Core Ideologies: Conservatism Flashcards
What is Conservatism?
averse to change and holding traditional values
What are the core principles of Conservatism?
pragmatism
paternalism
negative view of human nature
organic society
respect for tradition
What is pragmatism?
favouring empiricism and distrust of abstract theories of liberalism and socialism
men falter in understanding the complexities of such theories and leaders must emphasises caution and moderation
favouring evolution over time, rather than revolution
What is paternalism?
‘nobless obliege’
the concept that the in authority have a duty of care towards the lower orders
soft paternalism
Hard paternalism
first implemented in conservative government under Disraeli 19th C, Birthed ‘One Nation’
what is the negative view of Hyman nature?
Humans are psychologically and mentally flawed and, humans have the capacity to do evil and therefore must be kept in check
therefore society needs
tough stance on law and order
greater national security rather than international cooperation
a society that recognises self interest is more powerful than altruism
What is the organic society?
society is .ike a living organism, all parts need to be functioning for society to be healthy
a balance in society is needed to be maintained
inequality is natural in the organism of society
‘the Great Chain of Being’ by Didacus Varades highlights the importance of hierarchy
Which key thinker talks about human imperfection
Thomas Hobbes
His key ideas were discussed in his book Leviathan (1651)
Thought that humans were selfish and imperfect and that without strong institution life would be ‘solitary, poor, and brutish’
social contract
What key thinker talked about paternalism?
Edmund Burke
Reflections on the French Revolution
sympathised with revolutions
saw the organic society as not being static and had to ‘change to conserve’
What key thinkers argued for Neo-Liberalism?
Robert Nozik ‘Anarchy, State and Utopia’ 1974
- ‘minarchist’ government is the best for society
Ayn |Rand ‘Atlas Shrugged’ 9157
rejected man imperfection
opposed taxation and welfare provisions
free market economics and ‘rolling back of the state’
championed the individual and all individuals rights
argued for objectivism which claimed with negative freedom, individuals should be guided by self-interest
What is One Nation Conservatism?
Benjamin Disraeli first espoused ‘One Nation Conservatism’ in his book ‘Sybil and the Twin Nations’ - 1845
Disraeli admired the ‘Nobless oblige’ and saw thet society was needed to be made secured and to do this through paternalism
all societal classes were part of ‘none nation’
The Representation of the People Act 1867 enfranchised a age percentage of the male working class
Macmillian adopted managed economy with Keynesian economics
what is the New Right
a Mixture of Neo-liberalism and Neo-conservatism
often contradictory but dominated conservative ideology after the 1970s
Neo-liberalism p society is atomistic, and a positive view on Hyman nature that Hyman are driven by self interest
Privatisation of industry
Neo-conservatism - a more traditional socially conservative approach
- Thatcher Section 28
Major ‘Back to Basics’
