Conservatism: key terms

Question 1

Change to conserve

Answer 1

Conservatism’s fundamental principle: a belief that for something to be conserved, it must be continuously updated and maintained.

Question 2

The Enlightenment

Answer 2

A 17th/18th century intellectual movement defined by a belief in reason rather than faith, leading to many radical ideas.

Question 3

Human imperfection

Answer 3

Humanity is flawed, so any attempt at a perfect society is misguided.

Question 4

Empiricism

Answer 4

A preference for evidence over theory, for “what is” over “what should be”.

Question 5

Normative view

Answer 5

One which has principled views on how society ought to be. Conservatives are sceptical of this.

Question 6

Progressiveness

Answer 6

Linked to socialism and liberalism. A belief that problems have solutions and that the future must always be superior to the past and present. Conservatives are sceptical of this.

Question 7

Hierarchy

Answer 7

Human affairs require leadership from a small number of individuals and that the majority should defer to their judgement.

Question 8

Paternalism/noblesse oblige

Answer 8

The “fatherly” obligations of the ruling class towards society as a whole.

Question 9

“Little platoons”

Answer 9

Burke’s small communities from which people gained comfort and support.

Question 10

Authority

Answer 10

The right that those in or with “authority” can make decisions others must accept.

Question 11

Laissez-faire capitalism

Answer 11

An economic system which allows private enterprise and market forces to operate with little or no state interference.

Question 12

Thatcherism

Answer 12

New Right conservatism in the UK: a mix of neo-liberalism (privatisation, tax cuts) and neo-conservatism (police powers, immigration cuts, pro-family).

Question 13

One Nation Conservatism

Answer 13

Preserve national unity by paying attention to the poorer classes, using greater state intervention in the economy - more tax and spend.

Question 14

Supranationalism

Answer 14

A state whose authority cuts across national boundaries, e.g. the USSR and, for some, the EU.

Question 15

Anti-permissiveness

Answer 15

Trying to reverse social liberalism, taking a hardline view on issues such as abortion (pro-life) and homosexuality.

Question 16

Atomism

Answer 16

Humans seek autonomy, which leads to only a vague sense of society. Favoured by the New Right, especially Rand.

Question 17

Blue Labour

Answer 17

A movement seeking to link left wing themes such as equality and social justice to right wing themes such as family and faith.

Question 18

Neo-liberalism

Answer 18

A mid-20th C revival of the merits of negative freedom and the small state (“rolling back the frontiers”). Less public spending, more privatisation, less regulation, lower taxes, no dependency culture.

Question 19

Neo-conservatism

Answer 19

Aim: to restore authority, national identity and a society based on Judeo-Christian morality: law and order, defence, less tolerance of immigration, anti-permissiveness.