paternalism and hierarchy Flashcards
paternalism is the belief that the state should
exert a benign influence from above , governing in the interests of the people
this concept of paternalism reflects the conservatives view that authority when exercised responsibility can be
a source for good , guiding society toward stability and welfare
conservatives believe that paternalism enhances the social fabric and maintains stability in society by
ensuring that those in positions of power use their authority for the greater good
the principle of paternalism is also rooted in their belief in human imperfection unlike liberals they believe that
not all individuals are equally capable of self governance and therefore might benefit from guidance and support
closely linked to paternalism is the conservatives strong support for hierarchy , cons regard hierarchal structures as
natural and necessary for maintaining order and stability in society
cons view hierarchy as a natural and inevitable aspect of any well order society they argue that people are
inherently different in terms of abilities , talents and capacities .
this view on hierarchal structures not only reflect the natural differences but also ensure those best suited to
leadership and decision making roles are placed in most effected positions
traditional cons interpretation of paternalism is based on the view that the state , embodying tradition and pragmatism , thus knows
what is best for them , and citizens should follow what the state says
traditional cons approach is authoritarian in nature as it involves a top down method of decision making and governance by
ruling elite who are in power , with no input from the general populace
traditional cons believe this model is necessary to ensure stability , order and the overall well being in society , in their view it is the
states responsibility to protect and provide for its citizens
traditional cons view of paternalism also emphasises that the average citizen may not be best equipped to make
decisions about complex societal issues and hence its better for a state to make those choices
linked to an authoritarian state was traditional cons strong support for hierarchy viewing it
as an essential comment of a well ordered and functioning society
traditions cons see hierarchy as providing clear roles and expectations for individuals contributing to
social harmony and preventing chaos whilst promoting respect for tradition and authority
in ‘ reflections on the revolution in France ‘ Burke demonstrated his belief that hierarchy in society is natural by stating
“we fear god; we look up with awe to kings; with affection to parliaments; with duty to magistrates ; with reverence to priests and with respect to nobility”
“good order is the foundation of all good things “ Burke , notable that
this specific phrasing does not appear in his work
traditional cons support for hierarchy can be seen in the early 19th century by the fact many of them were initially opposed to the
1832 reform act , redistributing parliamentary seats and expanding the elctorate to include more middle class men
traditional cons feared that the 1832 reform act , altering the existing electoral system would disrupt
the social order and under,ien the influence of the aristocracy
one nation cons are ardent supporters of paternalism they believe it is the responsibility of the state and the upper class to
safeguard and look after the less privileged in society
one nation cons framed this within their broader message that society was on cohesive unit that was united by patriotism , building on
Burkes view that there was an organic affinity between the upper and lower classes in society
one nation cons , paternalistic approach is rooted in a sense of moral duty articulated in the concept of “ noblesse oblige “ which embodies
the belief that those in privileged positions have a duty to act with generosity and responsibility towards those less fortunate
one nation cons “ noblesse oblige “ leads to governance approach where the state takes proactive steps to
improve the welfare of the less privileged members of society through policies
Disraeli government enacted social welfare reforms such as the public health act 1875 which
improved public health
- adressing the needs of the less privileged while maintain social hierarchy , key con value
one nation cons support for paternalism is not just due to belief in moral duty but also due to
pragmatic strategy to uphold and maintain order , hierarchy and the position of aristocracy top of the social hierarchy
one nations cons recognise that if those near the bottom of social hierarchy aren’t looked after to extent it increases
the likelihood of societal upheaval and potentially revolution , which would overturn the established hierarchy