Conservatism
Edmund Burke
 Ambivalence toward democracy
 Critique of classical liberalism
 Critique of welfare, welfare-state liberalism
 Human nature, freedom, democracy
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History
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Edmund Burke  older conservatism, classical
conservatism
Newer variant, modern or contemporary
conservatism
Similarities
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Conserving something
Differences
What
 How
 By whom
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Classical conservatism
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Edmund Burke
 Spokesperson,
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standard-bearer, champion
Liberal view of human nature and government
mistaken (theory) and politically pernicious
(practice)
 Creatures
of habit, custom, and tradition
 Political society living and changing organism greater
than sum of its individual parts
 “Social contract” less a legal contract than a sacred
covenant
Classical conservatism, II

Freedom
Not necessarily a good thing; analogous to fire
 Depends on uses to which it is put
 Kept under control and put to good use, freedom is valuable
 Out of control, destructive power of people freed from
legal and traditional restraints is horrible
 No abstract “right” to liberty
 Rights -- including one’s right to liberty -- always concrete,
never abstract or universal
 Liberties -- particular freedoms people enjoy in particular
societies
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Classical conservatism, III
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Democracy
 Ripe
with possibility of abuse
 Too much power to least reflective, responsible
 Society best governed by those with greatest stake in
its well-being, most reflective, thoughtful
 Elected representative not a delegate, but a trustee
 Not
a mirror nor messenger
 Represent interests as s/he sees fit
Reflections on the Revolution in France (1790)
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Envy and rage, abstract liberal theories about “liberty” and “the
rights of man,” mobs of masterless men and women embarked on
mad rampage
Ordered liberty = to act in accordance with laws and abide by
traditions of one’s own society
Laws and traditions enablements -- aids to help people play useful
part in larger, well-ordered whole
Society = web of relationships and reciprocal dependencies
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Members of community or nation woven together like threads in larger
social fabric
Society of self-seeking individuals, each independent of others and
“free” to pursue his/her self-interest is deranged, disordered, or sick
Triadic notion of freedom
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Society = people involved in relationships of
mutuality and interdependence
Each person has his or her particular station or
status and stake in larger society
Goal of free men and women is to maintain
integrity of social fabric
Politics of imperfection
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Purpose of political activity = preserve and conserve
social fabric within which human activities are carried
on from day to day, from one generation to next
Politics = attending to arrangements of one’s society
Not to radically remake one’s society, to make
imperfect persons and institutions perfect
“Politics of imperfection”
Repudiation of “rationalist” politics of perfection
“Muddling through”
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Radicals and rationalists believe human nature is
malleable and perfectible
Society is not perfect, can never be made so
Politics = not an exact science but an inexact and
imperfect art -- the art of “muddling through” one step
at a time and without aid of abstract theories or
rationalist blueprints
One of the few simple truths is that there are no simple
truths -- no easy solutions to social problems -- because
social problems are always complex
Modern conservatism or neoclassical liberalism
(neoliberalism)
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Speaks language of liberalism and individualism Burke found
objectionable
Seeks to conserve not Burke’s “social fabric” but principles of
individualism, competition, and self-interest
Freedom tied to free enterprise, competitive, capitalist economic
system; especially strong in U.S.
Problems are simple – stemming from too much government
“interference” in operations of free market
Solutions are simple – reduce size of government; reduce
government spending, particularly social welfare programs; and
give free market free reign
Same as earlier, economically minded liberals (e.g., Manchester
Liberals)
Neoconservatives
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Disenchanted welfare-state liberals
Concerned with disruption and dislocations of
freewheeling market economy
Welfare state has fared badly
“Cultural contradictions” undermines capitalism’s
already-thin moral and intellectual foundations
Interest in artistic, literary, educational, and other
cultural issues
Religious Right
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Religion cornerstone of viable conservative society
Classical conservatism profoundly skeptical; Religious Right
not
Antipathy to communism
Threat to traditions and way of life are economic, political,
cultural and moral
Morality = Christian fundamentalism
Claims to be democratic; society ruled by righteous or
“moral” majority of “born-again” Christians
Government intervention in areas and activities previously
deemed private (e.g., abortions, prayer)
Conservatism as ideology
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Explanation (why social conditions are as they are)
 human imperfection
Evaluation (how we should judge the way things are)
 by social peace and stability
Orientation (our position, place, identity)  part of
greater whole; must act with good of whole in mind;
play our part in society
Program (what to do)  proceed slowly and
carefully; better to do a little good than a lot of
harm
Conservatism and democracy
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Modest view of what is possible
Given weakness of human reason and strong tendency
toward selfishness, pure democracy will degenerate into
anarchy  dictatorship or despotism
Democracy acceptable only when people have limited
power and make limited demands
People must exercise self-restraint and elect members
of natural aristocracy/conservatives to represent them
and secure fragile social fabric
Key terms
Classical conservatives
politics of imperfection
original sin
Edmund Burke
organic view of society
conservative (Burkean) notion of
freedom
conservative reform
prejudice (prejudgement)
representative government vs.
direct democracy
true natural aristocracy
little platoons (civil society)
Reactionaries
cultural conservatism
Tory democracy
individualistic/modern
conservatism
mass society
Leveling
conservatives and communism
Neoconservatism
religious right conservatives
Discussion questions
1.
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3.
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6.
What is the classical conservative conception of human nature, freedom, and
democracy?
How does classical conservatism function as an ideology?
Conservatism is sometimes called the “philosophy” or “politics of imperfection.” Is
this an accurate description of conservatism? Be sure to refer to specific
conservative thinkers and themes to support your position.
In the U.S., conservatives are usually taken to be people who want less
government. Is this an adequate understanding of conservatism in general? Why
or why not?
Some people say that conservatives are so divided amongst themselves that it
makes no sense to think of conservatism as a single ideology. Are they right? Why
or why not?
What are the major forms of conservatism in the United States today? Which of
them do you find most and which least satisfactory? Refer to specific policies and
positions as you explain your choices.