types of conservatism Flashcards
what are the different types of conservatism
Traditional (aftermath of french rev)
Traditional (one nation)
Traditional (response to facism)
Christian democracy
New right
two main strands
traditional
new right
traditional conservatism-aftermath of french revolution
change to conserve e.g support for great reform act
order and authority- Robert Peel making metro police force in london
why did people critisice Burke
just explaining current society in more sophisticated way
would want it to remain becuase benefitted them
PMs which were conservative in political practice
Pitt, Canning + Peel
praised evidence, supported order, didn’t like revolutionary change
what caused the emergence of one nation
more demands for democracy
important people involved in emergence of one nation
Disraeli, Bismarck
prioritise national unity to help the poor (ironic bc at the time that was seen as anti-monarchy as french revolutionaries were ‘patriotic’)
would fulfill paternalistic role
what did one nation conservatism come to be associated with
legislation which tempered with effects of laissez faire capitalism on behalf of working class
what legislation came about in England due to one nation conservatism
factory act 1874
artisan dwelling acts (restricted freedom of factory owners)
what was Harold MacMillan’s middle way
saw socialism as ineviatable
middle way=address economic inequalities whilst respecting property rights (+other con themes)
more state intervention to stop socialism
traditional conservatism- repsonse to facism
middle way
bigger gov
had to appeal to working class extension of franchise
argued support for state welfare=updated capitalist paternalism
Christian democracy
variant of traditional conservatism
facism affected continental europe
post war european conservatism
christian democracy+traditional conservatism overlaps
judeo-christian morality binds people
authority+heirarchy
social con
sceptical on free markets
acceptance of large state post war
what makes christian democracy distinct from british conservatism
supranational- authority cuts across national borders
came about from bad experiences with nationalism in the war (germany+nazism)
worked because of influence of roman catholics (practice supranational authority)
what is the new right a merger between
neo liberalism
neo conservatism
Conservatism is a ruling class ideology YES
Burke ‘father of conservatism’ defended aristocracy after French rev
Cons defend inequality, privelage+property
Stress on tradition- stops position of ruling class being challenged
Conservatism is a ruling class ideology NO
Purpose of cons is order which appeals to all sections of society
Love for custom echoes in all parts of society
Traditional cons promote interests of the poor
New right =meritocratic
Conservatism is the politics of pragmatism YES
Always said should be based on what is not what should be
Primed itself on flexibility
Pragmatism shown by different policies e.g Peel’s support for laissez faire and Macmillan backing Keynesian
Conservatism is the politics of pragmatism NO
Not philosophically neutral e.g slow change over fast
Reject revolution not to stop change but to protect a society based on certain principle e.g private property
Conservatism is compatible with capitalism YES
Based on private property which cons support
Generates inequality
Been heart of economies for centuries so traditional
Gives ruling class wealth to help poor (paternalism)
Extend private property for individual freedom
Conservatism is compatible with capitalism NO
Creates economic+social divisions-threatens ‘one nation’
Volatile so threat to stability
Promotes meritocracy which challenges ruling class
Conservatism can be reconciled with socialism YES
Both play down individualism
Stress communities
Traditional cons+socialist see capitalism as problematic
Conservatism can be reconciled with socialism NO
Cons like inequality
Cons sceptical of progress, to socialists=essential
Cons defend private property
Cons reject revolution
Socialist don’t like paternalism
