Ideologies - Conservatism Definitions

Question 1

Change to conserve

Answer 1

This is the fundamental principle of conservatism and on that distinguishes a conservative from a reactionary, it indicated a belief that for something valuable to be preserved, it has to be continuously updated and maintained

Question 2

Human imperfection

Answer 2

Drawing on the Old Testament doctrine of original sin, it refers to the timeless flaws of humanity, flaws which make any quest for the ‘perfect’ society misguided and potentially disastrous

Question 3

Empiricism

Answer 3

This indicates a preference for ‘evidence’ over theory and tends to emphasise ‘what is’ over ‘what should be’

Question 4

Normative

Answer 4

This donates how arrangements theoretically ‘should’ be in future, a term conservatives disdain, given their stress upon their uncertainty of our existence

Question 5

Progressive

Answer 5

Linked to socialism and liberalism, a belief that problems invariable have solutions and that the future must always be superior to the past and present, an assumption about which conservatives are sceptical

Question 6

Hierarchy

Answer 6

Equality of status and power is undesirable, affairs require leadership from a small number of individuals, and the majority should accept their judgements

Question 7

Paternalism/noblesse oblige

Answer 7

The ‘fatherly’ obligations of the ruling class, to protect, to nurture, to discipline, which leads to one-nation Toryism

Question 8

Authority

Answer 8

The right of those with ‘authority’ to make decisions that other must accept, there is a disagreement between conservatives, liberals and socialists around how authority should be acquired and dispensed, the recognised right for those with authority to make decisions which other accept

Question 9

Thatcherism

Answer 9

Associated with New Right conservatism from 1979 to 1990, a mix of neo-liberal policies like privatisation and tax reduction with neo-conservative policies such as increased police power, immigration control and take breaks for families

Question 10

Tory

Answer 10

The Tories and the Whigs were the two main parties in England in the 17th to early 19th centuries, the Tories were linked to authority, tradition, hierarchy and religion, they became the Conservative Party in the 1830’s after alliances with parts of the Whigs

Question 11

One-nation conservatism

Answer 11

From the 1870’s, linked to Disraeli that conservatism should promote national unity by attending to the conditions of the poorest classes, used to justify greater intervention in society in taxation and spending

Question 12

Fascism

Answer 12

From the 1920’s and 1930’s, from Hitler and Mussolini, ideas of nationalism and ‘ultra-conservatism’, but had stress on radical and immediate change, its contempt for traditional institutions and local diversity, and glorification of dictatorship make it abhorrent to orthodox conservatives

Question 13

Supranationalism

Answer 13

A state whose authority cuts across national boundaries, such as the Soviet Union, British and American conservatives see it as a threat to ‘one nation’

Question 14

Anti-permissive

Answer 14

Linked to the neo-conservative wing of the New Right, such policies seek to reverse much of the social liberalism dating back to the 1960’s, it instead takes a new critical view of issues like divorce, homosexuality and abortion

Question 15

Atomism

Answer 15

Human beings seek ‘atomy’/space, which leads to a vague sense of society, conservatives reject this view saying individuals are closely connected by their communities, the New Right are however more atomistic in their view of human nature and society

Question 16

Localism

Answer 16

Localised communities, little platoon, they don’t like a monolithic society that overrides everything

Question 17

Organicism

Answer 17

Liberals think that you can rationally think of a view of society that can be imposed on society to make it better for the future, socialists see society as something that can be moulded, conservatives think it is something which arises slowly and mysteriously, in an organic way

Question 18

Hard paternalism

Answer 18

Enforcing rules/laws on people who don’t want them

Question 19

Soft paternalism

Answer 19

Listening to people and making a decision based on that

Question 20

Vassal

Answer 20

A holder of land by feudal tenure on conditions of loyalty

Question 21

Egalitarianism

Answer 21

The doctrine that people are equal and deserve equal rights and opportunities