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Edexcel conservatism revision notes
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Detailed notes which allowed me to achieve an A* throughout the year. Includes: detailed notes on key principles detailed notes on key strands thinkers profiles
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ConservativismConservatism
Human nature
Human Pessimistic view of human nature, people are flawed and incapable of reaching a state of
imperfection perfection.
Human nature is immutable (remains constant). Human imperfection has to be kept in check
due to the human capacity for evil.
conservatives stress that:
• Tough stance on law and order is required, to deter criminal behaviour
• Human nature cannot be transformed, foreign policy has to be based on national security
• Human behaviour is competitive, so any successful political system will recognise that self-
ininterest is a more powerful motivator than altruism.
Humans are flawed in three ways: psychologically, morally and intellectually:
1) Psychologically- limited and dependent. People crave safety and security of knowing
their designated place in society.
Such a view places a premium on social order rather than liberty because order
provides humans with much-needed security, predictability and stability whilst liberty
raises the unsettling prospect of choice, change and uncertainty.
For this reason, conservatives have frequently endorsed Thomas Hobbes’ argument
that social order has to come before liberty
2) Moral- naturally selfish and greedy. Anti-social or criminal behaviour is due to basic
human nature and cannot be attributed to economic or social disadvantage.
Robust law and order system that imposes severe sanctions on such conduct is the only
effective deterrent
3) Intellectual- intellect and reasoning of humans are limited. Humans do not possess the
mental faculties to make sense of a complex modern world.
To what extent do conservatives agree on human nature?
Clear agreement between traditional and one nation conservatives in their pessimistic outlook of
human nature, though within these strands there are differing extents of pessimism however, it is
clear the most prominent differences are found between the neo-liberal New Right and other
strands.
- Human imperfection (morally, psychologically, and intellectually)
- Human nature leads to a natural hierarchy because human's aren't rational (natural hierarchy,
night watchman state)
- Empiricism/tradition (intellectually imperfect so need tradition, rational)
, Conservativism
Society
Pragmatism - Associated with conservative thinkers such as Edmund Burke (1729–97) and Michael Oakeshott
Society should (1901–90).
be flexible, with Oakeshott: ‘To be a Conservative is to prefer the tried to the untried.’ Flexible approach to politics
decisions made that considers what is in the best interests of the people, what is acceptable to the public and
on the basis of what will maintain social stability/cohesion.
what works. Pragmatism is strongly linked to their view of human rationality. They contend that humans lack
the intellectual ability and powers of reasoning to fully comprehend the complex realities of the
world.
Principles/ideas such as ‘human rights’, ‘a classless society’ and ‘equality’ are dangerous because
they can promote a radical reordering of society (often through revolution) that leads to worse
rather than better conditions
Critics argue that pragmatism reveals a lack of political principle and encourages politicians to
follow rather than lead public opinion.
Traditional Traditional and one-nation conservatism are the two strands of conservative thinking usually linked
to pragmatism
Traditional conservatives, such as Edmund Burke- pragmatism was an essential element in
facilitating ‘natural’ or inevitable change within a state or society. This type of change, he argued,
should not be opposed because a state ‘without the means of some change is without the means of
its conservation’ – for the state to keep going, it would have to adapt to some extent.
Burke’s conservatism maintained that cautious pragmatism would bring about necessary change
peacefully, through evolution rather than a revolution
The key features of society – such as order, property, tradition and established institutions – can
only be preserved through a pragmatic policy that takes into account shifting circumstances and
recognises occasions when it is necessary to ‘change to conserve’.
One-nation conservatives hold similar attitudes to social reform. However, more recently they have
One nation also adopted a pragmatic ‘middle way’ approach to the economy that combines market competition
with government regulation. Moderate economic course promotes growth and social harmony by
encouraging wealth creation through private enterprise and generating the funding for state welfare
programmes.
Tradition - Originally, the conservative justification for tradition had religious roots. Society’s institutions and
institutions, practices being seen as ‘God-given’. Attempt to alter these social arrangements is challenging God
customs and and consequently are likely to undermine society, rather than improve it.
practices of a Divine justification has been weakened by the impact of Enlightenment thinking (with its emphasis
society that on rationalism and anti-clericalism) from the 18th century and the incorporation of man-made
have developed innovations over time, such as representative democracy.
over time Most conservatives offer two secular (or non-religious) arguments for the value of tradition:
1) Edmund Burke and the writer G.K. Chesterton (1874–1936), conservatives maintain that
tradition constitutes the accumulated wisdom of the past. Institutions, customs and practices
of the past (such as the monarchy, the constitution, the nuclear family and heterosexual
marriage) have demonstrated their value to earlier societies as they have proved ‘fit for
purpose’ over time and survived.
They should be preserved so that current and future generations can also benefit from
them.
Burke- ‘partnership not only between those who are living, but between those who are
living, those who are dead and those who are to be born’. Each generation has a solemn
duty to safeguard and pass on the accumulated wisdom of tradition to the next generation.
Reform or change can only be justified if it takes place organically by evolving naturally in
a peaceful, gradual way in order to strengthen existing institutions.
, Conservativism
Seeking to destroy all traditional political and social institutions, the French in 1789 and the
Bolsheviks in Russia in 1917 were cutting themselves off from their past and paving the way
for regimes that were more tyrannical (such as the Terror of 1793–94,) than the ones they
had toppled.
2) Provides society and the individual with a strong sense of identity. Long-established
institutions, customs and practices are familiar and provide individuals with a historically based
sense of belonging to a particular society.
social cohesion and security because it offers humans a reassuring collective sense of who
they are, and establishes powerful ties between people and specific societies
Such arguments were used by Conservative opponents of the New Labour government’s
constitutional changes (devolved bodies etc.) in the late 1990s
Organic People cannot exist separately from society as a whole or from social groups, such as the family/
society/ state local community as they provide individuals with a sense of security and purpose, preventing the
development of anomie: a condition of instability affecting individuals and societies, produced by a
breakdown in social standards/values or by a lack of purpose.
Humans accept the duties, responsibilities and bonds that go with belonging to society or social
True freedom groups, such as being a caring parent. This represents true freedom – the willing acceptance of the
value of social obligations and ties. If people did not acknowledge and act on these responsibilities
and bonds, human society would lack social cohesion and descend into atomism.
Here, two considerations are important:
1) Internal elements of an organic society or state cannot be randomly reconfigured.
An organic society is maintained by a delicate set of relationships between these elements.
If this careful balance is disturbed, the society will be undermined and possibly destroyed. For
this reason, say conservatives, an organic society represents more than a collection of
individual elements.
2) An organic society is based on natural needs and instincts such as affection, security and
concern, rather than an ideological blueprint devised by political theorists.
Long-standing institutions have played a key role in preserving the ‘health’ of society and
should not be changed or removed.
Authority and Society is naturally hierarchical – it is based on fixed social ranks and inequalities. Partly to do with
hierarchy the fact, say conservatives, that individuals vary in terms of their talents, intellect, skills and work
rate.
Hierarchy- Maintains that an organic society must rest on inequality, not just because of individual
society is differences but also because different classes and groups (like different limbs and organs) have to
naturally perform specific roles.
organised in Justified because the most advantaged also bear the heaviest social responsibilities
fixed and
unequal tiers Hierarchical structure of organic society is reinforced by authority
Authority shapes relations between the different social groups, and permeates all social institutions
Authority- therefore resides with political leaders, employers, teachers, parents, and so on.
people in higher Vital and positive function by providing humans with security, direction and support.
positions in Promotes social cohesion by giving people a clear sense of how they ‘fit in’ and what they are
society are best expected to do.
able to make
decisions on
behalf of others
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