Conservatism

Welcome to the World of Conservatism!

Welcome! Today, we are diving into Conservatism, one of the three "Core Political Ideas" in your Edexcel Politics A Level. Don't worry if this seems a bit "old school" at first—Conservatism is actually a very dynamic set of ideas about how to keep society stable and successful. Think of a Conservative like a careful gardener: they don't want to rip up the whole garden and start again; they want to prune the plants that are already there so the garden stays healthy for years to come.

Section 1: The Core Ideas and Principles

To understand Conservatives, you need to understand how they view the world. While Liberals focus on individual rights and Socialists focus on equality, Conservatives focus on stability, order, and tradition.

1. Human Imperfection

Conservatives have a "glass-half-empty" view of human nature. They believe humans are flawed and "imperfect." This imperfection comes in three flavors:

• Psychological: We crave safety and belonging. We are scared of the unknown.
• Moral: We are naturally selfish and prone to doing bad things. This is why we need law and order.
• Intellectual: The world is too complex for our brains. We shouldn't try to "fix" society with big, new ideas because we’ll probably just mess it up.

2. Pragmatism

Because humans aren't smart enough to create "perfect" systems, Conservatives prefer Pragmatism. This means doing "what works" in the moment rather than following a strict ideology. It’s like following a recipe that your grandma used for 50 years rather than trying a "revolutionary" new cooking method you saw on TikTok that might explode the kitchen!

3. Tradition

Conservatives see tradition as the "accumulated wisdom of the past." Edmund Burke famously said society is a partnership between "those who are living, those who are dead, and those who are to be born." Traditions like the Monarchy or the Church provide security and a sense of belonging.

4. Organic Society and Hierarchy

Conservatives believe society is organic—it’s like a living body, not a machine.
Analogy: In a human body, the brain, heart, and feet all have different jobs. They aren't "equal," but they are all necessary. This is why Conservatives accept hierarchy (layers of importance) and authority. They believe some people are naturally better suited to lead, and that provides stability for everyone else.

5. Paternalism

This is "fatherly" rule. Just as a father looks after his children, the state should look after the people. There are two types:
- Traditional: The state knows best; just do as you're told.
- One-Nation: The rich have a duty to help the poor (Noblesse oblige) to stop society from splitting apart.

6. Libertarianism (Neo-liberalism)

Mostly found in the New Right, this idea wants to give people maximum freedom in the economy. They want low taxes and very little government interference. This creates atomism, where society is seen as a collection of independent individuals rather than a connected "organism."

Quick Review:
- Humans are flawed (PMI: Psychological, Moral, Intellectual).
- Pragmatism = "What works."
- Tradition = "Wisdom of the past."
- Organic Society = Society is like a living body.

Key Takeaway: Conservatism is about "changing to conserve." They accept small changes to keep the core of society healthy, but they hate "radical" or "revolutionary" change.

Section 2: Tensions and Divisions within Conservatism

Not all Conservatives agree! There are three main "brands" you need to know.

1. Traditional Conservatism

This is the "old school" version. It’s all about hierarchy, authority, and paternalism. They believe in a strong state and are very suspicious of any change that wasn't born out of long-standing tradition.

2. One-Nation Conservatism

This became popular in the 1800s. They realized that if the rich got too rich and the poor got too poor, the poor might start a revolution! To prevent this, they practiced paternalism and Noblesse oblige (the obligation of the nobility/wealthy to be kind). They "updated" tradition to handle the problems of the industrial revolution.

3. The New Right

This appeared in the 1970s and 80s (think Margaret Thatcher). It is a "marriage" of two different ideas that actually disagree on some things:

• Neo-liberalism: Radical freedom in the economy. They love free markets, hate trade unions, and want atomistic individualism.
• Neo-conservatism: Tough on morality and law and order. They hate "permissive" (too free) social attitudes and want a strong state to enforce traditional values.

Common Mistake to Avoid: Don't assume the New Right is "traditional." In the economy, the New Right is actually radical because it wants to tear down old state-run systems, which "Traditional" conservatives might actually have liked!

Key Takeaway: While Traditionalists want a "fatherly" state, Neo-liberals want the state to stay out of the economy, but Neo-conservatives want the state to be "policeman" of our morals.

Section 3: The Key Thinkers

You must use these names in your exam to get the top marks! Let's break down their "Big Ideas."

1. Thomas Hobbes (1588–1679)

Big Idea: Order and Human Nature.
Hobbes lived during a bloody civil war, so he was terrified of chaos. He argued that without a strong government, life would be "nasty, brutish, and short." He believed humans are needy and vulnerable and need a "Leviathan" (a powerful ruler) to keep them safe.

2. Edmund Burke (1729–1797)

Big Idea: Change and Tradition.
Burke is the "Father of Conservatism." He hated the French Revolution because it was too fast and violent. He argued for empiricism (looking at what has worked in the past) and believed change should be organic and cautious.

3. Michael Oakeshott (1901–1990)

Big Idea: Pragmatism.
Oakeshott said that being a Conservative is "to prefer the familiar to the unknown." He used the analogy of a ship on the sea: the government's job isn't to reach a "perfect destination," but simply to keep the ship afloat in a stormy ocean.

4. Ayn Rand (1905–1982)

Big Idea: Objectivism and Laissez-faire.
Rand was a Neo-liberal. She believed that "selfishness" is actually a virtue because if everyone looks after themselves, society thrives. She supported a pure laissez-faire (hands-off) capitalist economy and hated government interference.

5. Robert Nozick (1938–2002)

Big Idea: Libertarianism and Self-Ownership.
Nozick argued that we own ourselves—our bodies, our talents, and our labor. Therefore, if the government taxes you, they are essentially "stealing" your labor. He wanted a "minarchist" (tiny) state that only exists to protect us from theft and violence.

Memory Aid: The "Big Five" Mnemonic
Hobbes Bakes Oats Really Nicely
(Hobbes, Burke, Oakeshott, Rand, Nozick)

Quick Review:
- Hobbes: We need order to survive.
- Burke: Don't tear down the fence until you know why it was built.
- Oakeshott: Just keep the ship of state afloat.
- Rand: Be your best selfish self!
- Nozick: Taxation is theft; you own yourself.

Final Summary Takeaway

Conservatism is the "politics of common sense" (from their perspective). It starts with the idea that humans are flawed, so we need tradition and order to keep us safe. While One-Nation conservatives think the state should be a "kind father," the New Right thinks the state should be a "strict policeman" (Neo-con) who lets us play whatever "economic games" we want (Neo-lib). Master these tensions, and you’ll master the exam!