YR 2 - core ideology: CONSERVATISM Flashcards
What are the 3 main branches of conservatism?
traditional, one nation, the new right
Who is named the FATHER of (traditional) conservatism?
Edmund Burke
What book did Edmund Burke write 1790 ?
Edmund Burke Reflections on the Revolution in France
How did Burke criticise the French Revolution?
He said the French government were at fault for not being willing to change, even minorly. you must ‘change in order to conserve’.
what 20th century Prime Minister is famously associated with one nation conservatism?
Benjamin Disraeli
what revolution had divided England into ‘two nations’ ? which created one nation conservatism?
the industrial revolution
what was the economic state in the 1970s?
STAGFLATION = slow growing economy + high inflation
who headed the 1979 conservative faction and what was it called?
Margaret Thatcher - The New Right
what type of economic structure did the new right / Thatcher endorse?
free market / Laissez faire capitalism. inspired by classical liberals like Adam Smith. Low taxation, low regulation, low intervention
name as many key principles of traditional conservatism as possible.
pragmatism, tradition, human imperfection, organic society, hierarchy, authority, paternalism, property, empiricism
what does it mean to be pragmatic? < key principle of traditional conservatism
dealing with things sensibly + realistically in a way that is based on practical rather than theoretical considerations.
what is empiricism? < key principle of traditional conservatism
evidence based thinking, testable, observable knowledge
why do conservatives value tradition? < key principle of traditional conservatism
-believe it is “accumulated wisdom of the past”
-institutions + practices have survived through time because they work.
-tradition makes people feel connected to something bigger, a sense of belonging
-change gives us insecurity
in what 3 ways do conservatives believe human beings are imperfect? < key principle of traditional conservatism
1) psychologically limited - we’re drawn to the safe + the familiar. prefer order to disorder. seek the security of knowing ‘our place’.
2) intellectually limited - the world is simply too complex for human reason to fully grasp. we are fallible (make mistakes) & irrational
3) morally imperfect - humankind is innately SELFISH + GREEDY
what is the concept of the organic society that conservatives believe in and prioritise? > key principle of traditional conservatism
- society emerged NATURALLY + wasn’t made by humanity
- people can’t exist separately from society, + society provides individuals with a sense of security.
-society should be seen as a living thing, an organism, that needs caring for to keep it healthy and alive - leads into the idea of a ‘natural aristocracy / hierarchy’
explain conservative views regarding hierarchy > key principle of traditional conservatism
-society is NATURALLY hierarchic
-power, status + property are always unequally distributed - natura authority
-social equality doesn’t exist
-working class = lower wages + livings standards, but less responsibility
-upper class = better wages + livings standards, but more responsibility
explain conservative views regarding authority > key principle of traditional conservatism
-authority promotes social cohesion by giving people a clear sense of how they ‘fit in’ and what is expected of them
-the state must be paternalistic over society
what does it mean to be paternalistic > key principle of traditional conservatism
- to provide for and protect.
name as many one nation conservative principles as possible.
pragmatism, tradition, organic society, authority, hierarchy, human imperfection
how is one nation pragmatism different to traditional pragmatism?
one nation emphasises ‘change in order to conserve’
what famous quote did Benjamin Disraeli say regarding ‘change in order to conserve’ ?
“The palace is not safe when the cottage is not happy”
how is one nation tradition different to traditional tradition?
one nation emphasises GRADUAL change to be delivered by the state to keep things the same
what do one nation conservatives believe about the organic society principle?
it represents them everything within the two nations (rich/poor) is interdependent. Disraeli believed that the problems created by capitalism were everyone’s responsibility. The wealthy must bear the burden of social responsibility.
explain the one nation principle of NOBLESSE OBLIGE
obligation of the nobles (rich) to look after the least well - off.
how is one nation paternalism different to traditional paternalism?
soft paternalism - don’t believe that the state knows best. Instead, the state can look after the poor, support + protect them. less authoritarian.
how is one nation human imperfection different to traditional human imperfection?
1) psychologically limited - people need security from tradition (traditionalist) vs people need security from patriotism (one nation)
2) intellectually limited - humans are fallible + irrational (traditionalist) vs humans are pragmatic + paternalistic (one nation)
3) morally imperfect - humans are innately selfish + greedy (traditionalist) vs the working class is flawed (one nation)
Who are the 3 key thinkers for One Nation Conservatism?
-Thomas Hobbes
-Edmund Burke
-Michael Oakeshott
Who was Thomas Hobbes? What was his book called?
English political philosopher - book: Leviathan (1651)
what did Thomas Hobbes believe about the natural state of nature?
-it was a state of war
-‘solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short’
what did Thomas Hobbes believe about human nature?
-humans are naturally competitive + aggressive
-humans are in a ‘perpetual and restless desire for power after power that ceases only in death’
what type of state did Thomas Hobbes want?
-a large authoritarian state is necessary to prevent the collapse of social order
-an ‘absolute sovereign’ / ‘leviathan’
What was Thomas Hobbes’ social contract theory?
-the relationship between the rulers and the ruled = contracted
-however once people decide to accept that sovereign power, they have given consent to be ruled authoritarianly
-the people can only disobey / challenge the state if they fail to protect the people
what did Edmund Burke believe about tradition?
-he was fully committed to the idea of tradition
-‘society is indeed a contract’ with ‘those who are living, those who are dead, and those who are yet to be born’ - duty of care to follow + pass on tradition
what did Edmund Burke believe about about organicism ?
he believed in organic society and a natural hierarchy. Family, Church and local community is key for humans. believed in natural aristocracy - ‘born to rule’.
what did Burke believe about how political change should be executed?
believed that political change should be done organically (naturally) and with caution. Done pragmatically.
Through what century was Oakeshott alive?
20th century. 1901-1990
What did Oakeshott believe about human nature?
-psychologically, intellectually , moral imperfect
- humans are not rational, the world is too complex for us to grasp. ‘anti-rational’
What did Oakeshott believe about the role of the state?
- can be small as only needs to uphold traditions and make decisions upon empiricism and pragmatism
-sceptical of a big state - the state can successfully conduct politics if it accommodates existing traditions
-the world is complicated thus we should be suspicious of leaders who claim they can pilot the ship to a specific destination
What 2 ideologies are combined to create the NEW RIGHT strand of conservatism?
neoliberalism + neoconservatism
what sectors are neoliberalism and neoconservatism useful for in the New Right Conservatism?
neoliberalism - economic
neoconservatism - social
what are the 4 main policies of neoliberalism (the new right) ?
-privatisation
-spending cuts
-tax cuts
-deregulation
describe the general social views of neoconservatives. (New Right conservatism)
- fear of social breakdown which was seen as a product of the spread of permissiveness
-anti permissiveness
-support for a strong state
what is meant by anti permissiveness?
anti - wokeness
a rejection of permissiveness
permissiveness –> the belief that people should make their own moral choices, suggesting there is no objective right + wrong. ‘woke’
NAME the 3 reasons that neoconservatives desire a strong state
1) social order
2) public morality
3) national identity
summarise neoconservatives views on social order. (New Right conservatism)
- delinquency + rising crime are a consequence of a decline of authority
-emphasis on the family - it is a unit of natural hierarchy and natural authority. prefer nuclear family
-single parent families, divorce, abortion etc has encouraged a decline in morality.
-welfare = dependency
-wants to be tough on crime. doesn’t care about CAUSES of crime
summarise neoconservatives views on public morality. (New Right conservatism)
-oppose permissiveness as it can lead to ‘evil’ views
-moral pluralism is threatening as it undermines the cohesion of society
- eg Thatcher and clause 28
summarise neoconservatives views on national identity. (New Right conservatism)
-Nation - binds society together, gives a common culture / identity
-oppose multiculturalism + has desire to limit immigration
what other political strand inspires the New Right economically?
LIBERTARIANISM
-believe in negative liberty + individual freedom
Give an example of a key Libertarian thinker
- Ayn Rand
- Robert Nozick
What was Ayn Rand’s philosophy?
OBJECTIVISM
- rational and ethical egoism
-radical individualism / atomism
- free market capitalism, limited state
-positive view of human nature
What were Ayn Rand’s key principles?
REASON , CAPITALISM, SELF - INTEREST / SELFISHNESS
How does Rand contribute to New Right conservatism?
economically / neoliberally
Why did Rand favour free market capitalism?
-the rights of the individual to use their own mind, act on their own judgement, and work for their values and keep the product of their labour
Who is Robert Nozick’s work a reaction to?
John Rawls - veil of ignorance
What does Nozick believe about rights?
- all individuals have self - ownership ; owners of their own body, mind and abilities
- individuals have rights that existed before any social contract or state.
What are Nozick’s 2 key principles?
rationalism + liberty
what did Nozick believe about tax, and the state?
- ‘taxation of earnings is on par with forced labour’
-desire for a minimalist but strong state : protection of person, property + contract
Who are the 5 key thinkers for conservatism as a whole?
-Thomas Hobbes
-Edmund Burke
-Michael Oakeshott
-Ayn Rand
-Robert Nozick
What additional thinkers could be mentioned in conservatism essays?
-Benjamin Disraeli
-Margaret Thatcher
