4: Conservatism
- Page ID
- 288381
This page is a draft and is under active development.
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It is a general feature of human experience that a large segment of the population will have an attachment to past or current ways of doing things. As a political attitude, this attachment forms the basis of what is nowadays called conservatism. The conservative political attitude is therefore a near universal phenomenon. Along with the universality of conservatism, however, we must remember another important fact: there is such disagreement among conservatives that identifying a set of ideals or values that is common to all conservatives is difficult. For example, the conservatism of populists like Donald Trump is very different compared with the former Prime Minister Stephen Harper, and neither of these conservatives have much in common with Benjamin Disraeli or John A. MacDonald, two proponents of what has been called Tory democracy.
It is in the nature of conservatism that it will differ from place to place. At the simplest level, it aims to conserve; the specific traditions a conservative movement will seek to conserve depend on the political traditions in question. That is why, for example, American conservatism is often different than Canadian conservatism: conservatives in each country are attempting to conserve different traditions and institutions.
Most conservative outlooks fall into one of two broad categories: classical conservatism and modern conservatism (sometimes called the New Right). This chapter will examine both variants, but first looking at classical conservatism, then modern conservatism. A final section will look at the future of the ideology.
This is where I introduce Conservatism as an ideology.
AI generated summary
This chapter explores the multifaceted nature of conservatism, highlighting its evolution from a historical disposition into various modern political branches. Classical conservatism is defined by a reverence for tradition, a belief in organic social hierarchies, and a skeptical view of human perfectibility through radical change. In contrast, modern conservatism emerged from the "Reagan-Thatcher revolution," shifting the focus toward free markets, deregulation, and a smaller state. The text further distinguishes specific subgroups like libertarians, who prioritize individual liberty, and neoconservatives, who advocate for strong national authority and the global spread of democracy. Finally, the source addresses the contemporary rise of populism and how these conflicting internal ideologies create ongoing tensions within conservative political parties.
- Distinguish between classical conservatism and modern conservatism.
- Discuss and analyze the main unifying values of conservatism.
- Name key thinkers of conservatism.
- Assess the role of conservatism in today’s politics.
AI generated
Based on the source material, here are the four key learning objectives for the chapter on Conservatism:
- Distinguish between classical conservatism and modern conservatism: Understand the fundamental differences between traditional "High Tory" values and the market-oriented "New Right" that emerged during the Reagan-Thatcher era.
- Discuss and analyze the main unifying values of conservatism: Examine core principles such as the importance of tradition, the necessity of hierarchy and authority, the organic theory of society, and the recognition of human imperfection.
- Name key thinkers of conservatism: Identify the contributions of influential figures like Edmund Burke (tradition), Michael Oakeshott (critique of rationalism), and Irving Kristol (neoconservatism).
- Assess the role of conservatism in today’s politics: Evaluate current trends and internal tensions, including the rise of populism and the differing perspectives of libertarians and neoconservatives on the state's role in society.
- 4.1: Classical Conservatism
- Classical conservatism is defined by a commitment to tradition, hierarchy, and authority as the best means to maintain social order . It views society as an organism that requires gradual, incremental growth rather than radical, sudden change . Central to this outlook is a belief in human imperfection, which leads classical conservatives to reject "political rationalism"—the idea that society can be redesigned according to abstract, universal blueprints.
- 4.2: Modern Conservatism
- Marked by the Reagan-Thatcher Revolution of the 1980s, modern conservatism shifted the focus toward free markets, deregulation, and a "business-first" approach to government . While it retains some classical conservative roots, it incorporates classical liberal ideals, specifically the belief that government activity is often the cause of social and economic problems rather than the solution.
- 4.3: Libertarianism
- Libertarians are a significant but often uneasy faction within the conservative movement due to their anti-statist stance . They champion individual rights and free markets, but unlike classical conservatives, they prioritize individual liberty over social cohesion . They typically oppose state efforts to enforce traditional morality or "socially engineer" specific outcomes, preferring a neutral legal framework where individuals make their own choices.
- 4.4: Neoconservatism
- Neoconservatism supports free markets but is much more comfortable with a strong, active state to maintain domestic law, order, and traditional values . Its most defining feature is an interventionist foreign policy driven by "American Exceptionalism," a distrust of international organizations, and a "friends-versus-enemies" view of global politics aimed at promoting democracy abroad.
- 4.5: Conservatism in the Future
- The ideology is currently a collection of competing factions—including libertarians, neoconservatives, and social conservatives—that often disagree on the state's role in personal and economic life . The defining feature of the future landscape is the rise of populism, which focuses on the divide between "the elites" and "the people" . This populist turn creates new tensions, as it often clashes with established conservative views on globalism, military action, and constitutional norms.
Attribution
Dr. Tyler Chamberlain, "Conservatism: Slow Change Please!" CC BY-NC 4.0