Types of conservatism Flashcards
Traditional conservative
from the worksheet (skip to 9 for simplified)
Reactionary
- Feudal hierarchic order of society
- Challenged by the Enlightenment, French Rev, changing dynamics due to Industrial revolution
Resisted decline of aristocratic rule - In practice: feudal hierarchy, resisted decline of aristocratic rule
- KT: Hobbes
Non-reactionary
- Counters Enlightenment ideas (rationalism)
- Hierarchy, empiricism, tradition, authority
- change to conserve
- moderate reforms (late 19th century) - stable + free market
- KT: Burke
A natural disposition
- Psychological and intellectual focus of human imperfection
- Abstract thought is flawed
- Traditional institutions should remain as they have lasted the length of time
- Pragmatism used to govern
- Maintain monarchy (tried + tested)
- KT: Oakeshott
One-nation conservatism
Key areas:
- Society = social justice, paternalism
- Economy = rationalism, keynesian
Early one-nation
- How: government facing consequences of mass industrialisation & call for social reform
- Difference: Previous Laissez Faire approach challenged by social injustice & new ideas that scared traditional conservatism.
- Disraeli: Hierarchal aristocracy & organic society & noblesse oblige (duty of upper class). Loathed doctrines & abstract ideas.
- Disraeli actions: Reforms (ROTPA 1867 & AaLDIA 1875), book about how trad con is a reaction to capitalism.
20th century conservatism
- Actions/ideas of Macmillan: society has great importance, rejected empiricism (had rationalistic ideas), Keynesian, social liberation (pragmatism)
- Clashes with traditional conservative values: rationalism and proactive role in society
organic society
trad & one nation
individualistic - can rationally recognise the need for monarch to enforce order
- humans are communal
- natural hierarchy
- society cannot exist before the state
- ‘little platoons’ bind to form nation
neo-con
- agrees with trads and ONs
- oakeshott’s idea that utopian society is unattainable
neo-lib
- people are autonomous individuals (‘there is no such thing [as society]’)
- prefer scientific fact and logic to pragmatism and empiricism
- favour meritocracy (most able lead)
- atomistic and individualistic society
human imperfection
trad & one nation
- Humans are morally, psychologically, intellectually imperfect
- intellectual imperfection implies need for empiricism and pragmatism over liberal abstract ideas
- oakeshott argued nirvana promised by utopian societies cannot be created because humans are imperfect creatures
- ambivalent about capitalism - some favoured protectionism to protect elites
neo-con
- hobbesian view of imperfection - therefore advocate for law enforcement to maintain social stability
- believe that anti poverty programmes in UK and US failed due to the ignorance of human imperfection (humans are not naturally moral or hardworking)
neo-lib
- positive view of human nature - humans are rational and motivated by self interest
- individuals are first loyal to their own personal happiness within atomistic society
traditionalism
trad
- gradual empirical change
- traditions such as religion, public morality, authoritarian law and order
one nation
- more secular than trad cons (less connected to religion) and inclusive of LGBTQ+ and aware of issues they face
neo-conservatives
- prefer christian values and not sympathetic to LGBTQ+ issues
- informed by traditional values such as pragmatism (eg. CARES act by Trump)
paternalism
trad
- state should be ruled by the elite (natural hierarchy) - preserve organic society
one nation
- noblesse oblige (duty of the elite to those lower down in the hierarchy) and paternalistic state invention
- primary purpose of state is to preserve society
- modern ON cons is paternal
neo-conservative
- less generous welfare state but also needed to provide society order
- huge state interference in crisis to preserve society and the economy
- paternal and advocates for welfare state - less generous than ON cons
neo-liberals
- oppose the idea of natural hierarchy and favour meritocracy (most able lead)
- state involvement ‘limited to the narrow functions of force, theft, enforcement of contracts and so on’
- do not believe in state sponsored welfare state
pragmatism
trad
- there must be changes to preserve society - changes should be informed by empiricism
- society should be protected from external forces too - hawkish foreign policy
one nation
- early ON cons inspired by empiricism and small scale state intervention
- later, ONCs open up to more rationalistic thinking - displayed by previous PMs such as Macmillan with his rationalistic inspired policies such as Keynesian economics
- disraeli favoured free market but understood that unregulated capitalism that can lead to societal tension and division
- favoured moderate state intervention in the economy
- massive state intervention when in crisis (eg. covid)
neo-conservatives
- primary function of the state is to preserve society
- open to rationalism and state management (rationally inspired welfare and education reforms in UK and US)
- free market - best method for wealth, employment, reducing costs of goods and services
neo-liberals
- state’s primary role is to protect human rights
- favour meritocracy (most able lead)
libertarianism
trad
- believe in minimal state involvement in society and economy
- burke supported free market and ideas of adam smith
one nation
- early ON cons advocate for small scale state intervention
- later, advocates for extensive state intervention in society (large interference during covid to preserve society)
- since the 1960s, attitudes have changed from keynesian to more privatisation
neo-conservativism
- less generous welfare state but also needed to provide society order
neo-liberalism
- miniaturist - minimal state interference in individuals lives
- most hostile to state interference in the economy
- Nozick name state taxation for these schemes are ‘legalised theft’
- roll back of state interference in economy and society
- disliked collectivism
- don’t believe in state funded welfare - should be tax funded by individuals
- voluntarism - individuals are free to donate is want to
- state acts as only a referee in the economy to ensure rules are adhered to
- committed to free market and oppose interventionary state management (such as in Keynesian economics)
