Core Political Ideas: Conservatism
1. Conservatism: core ideas and principles
Core ideas and principles of socialism and how they relate to human nature, the state, society and the economy:
Conservatism seeks to conserve society as it is and is suspicious to change. Conservatism values pragmatism
over ideological thinking, seeking to adapt its values over time, according to changes in society. However, new
right thinking within conservatism in the 1970s and 1980s challenged much of what conservatism had
traditionally stood for.
Pragmatism – flexible approach to society with decisions made on the basis of what works
Tradition – accumulated wisdom of past societies and a connection between the generations
Human imperfection – humans are flawed which makes them incapable of making good decisions for
themselves. Any quests, therefore, for the ‘perfect society’ are misguided and potentially dangerous
Organic society/state – society/state is more important than any individual parts
Paternalism – benign power exerted from above by the state, that governs in the interests of the people
Libertarianism (specifically neo-liberalism) – upholds liberty, seeking to maximise autonomy and free
choice, mainly in the economy
Hierarchy – equality of status and power is undesirable, human affairs require leadership from a small number
of individuals and the majority should accept their judgement
Authority – this denotes a recognised right for those in/with authority to make decisions that others must
accept.
Atomism – this relates to the view that human beings seek autonomy and ‘space’, which therefore leads to only
a vague sense of society. Conservatives traditionally reject this view, arguing that individuals are closely
connected by their communities. However, New Right conservatives are much more atomistic in their view of
human nature and society
Noblesse oblige- the ‘fatherly’ obligations that a ruling class – or ‘nobility’ – has to society as a whole
Anti-permissive – linked to the neo-conservative wing of the New Right, such policies seek to reserve much of
the social liberalism dating from the 1960s. Neo-conservatism takes a critical view of issues like divorce,
abortion and homosexuality.
Empiricism – a preference for ‘evidence’ over ‘theory’ and tends to emphasise ‘what is’ over ‘what should be’
Laissez-faire – this involves the state allowing market forces to operate freely. Though strongly associated
with economic liberalism, laissez-faire economics has been supported by both traditional conservatives like
Burke and New Right conservatives like Nozick.
Human nature
Conservatives are inclined to restrain their optimism by stressing human frailty and fallibility. Their view of
human nature has led to it being described as ‘a philosophy of imperfection’. They deny any possibility of
perfection, utopian society, comprising flawless and rational individuals, highlighting humanity ‘as it is’ rather
than as it could or should be. Human nature is pretty much fixed and constant and the job of politicians to
accommodate this, they scorn for the idea that society can be remoulded given the right environment. They
point to revolutions such as those in French and Russia as evidence of how uprisings with utopian objectives
quickly become derailed through human failings or weaknesses. The most powerful guiding principle in human
behaviour and motivation is self-interest. Expecting humans to work cooperatively with one another in the
common interest is unrealistic and goes against human nature. Societies stand the best chance of being
, successful when they recognise the importance of self-interest and create a society where self-interest is
rewarded.
State
Order and authority – conservatism sees the state as having more of a disciplinary function – the main goal of
the conservative state is to provide order, security and authority. Without order there could be no liberty and
there is no order until the emergence of clear laws backed by firm authority. This connects to their fundamental
belief that the state precedes society. Organic origins – they prefer a state that emerges gradually and
unpredictably: an ‘organic’ and pragmatic response to humanity’s needs. A ruling class – they are comfortable
with a state that is overly hierarchical, reflecting the elitist society they also endorse. They implicitly
acknowledge the notion of a ruling class, whose power will be aristocratic and hereditary rather than
democratic. The traditional conservative state legislates wherever there was evidence to show new laws were
necessary. The nation-state – from the mid-20th century, conservatives tended to emphasise a state based on
nationhood. For all conservatives, the nation became a mega-community, one that enfolded all classes and
therefore provided a ‘natural’ basis for the state.
Society
Localism – they see society as a collection of localised communities. These communities provide their
individuals with security and status while acting as a brake on selfish individualism. Organicism – society is not
something that can be created, but something that emerges gradually and organically. They see the ‘reality’ of
an unplanned, organic society, proof that human life is subject to complex forces beyond the scope of reason.
Society grows in a way that can never be wholly predicted. Tradition is important in habits and protection and
any change must be slow and not contemptuous. Human imperfections lead conservatives to put little store in
the idea of foundational equality. They see society as a hierarchy in which the wiser and stronger will be
natural leaders with power and privilege. However, they also believe this is tempted with responsibility –
paternalism or nobelesse oblige. There is a strong link to Judaeo-Christian morality as a guide in society, e.g.,
the importance of marriage and accountability for one’s own actions. They dispute the idea that dysfunctional
individuals are the product of dysfunctional societies. They believe in respect for property. Those with property
have a ‘duty of care’, if only to avoid rebellion.
Economy
Capitalism tends to nurture and widen economic inequalities; conservatism defends inequality and hierarchy.
Therefore, it is unsurprising that ‘conservative economics’ have a pro-capitalism flavour, though they believe
that free-market capitalism promotes risk. Conservatives have been dubbed capitalism’s ‘reluctant supporters’.
They recognise that any assault on capitalism is also an assault on property, inequality, hierarchy and the status
quo, however, traditional conservatives are sceptical of the belief that markets are at their most effective when
left alone by governments. They support a moderated form of capitalism in which free markets are tempered
by state intervention. Under this conservative model of capitalism – sometimes referred to as protectionism –
society and the economy would be insured against the vagaries of markets by state-imposed tariffs and duties.
This ‘protection’ of national producers and consumers was also consistent with traditional conservatives’
emphasis upon national identity and ‘one-nation’, offsetting the globalising effects of free-market capitalism.
Traditional conservatives in the 20th century were also drawn to Keynesian capitalism whereby the state
‘managed’ market forces in the interests of full employment.
Change to conserve
This is the fundamental principle of conservatism and one that distinguishes a conservative from a reactionary.
It indicates a belief that for something valuable to be preserved, it has to be continually updated and
maintained. If society does not change, it risks rebellion of revolution. Change is inevitable; what matters is that
change occurs in an appropriate manner. It is best to draw upon all that is good that has gone before, and that
change is the only way to conserve society. Attempts to ‘turn back the clock’ are futile and counterproductive.
The ‘doctrine of maintenance’ is one that advocates change, but in the form of ongoing repair and development
rather than outright demolition and the construction of something entirely new. This principle is definitely not
about radical change or the re-building society.
