Consrvatism

Question 1

1. Explain and analyse three ways in which conservative thinkers have viewed the economy.

Answer 1

1. Free Markets Promote Individual Freedom - Ayn Rand (New Right Conservatism) - capitalism is the only moral economic system because it respects individual rights and rewards merit. - Encourages innovation but can lead to economic inequality.
2. Limited State Intervention Encourages Prosperity - Robert Nozick (New Right Conservatism) - opposed wealth redistribution, arguing that taxation is equivalent to forced labour and disrupts economic liberty. - Protects property rights but may neglect social justice.
3. Pragmatic Regulation Can Prevent Instability - Michael Oakeshott (One-Nation Conservatism) - the economy should be managed pragmatically to prevent economic crises, rather than following rigid free-market ideology. - Ensures stability but risks inefficiency.

Question 2

4. Explain and analyse three ways in which conservative thinkers have viewed the role of the state.

Answer 2

1. Strong State to Maintain Order - Thomas Hobbes (Traditional Conservatism) - Leviathan (1651) justified a powerful state to prevent anarchy. - Protects stability but may lead to authoritarianism.
2. The State Should Preserve Tradition and Institutions - Edmund Burke (Traditional Conservatism) - Burke viewed the state as an organic entity that must protect long-standing institutions like the monarchy, religion, and property rights. - Provides stability but may resist necessary reform. Little platoons x
3. Minimal State for Economic Freedom - Robert Nozick (New Right Conservatism) - Nozick’s Anarchy, State, and Utopia (1974) opposed taxation beyond basic law enforcement. - Encourages entrepreneurship but risks deepening inequality.

Question 3

5. Explain and analyse three ways in which conservative thinkers view tradition.

Answer 3

1. Tradition Provides Stability - Edmund Burke (Traditional Conservatism) - customs and institutions prevent societal decay. - Promotes order but resists necessary change.
2. Tradition Should Evolve Gradually - Michael Oakeshott (One-Nation Conservatism) - pragmatic reform rather than radical change. - Encourages adaptation, but critics argue it is too slow.
3. Tradition can be Abandoned for Progress - Ayn Rand (New Right Conservatism) - Rejected tradition in favor of individual enterprise and capitalism. - Promotes dynamism but weakens social cohesion.

Question 4

6. Explain and analyse three ways in which conservatism can be considered as the politics of imperfection.

Answer 4

1. Human Nature is Flawed and Irrational - Thomas Hobbes (Traditional Conservatism) - Leviathan (1651) that humans are naturally selfish and chaotic without strong authority. “Solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short”- Justifies strong government, but argue it underestimates human capacity for cooperation.
2. Society is Organic and Cannot Be Perfected - Edmund Burke (Traditional Conservatism) - society as a complex, evolving entity, not something that could be engineered through radical change.- Supports gradual reform, but critics argue it resists necessary progress.
3. Free Markets and Society Are Naturally Unequal - Michael Oakeshott (One-Nation Conservatism)- attempts to rationally design a perfect society often fail, as seen in socialist regimes. - Encourages pragmatism, but may overlook economic injustices.

Question 5

7. Explain and analyse three ways in which conservative thinkers view security.

Answer 5

1. Strong State Ensures Stability - Thomas Hobbes (Traditional Conservatism) - a powerful state is necessary to prevent anarchy and protect citizens. - may lead to authoritarianism.
2. Security Through Tradition and Institutions - Edmund Burke (Traditional Conservatism) - institutions like the monarchy, the Church, and long-established customs maintain societal security. - Ensures continuity but may resist necessary change.
3. Economic Security Through Free Markets - Robert Nozick (New Right Conservatism) - economic security is best achieved through low taxation and minimal government intervention. - can deepen inequality.