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Conservatism
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Detailed, thorough notes on Conservatism based on the suggested Edexcel A-Level textbook
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ConservatismDefinitions:
Change to conserve: the idea that society should adapt to changing circumstances by
introducing moderate reforms, rather than reject change outright and risk rebellion or
revolution
Human imperfection: the traditional conservative belief that humans are flawed in a
number of ways, which makes them incapable of making good decisions for themselves
Atomism: the idea that society is made up of self-interested and self-sufficient individuals
(also known as egotistical individualism). It can also describe increasing social breakdown
and isolation
Hierarchy: the conservative belief that society is naturally organised in fixed and unequal
tiers, where one's social position or status is not based on individual ability
Authority: for conservatives, the idea that people in higher positions in society are best able
to make decisions on behalf of other people or society as a whole; authority comes naturally
from above and rests on accepted obligation from below to obey
Noblesse oblige: a French phrase that encapsulates the idea that nobility and privilege bring
with them social responsibilities, notably the duty and obligation to care for those less
fortunate
Laissez-faire: minimal intervention in business and the state by the government
Radical: a term used to describe beliefs, ideas or attitudes that favour drastic political,
economic and social change
Anti-permissiveness: a rejection of permissiveness, which is the belief that people should
make their moral choice
Empiricism: the idea that knowledge comes from real experience and not from abstract
theories
Minimal or 'night watchman' state: the idea that the role of the state must be restricted to
preserve individual liberty
Core ideas and principles:
Pragmatism
Edmund Burke and Michael Oakeshott
rejects theory and ideology in favour of practical experience - the approach to
society should be flexible, with decisions made on the basis of what works
Oakeshott: ' to be a Conservative is to prefer the tried to the untried'
implies a flexible approach to politics that considers what is in the best interests of
the people, what is acceptable to the public and what will maintain social stability
linked with view on human rationality: contend that humans lack the intellectual
ability and powers of reasoning to fully comprehend the complex realities of the
world, so dismiss abstract ideas, theories and ideologies that claim to
explain/improve human life/development
ideas like human rights, a classless society and equality are dangerous as it
promotes a radical change in society which can lead to the worsening of conditions
, prefer acting in a pragmatic way that emphasises caution, moderation and a sense
of historical continuity
critics argue it leads to a lack of political principle and encourages politicians to
follow not lead public opinion
traditional: essential element in facilitating natural or inevitable change within a
society, should not be opposed as a state 'without the means of some change is
without the means of its conservation' (Burke), pragmatism will bring about
necessary change peacefully (through evolution not revolution), key features of
society can only be preserved through pragmatism, change to conserve
one-nation: hold similar attitudes to social reform but have adopted a pragmatic
'middle way' approach (1951, did not reverse Labour's policies) to the economy that
combines market competition with government regulation, argue moderate
economic course promotes growth and social harmony by encouraging wealth
creation through wealth creating through private enterprise and generating the
funding for state welfare programmes
Tradition
attachment to the institutions, customs and practices of a society that have
developed over time
religious roots - those who attempt to alter longstanding social arrangements are
challenging the will of God and likely to undermine society, not improve it
severely weakened by the Enlightenment (with its emphasis of rationalism and anti-
clericalism) and the incorporation of man-made innovations like representative
democracy
Edmund Burke: maintain that tradition constitutes the accumulated wisdom of the
past - institutions, customs and practices of the past (e.g. monarchy, constitution,
nuclear family and heterosexual marriage) have demonstrated their value to
previous societies and proved 'fit for purpose' over time - should be preserved so
current and future generations can benefit - society is 'a partnership not only
between those who are living, but between those who are living, those who are
dead and those who are to be born' (Burke) - each generation has a solemn duty to
safeguard and pass on the accumulated wisdom of tradition to the next generation
reform and change can only be justified if it evolves naturally in a peaceful, gradual
way to strengthen existing institutions/customs/practices - seeking to destroy all
traditional and political institutions (French in 1789 and Russia 1917) were paving
the way for regimes that were more tyrannical that the ones they had toppled
Second reason to champion tradition is that it provides society and the individual
with a strong sense of identity - provide individuals with a historical based sense of
familiarity and belonging to a particular society
fosters social cohesion and security as it offers a reassuring collective sense and
establishes powerful ties between people and specific societies - radical changes will
lead to instability, anxiety and insecurity
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