2896279
Description
Conservatism
Core Values
- Tradition
- Tradition=values,
practices or
institutions that
have endured
through time.
- E.g Cameron's support of
First-Past-The-Post voting
system, Cameron "I don't
want to be Prime Minister
of England, I wanted to be
Prime Minister of the
United Kingdom" (in regard
to the 2014 Scottish
Referendum)
- E.g Cameron's support of
First-Past-The-Post voting
system, Cameron "I don't
want to be Prime Minister
of England, I wanted to be
Prime Minister of the
United Kingdom" (in regard
to the 2014 Scottish
Referendum)
- Michael Oakeshott described
the political world as a
'boundless and bottomless' pit.
Conservatives are opposed to
the uncertainty of abstract
thinking - prefer to maintain
the status quo.
- Tradition reflects
accumulated wisdom
of the past
- Burke - "those who do not know
history are destined to repeat it".
- Burke - "those who do not know
history are destined to repeat it".
- Tradition reflects
accumulated wisdom
of the past
- It also creates a sense of identity. It
gives people a feeling of belonging,
creating social cohesion and
harmony.
- Tradition is more than political
institutions. It encompasses all the
customs and social practises that are
familiar and generate security and belonging.
- Tradition is more than political
institutions. It encompasses all the
customs and social practises that are
familiar and generate security and belonging.
- Tradition=values,
practices or
institutions that
have endured
through time.
- Human Imperfection
- O'Sullivan - conservatism is a 'philosophy of human
imperfection' Conservatism holds a pessimistic, almost
Hobbesian view of human nature.
- Believe humans are imperfect and
unperfectible. They are psychologically
limited and fear isolation and insability
- Conservatives
stress importance
of law and order.
Without it there
will be anomie =
social instability
and anarchy.
- e.g 2011 riots - DC said
causes included
economic woes and
political instability
responsible.
- e.g 2011 riots - DC said
causes included
economic woes and
political instability
responsible.
- Conservatives
stress importance
of law and order.
Without it there
will be anomie =
social instability
and anarchy.
- Religion - Old
Testament 'Adam & Eve'
doctrine of 'original sin'.
Crime is not a product
of inequality but a
consequence of human
instinct.
- O'Sullivan - conservatism is a 'philosophy of human
imperfection' Conservatism holds a pessimistic, almost
Hobbesian view of human nature.
- Organic Society
- Cons. believe
human beings are
dependant and
desperately need to
belong to society.
- Cons. dislike concept of 'negative liberty'
- where the individual is 'left alone'. This
will cause anomie.
- Cons. believe freedom involves 'doing
one's duty' e.g parents instruct children
how to behave.
- Cons. believe freedom involves 'doing
one's duty' e.g parents instruct children
how to behave.
- Cons. dislike concept of 'negative liberty'
- where the individual is 'left alone'. This
will cause anomie.
- Cons. compare society to an
organism. E.g the family has
not been 'invented' but is
natural.
- Cons. believe
human beings are
dependant and
desperately need to
belong to society.
- Hierarchy & Authority
- Believe society is naturally hierarchical. Believe
inequality is inevitable in an organic society.
- Burke - Natural Aristocracy - idea that talent and
leadership are innate and cannot be achieved
through self-advancement. Just as the brain, liver
and heart perform different functions in an
organism - so do the different classes.
- Burke - Natural Aristocracy - idea that talent and
leadership are innate and cannot be achieved
through self-advancement. Just as the brain, liver
and heart perform different functions in an
organism - so do the different classes.
- Belief in hierarchy is strengthened by
Cons.' stance on authority. They
believe authority can only be
imposed 'from above'.
- It is important and beneficial as everybody needs guidance and
security, and that comes from knowing what is expected of them.
- Thatcher acted authoritatively,
resulting in Michael Heseltine's
resignation in 1989 over the Westland
Affair and her authoritarian,
uncooperative approach to
governing.
- It is important and beneficial as everybody needs guidance and
security, and that comes from knowing what is expected of them.
- Believe society is naturally hierarchical. Believe
inequality is inevitable in an organic society.
- Property
- In an unpredictable world,
private property gives an
individual a sense of
confidence and assurance.
- They will be aware
that property must
be safeguarded and
property owners
therefore have an
interest in society
and in maintaining
law and order.
- They will be aware
that property must
be safeguarded and
property owners
therefore have an
interest in society
and in maintaining
law and order.
- Quite often property is
hereditary and passed down
from generation to
generation - hence why DC
opposed Labour's 'Mansion
Tax'
- Harold MacMillan was also critical of Thatcher's policy of privatisation,
describing it as "selling off the family silver".
- Harold MacMillan was also critical of Thatcher's policy of privatisation,
describing it as "selling off the family silver".
- In an unpredictable world,
private property gives an
individual a sense of
confidence and assurance.
Want to create your own Mind Maps for free with GoConqr? Learn more.