Hoorcollege 3: Conservatives

Question 1

Conservatism in the 19th century

Answer 1

1. Like liberal parties limited organisation
2. Elite or cadre parties
3. Support from upper and middle class
4. Property owners
5. Rural support
6. Religious voters
7. Light ideology
8. Limited links with civil society

Question 2

6 core features of conservatism

Answer 2

1. Tradition
2. Human imperfection
3. Organic society
4. Hierarchy
5. Authority
6. Property

Question 3

Tradition in conservatism

Answer 3

The institutions and practices of the past have been tested by time, and should be preserved for the benefit of the living and generations to come because of that. They also believe tradition generates a sense of identity for society and the individual. It provides people with a sense of belonging, change is uncertain and insecure.

Question 4

Human imperfection in conservatism

Answer 4

Conservatives see human beings are morally imperfect, selfish and greedy. This explains the conservative preference for strong government and tough criminal justice regimes. It is also thought that the world is too complicated for humans to understand, abstract ideas are incomprehensible and high-sounding political principles like equality and social justice are dangerous as they provide a blueprint for reform, which leads to more suffering rather than less.

Question 5

Organic society in conservatism

Answer 5

There is a natural order in society. It gives individuals a place and a role in society. social equality is rejected and seen as undesirable and unachievable. There is natural inequality among individuals, which leads to a natural aristocracy where there are leaders and followers. The working class might not enjoy the same living standards and life chances as their employers, but, at the same time, they do not have the livelihoods and security of many other people resting on their shoulders.

Question 6

Authority in conservatism

Answer 6

Conservatives believe that authority in society develops naturally and not due to a social contract. It arises from the need to ensure that children are cared for, kept away from danger and are being fed, such authority can only come from above. It is necessary for security, support and guidance. There are limits to this authority, but not based on a social contract but on the natural responsibilities that come with authority.

Question 7

Property in conservatism

Answer 7

Conservatives see property as something that provides security in an uncertain and unpredictable world. Caution in the management of money is a virtue in itself. It also promotes that people will respect the property of others, which leads to the maintaining of law and order. It promotes respect for law, authority and social order.
It is also seen as an extension of an individual’s personality. The socialist belief of common property is therefore seen as a way to create a soulless and depersonalised society.
They also see property not only as individual, but also important to society. Property gets passed down from earlier generations.

Question 8

Conservatives in the 20th century

Answer 8

Decline of conservative parties due to mass and catchall parties (christian democratic parties take over religious voters). Some survive as cadre parties and some turn into mass parties.

Question 9

British conservatism post WWII

Answer 9

Changed from elite to catchall party.
Party of continuity: party of family, law and order, traditional nationalism, private property.
Development of welfare state. Conservatives not opposed because it fit into paternalism –> helping the less fortunate through hierarchy.

Question 10

WWII welfare state compromise

Answer 10

After WWII welfare state compromise. Happened because of the WWII and economic crisis, parties on left and right were nervous about the state of democracy –> state needed to do more.
Right gave left welfare state in turn for market economy = compromise.

Question 11

Keynesian economics

Answer 11

state needs to play an active role in state spending.

Question 12

Economic changes post WWII that are important for conservatism

Answer 12

Economic crisis 1970s: growth slows down and inflation = stagflation. Oil crisis. Old solutions were no longer working.

Question 13

Rise of neo-conservatism

Answer 13

Thatcher and Reagan. Old conservatives in the party start to criticise the political economic order as it was (welfare state) and the way conservatism adapted itself to the post war period.

Question 14

Thatcher’s ideas

Answer 14

Market liberal, market should rule and supply will meet demnd. True competition will allow businesses to survive. Prices and wages will find value in the market –> Anti-union.
Attack on the welfare state.

Question 15

Neo-conservatism and the welfare state

Answer 15

Dangerous because it gives the impression that government could solve problems. It is based upon a specific point in history and post war boom gave impression that state planning worked –> creates culture of dependency and increase of debts and deficits.

Question 16

Why is neo-conservatism called this way when economically it is essentially Neo-liberalism?

Answer 16

Culturally. Moral and cultural critique, family needs to return to old. Fallen society due to drugs, sex and morality. Critique of feminism and importance of law and order.

Question 17

How is neo-conservatism different than traditional conservatism?

Answer 17

More market oriented and more individualist. Similarities are in terms of law and order, support of civil society and traditional family.

Question 18

Conservative parties now

Answer 18

Became less culturally conservative, not for law and order and immigrations. Other parties have also become more Neo-conservative. Changing nature of the electorate, especially new middle class.