Focus: Understanding conservatism in A-Level politics
Topics: Development of conservatism, key principles, agreements, tensions, and key thinkers.
Development of Conservatism
Strands of Conservatism
Traditional Conservatism
One Nation Conservatism
The New Right
Essay Questions
Extent of agreement within conservatism
Comparing different strands: New Right vs. Traditional, One Nation vs. Traditional
Agreement on the state, economy, society, and human nature
Agreement on key principles: paternalism, hierarchy, tradition, pragmatism
Key Thinkers
Thomas Hobbes
Preceded conservatism, but his ideas influenced it
Key work: Leviathan
Views on human nature: Life without a state would be "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short."
Advocated for a strong state to maintain order and security
Edmund Burke
Father of Conservatism
Key text: Reflections on the Revolution in France
Advocated for tradition, social hierarchy, gradual change
Michael Oakeshott
Restatement of traditional conservatism
Advocated for pragmatism over ideology
Views on human imperfection and gradual change
Benjamin Disraeli
One Nation Conservative
Emphasized paternalism and national unity
Supported pragmatic changes to conserve tradition
New Right Thinkers
Ayn Rand
Advocated for neoliberalism
Supported individualism and free-market capitalism
Opposed welfare state and altruism
Robert Nozick
Advocated for minimal state intervention
Promoted libertarianism and self-ownership
Key Principles of Conservatism
Pragmatism
Decisions based on practicality rather than ideology
Emphasis on tradition and gradual change
Tradition
Accumulated wisdom of the past
Central to maintaining stability and security
Paternalism and Hierarchy
State as a benign authority
Natural and necessary hierarchy for social order
Capitalism and Property
Supported due to pragmatism and tradition
Property rights as key to stability
Organic Society
Society as evolving naturally, not designed
Emphasis on stability and cohesion
Human Imperfection
Humans are flawed and need guidance
State provides order and security
The State
Provides order and security
Varies by strand: economic role differs, libertarianism vs. paternalism
Strands and Tensions
Traditional Conservatism
Supports traditional institutions, hierarchy, pragmatism
One Nation Conservatism
Adapts traditional values to new contexts
Emphasizes national unity and paternalism
The New Right
Combines neoliberalism and neoconservatism
Advocates for free markets, minimal state intervention
Skeptical of tradition-driven governance
Evaluation
Disagreement View: New Right differs significantly from traditional and one nation conservatism. Driven by ideology rather than pragmatism.
Agreement View: Traditional and One Nation share significant agreement. The New Right supports some conservative principles but may align more with liberal traditions.
Resources
PDFs and resources available on the Politics Explained website.