Q2 (a) Nature of Political Conservatism

Question 1

The nature of political conservatism is that historically it has been anti-liberal, reactionary and authoritarian.

Answer 1

It has also been considered as a defence of the status quo in order to defend existing privileges and powers.

Question 2

Conservatism has primarily been a negative reaction to Enlightenment rationalism, and in particular, the French Revolution.

Answer 2

The writings of Edmond Burke (1700s) argue that the abstract ideas of the French revolutionaries destroy the traditions and institutions that have evolved over centuries.

Question 3

He believed that it would be better to maintain traditions and institutions as they are tried and tested, and contained the collective wisdom of a society gained over many generations.

Answer 3

Conservatism is doubtful of the human capacity to fully understand its social and political environment.

Therefore, the collective wisdom of the past and present is preferable to the abstract reasoning’s of a few.