Core Political Ideas: Conservatism Flashcards
Why is pragmatism important to conservatism
Edmund Burke (1729-97), Michael Oakeshott (1901-90) - to be conservative is to prefer the tried to the untried
Rejection of ideology, favours practical experience - Society should be flexible to changes.
‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’.
Humans lack the intellectual capacity to understand complex theories, so leaders need to emphasise caution, moderation and
continuity.
Traditional and One Nation Conservatives emphasise evolution of
society over time, rather than radical change – chaos.
Law and order, property, tradition and established institutions.
Change is sometimes needed, but only to conserve.
Why is tradition important to conservatism
Originally had religious roots.
Institutions, customs and practices of the past (monarchy, constitution, family, marriage) have been the building blocks of society and should be passed down to our children.
Firstly traditions consist of the accumulated wisdom of the past meaning that traditions have demonstrated their value for earlier society and a proven fit for purpose over time and survived
Secondly it provides society and individuals with a strong sense of identity
Burke - Each generation has a duty to pass these traditions on to the next. Partnership not only between those who are living but between those who are living, dead and to be born
Destroying traditional institutions can lead to tyrannical regimes – Soviet Russia, French Revolution.
Social cohesion, security and certainty.
2/3’s of Tories voted against same-sex marriage in the House of Commons.
‘Cornerstone Group’ within the Conservative Party promotes traditional Christian values.
Why is human imperfection in danger of atomism important to conservatism
Humans are flawed, psychologically, morally and intellectually. They have the capacity to do evil, therefore, must be kept in check.
Human nature is immutable (remains constant).
We therefore need:
Tough stance on law and order.
National security more important than international cooperation and harmony.
A political system that recognises self-interest is a more powerful motivator than altruism.
Atomism says society is made up of self-interested individuals (egoistical individualism).
This can also explain social breakdown and isolation.
What is psychological human imperfections for a Conservative
People are limited and dependent.
People like safety, familiarity and security in knowing their place in society
They place importance on social order rather than liberty because it provides people with the security ,predictability and stability
Liberty rises the unsettling for Specht of choice, change and uncertainty therefore Conservatives consider social order more important to liberty
What is moral human imperfection for a Conservative
People are morally imperfect because they are naturally selfish and greedy
Antisocial or criminal behaviour is due to their basic human nature not because of economic or social disadvantage
Robust law and order that imposes severe sanctions is the only effective deterrent to combat moral imperfection
What is the Intellectual human imperfection for a Conservative
Human reasoning and intellect is limited
People do not pose the mental facilities to make sense of complex scenarios
Therefore Conservatives reject theories that claim to explain the development of human society
Instead of humans need to draw on tradition, history and practical experience to understand the world
What is the importance of the organic society within conservatism
Society is like a living organism.
All its parts must work together in order to ensure its ‘health’.
The organic society is maintained by a delicate set of relationships between different elements if the balance is disturbed the society will possibly be destroyed.
Organic society is based on natural needs and instincts such as affection security and concern rather than ideological divisions
Organic society is the belief in hierarchy and authority because Conservatives believe society is naturally hierarchical because individuals vary in terms of talent, intellect, skill and work rate and that different classes and groups have to perform specific roles
Authority also promote social cohesion by shaping relationship between different social groups and all social interactions
authority provides people with security, direction and support and allows people to fit in
they believe that people in authority are limited by natural responsibility accompanying there authority
What is the importance of paternalism for conservatism
Suggest that the elite members of society were naturally born to lead and that anyone who is self improving does not have the same characteristics
Those in authority (the elites) have a duty of care to the ‘lower orders’ – ‘noblesse oblige’.
‘soft’ paternalism – where the recipients willingly accept this situation.
‘hard’ paternalism – where this is imposed in an authoritarian manner.
Benjamin Disraeli – 19th C society was dividing into rich and poor. In order for the elites to preserve their privileges, they had a social obligation to improve the lives of the poor. ‘One Nation paternalism’. This would reduce the risk of revolution.
Neo-liberals reject paternalism because They aim to reduce the size of the state so that the unregulated market can generate a more dynamic and efficient economy allowing for growth
Government intervention in the economy or state control undermined human initiative and enterprise resulting in economic’s stagnation
Neoliberal faith in individualism also challenges paternalism by stressing the importance of self-help individual responsibility and personal Initiative
What is the importance of libertarianism for conservatives
The right of individuals to liberty advocating only minimal state intervention in the lives of citizens.
The state has the role of protecting individual right
Emphasis on mixed economy freedom and minimal government regulation in social welfare
Edmund Burke advocated free trade and a market economy on the grounds that such arguments were efficient, just and natural because of the human desire for wealth
Commonly known as liberal new right or neoliberalism associated with prime minister Margaret Thatcher
Opposes Keynesian economics - because it does not provide effectively supply goods and services. Only the market not government intervention can determine the natural level of unemployment
Neoliberals dismissed the mixed economy and common ownership because of expense and inefficiencies while endorsing supply slide economics as the path of growth and general prosperity
they use liberty to role back the influence of the state
What are the neo-liberals object to state welfare
They create a dependency culture by depriving people of self-respect and dignity and undermining personal responsibility and initiative
Arguing that generations of people had become reliant on state benefits
Dependency was eroding Parental responsibility for children’s finance therefore undermining the Institute of the family
Policies to provide a welfare services and redistribute income undermine property rights
Legal acquired property can be transferred from one individual to another without consent. Taxation revenue taken from income earners to fund welfare programs represent a form of state robbery
Extreme view of individualism
What are the views of traditional Conservatives
Organic society.
Negative view of human nature.
Change should be pragmatic and gradual.
A strong defence of the country.
Law and order.
Protection of property.
Preserve and respect institutions of power: monarchy, church, Parliament, Judiciary etc.
Love of tradition.
Hierarchical.
‘Noblesse oblige’ – the duty of care by the elites to the masses.
What do one nation conservatives believe
Benjamin Disraeli, the 19c British prime minister sought to redefine conservatism in order for it to appeal to the masses and preserve the institutions of power and the state.
Not only did the elites have ‘noblesse oblige’, they should also embrace social reform in order to strengthen national unity – ‘welfarism’.
He based his philosophy on 3 guiding principles:
- Maintenance of traditional institutions.
- Imperialism – would engender national pride.
- Reforms to improve conditions for the working class.
Keynesian economics, the dominant force in the Conservative Party until the 1970’s.
What do you new right Conservatives believe
Contains two strands: Neo-liberalism and neo-conservatism.
- Neo-liberals are committed to a free market, a minimal state and
individual freedom and responsibility. - Neo-conservatives emphasise traditional values, order and morality.
The new right contains radical traditional and reactionary elements with determination to the band in government intervention in the economic and social affairs and attack permissive social attitudes
Both want to return to the 1800s which they regard as the mythical age of economic liberty and moral responsibility
New Right theory heavily influenced Margaret Thatcher in Britain and Ronald Reagan in the US.
Rejected Keynesian economic theory.
What are the neoliberal features of Thatcherism
Monetarism – tight control of money supply to keep down inflation and encourage investment. Higher interest rates.
Privatisation of state industries.
Deregulation of the financial sector.
Restricting trade union power.
What are the neoconservative features of Thatcherism
Defence of traditional family values.
Strong law and order policies.
Opposition to the promotion of homosexuality (Section 28).
Protection of public morality through strict censorship laws.
What do you neoliberals / Liberal New right believe
Friedrich Hayek and Milton Friedman.
Minimal state.
Self-reliant individuals capable of making rational decisions in their own interests.
Selfish-individualism and self-interest and provides individuals with incentives to work harder, be more creative, more productive and more self-reliant.
Rejection of collectivism (the practice or principle of giving a group priority over each individual in it).
Freemarket economic’s
Inflation is the great evil in the market economy because a fall in the value of money discourages economic activity and investment
Elimination of government intervention -State planning, nationalisation and high tax are all rejected because they contribute to economic problems
State-run monopolies have no incentive to make a profit or improve services because they have no competition and are reliant on government funding. Privatisation and opening the sector up to competition will alleviate this problem.
Tight control of money supply (Milton Friedman’s monetarism). Theory – if there is less money in circulation, it will have more value. There will be less inflation and therefore fewer strikes, more productivity and more investment.
Criticise state welfare as it creates a dependency culture and infringes on right by imposing high taxes to fund benefits
What do you Neoconservatives / conservative New right believe
Rejects socially liberal attitudes of the 1960’s and blames them for the breakdown and fragmentation of western society believes that this can be sorted out with strong leadership and authority
Agrees with neo-liberals on a minimal state within the economy but they stress the need for authority and to preserve society which shows they are influenced by traditional conservative notions of organicism. Neoconservatism is more authoritarian than one nation conservatives because they seek society to be disciplined by reasserting pathology rather than social functions and welfare measures
Authority and discipline in moral and social matters.
‘Anti-permissiveness’ because of the emergence of a free for all and anything goes culture.
Advocates increased police powers and harsher sentences because of state authoritarianism
Neo-conservative foreign policy advocates the active pursuit and sometimes even the imposition of western-style democracy around the world. George W Bush and Tony Blair’s policy in Iraq following the US/UK invasion in 2003.
Today’s Republican Party in the US is much more neo-conservative than the British Tories.
What are the two problems caused by a person adopting their own moral code or lifestyle
The individual concerned may opt for an immoral lifestyle-a particularly unacceptable to the religious elements within the neoconservative ranks in the US
People should not be free to choose different moral positions because this prevents the development of common moral standards, undermining societal cohesion
Rejection of multiculturalism which they argue divides society on racial and religious lines and threatens national unity by dividing society along ethical, racial and religious lines
What does different Conservatives believe about human nature
Most Conservatives regard people as in perfect, insecure and limited
Human nature is immutable so it cannot be altered by changing economic’s, social or political conditions.
Without a firm government and tough criminal justice system is Conservatives argue human behaviour would deteriorate
They argue that a utopian political scheme based on fraternity or or equality would not get rid of human aggressive instinct
Capitalism is the only viable economic system because human nature is competitive and self interested
Neoliberal Conservatives adopt atomic individualism maintaining that human beings can be self-reliant and rational in decision-making
What does different Conservatives believe about the state
One nation conservatives believe the state has a primary role in preserving social order through welfare programs, economic intervention and the defence of traditional institutions and values such as the family and respect for authority
The new right exhibits both liberal and authoritarian attitude towards the state. Neoliberals call for the rollback of the state on the grounds that state intervention stifles economic initiative and growth and causes a dependency culture. Neoconservatism argued the states role in the economy needs to be reduced but cause for a strong state with increased police powers and tougher punishments to combat crime and antisocial behaviour
What does different Conservatives believe about the society
Traditional and one nation conservatives have an organic view on society. All parts of society they argue work together harmoniously to ensure a healthy social body. Any change to elements of the organic society may jeopardise social stability. Rests on the conservative belief in hierarchy and order
Neoliberal Conservatives in contrast reject the assumption underpinning the organic society such as a natural hierarchy and paternalism. Instead view society is composed of independent and rational individuals operating within every market
What does different Conservatives believe about the economy
Oh Conservatives favour private enterprise but their view on the economy varies
One nation conservatives in doors Ltd interventionist economic management techniques to maintain high employment levels, and mixed economy of private and publicConcerns and state welfare program
New Conservatives and neoliberals argued that the states role in the economy has to be reduced. Neoliberals in particular call for a free market economy on the grounds that it is the best mechanism to meet consumer demand maximise the use of resources and generate prosperity
What are the key beliefs of Thomas Hobbes
And ordered society should balance the human need to lead a free life
Humans are needy, vulnerable and easily led astray in attempts to understand the world around them
Leviathan –argued for almost total obedience to absolute government and the only alternative was chaos
State of nature-where people were free and equal and did not have to answer to any form of higher authority arguing thatHumans would exhibit a restless desire for power, leading to conflict and turning the state into a war
What were the key beliefs of Edmund Burke
Change has to be undertaken with great caution, mindful of the delicate balance inherent in an organic society
Traditional and empiricism should be respected because they represent practices passed down from one generation to the next
Reflections on the revolution in France-his criticism of the French Revolution and developed a number of key conservative argument
First problem with the French Revolution was an attempt to create a new society on an absolute principle rather than the lessons of the past arguing it could lead only into chaos
Play attitudes towards organic, gradual change
What were the key beliefs of Michael Oakeshott
Peoples actions should be guided by pragmatism rather than ideology
Theories and ideologies over simplify complex situations
Ideas on human imperfection and pragmatism and works such as rationalism in politics and on human conduct
Oakeshott argues modern society is both unpredictable and complex therefore cannot be understood in terms of principles or theories. Rational attempts to make sense of societal behaviour distort the facts a problem caused by human imperfection as people do you not have the mental capacity
Oakeshott pragmatism versus rationalism views
Rationalist politics is based on abstract principles and systems of ideological Thoughts
Parliamentary institutions developed pragmatically due to the Practical demands of governing
Rationalist politics leads to destruction and the creation of a new political and social order
Parliamentary institutions have existed for centuries and Govan on the basis of history and experience
What are the key views of Ayn Rand?
A libertarian philosophy system that advocate the witches of rational self interest and maintains that individual freedom supports a pure laissez-faire economic system
Objectivism all aspects of life provides the fundamental basis of human life and this led to her to endorse a form of ethical claims that the rational pursuit of self interest was morally right
She rejected government welfare and wealth redistribution programs because the date relies on the implicit threat of force to ensure that people contribute through taxation
Condemned all forms of personal altruism (I did but an individual should put the well-being of others first) because such acts created an artificial sense of obligation and expectation
