, conservatives reject overarching theories or ideologies that claim to explain or predict the development of human society - focus on caution, moderation and continuity.
T: need for laws
‘A state of war would persist without out a state and laws’, “people are a nasty brutish sort” - Hobbes - as humans are our human nature is selfish and greedy
To prevent instability and chaos: There should be a tough stance of law and order to deter criminal activity, Foreign Policy should be based on national security rather than ‘liberal’ ideas of co-operation and harmony,
T: self-interest
Successful political systems should reflect that self interest is more powerful for motivating than altruism
O: life without laws
Oakeshott - Life without laws would be noisy, foolish and flawed
O: humans understanding
Humans need to draw on tradition, history and practical experience to understand their place in the world.
O: rationalistic
In contrast, modern one-nation conservatives are more receptive to rationalistic concepts. Conservative prime ministers from Macmillan to Johnson have implemented policies influenced by rationalistic theories, such as Keynesian economics.
