CONSERVATISM
Objectives:
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•
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Define conservatism as a political ideology.
Learn the historical background of
conservatism.
Differentiate conservatism from other
ideologies.
Conservatism
Conservatism is characterized by a resistance
to change and is adherent to the importance
of maintaining traditional values.
• The term conservatism came from the Latin
word conservare, which means “to protect or
preserve.”
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Conservatism
It is a political philosophy that highlights the
customs and conventions in society. This
political ideology is based on an attempt to
“conserve” the political, social, and economic
practices that are rooted in a nation’s past.
People who lean toward conservatism are
commonly known as conservatives. They are
generally associated with right-wing politics that
resists fundamental and sometimes radical
changes to the political system (e.g., revolutions).
They advocate the preservation of private
wealth and ownership. They are known to value
property and wealth (Heywood 2012, 77).
Forms of Conservatism
Liberal Conservatism
This form of conservatism combines
conservative values with liberal policies. It
upholds laissez-faire markets consistent with a
capitalist economy and the typical concern for
established traditions and respect toward
authority and religious indifferences.
Libertarian Conservatism
Libertarian conservatives champion laissezfaire policies such as the allowance of free
trade among nations. It frowns upon the
enforcement of business regulations, corporate
subsidies, and other forms of government
intervention in the economy.
National Conservatism
It believe that the interests of the nation and its
citizens are more important than the interests of
groups external to it. A state that espouses national
conservatism endorses stricter policies on the entry
and settlement of foreign nationals in its territory. It
believes that its own citizens should be prioritized
first and should be the main beneficiaries of
government policies and programs.
Social Conservatism
Social conservatives believe that government
intervention is necessary in promoting
traditional values and behaviors. They believe
that human morales must be preserved through
laws or regulations that are enforced by the
government.
Cultural Conservatism
This form of conservatism believes in the
importance of preserving cultural identity,
together with its associated values, beliefs, and
norms. For example, cultural conservatives might
oppose any policies or laws that they believe
endanger the cultural value they place on family.
Religious Conservatism
Religious conservatism is highly influenced
by religious traditions. For example, those
who advocate against laws that support
abortion because of their Christian beliefs
can be described as religious conservatives.
Founders of
Conservatism
Edmund Burke
The Anglo-Irish philosopher Edmund
Burke, who served in the British House of
Commons, is regarded as one of the
founding fathers of conservatism in AngloAmerican circles. Through his work
Reflections on the Revolution in France, he
argued that continuity and stability in
institutions must be prized and protected.
He was a political philosopher and polemicist. Maistre
developed Latin conservatism in the early 19th
century. As opposed to Burkean conservatism, the
form of conservatism promoted by Maistre was
counter-revolutionary. He believed that humans are
generally prone to temptation and evil unless otherwise
governed by a strict political structure composed of
leaders and rulers. His idea calls for the restoration of
hereditary and absolute monarchy in France, citing
that sovereignty must be “always one, inviolable, and
absolute.”
Joseph de Maistre
Kirk is regarded as one of the fathers of postwar American conservative intellectual revival.
In his 1953 publication entitled The
Conservative Mind, Kirk restored the idea of
intellectual conservatism that was previously
made known by Burke. Kirk was considered
the main proponent of traditionalist
conservatism.
Russell Kirk
History of
Conservatism
The roots of conservatism can be traced
to the significant societal, economic, and
political changes in Europe, which
culminated in the success of the French
Revolution in the year 1789. The French
Revolution overthrew the ancien régime,
the traditional political, social, and
economic system of France, in which the
monarchy, nobles, and clergy hold power.
A year after it occurred, Edmund Burke
wrote a treatise that disagreed with the
ideals behind the French Revolution. He
thought that the revolution caused harm to
the traditional values and order of society.
He also argued that society would be
better in the hands of a capable monarch
rather than in the hands of the masses.
Comparison with
Other Ideologies
Conservatives argue that individuals are
capable of making their own personal and
economic decisions. These views are
opposed by the liberals, arguing that there
should be reliance on democratic
institutions to make political and economic
decisions
The interplay between the individual and
society is of prime importance in
socialism. This is not the same in
conservatism. Moreover, conservatives
think that religion is a relevant component
of society, whereas socialists disregard
its relevance in the development of a
society or community