Conservatism in Political Science Research Paper

The definition and nature of conservatism

Almost every individual has ever heard about the term “conservatism,” but probably not everyone knows its core meaning and value in the political world. Simply put, conservatism is a political ideology that focuses on the preservation and maintenance of historically shaped forms of state and public life, primarily the moral and legal institutions embodied in the nation, religion, family, property, and others.

The key to understanding conservatism as a political ideology is to establish the protection of the traditional institutions of public life. Arising at the end of the 18th century in the form of an adverse reaction of the European aristocracy to the Great French Revolution and its ideas. However, the state-of-art conservatism associates with those in politics who are most qualified as “rightists.”

At the initial stage of its formation, this ideology reflected the interests of secular and ecclesiastical feudal lords, who were indignant at the “audacity” of liberal thought and political practice of the French revolutionaries, who sought to change the existing order consecrated by age-old history. For many contemporary writers, the French Revolution was the liberation of the human spirit, an assertion of reason against irrational feudal authority (Hamilton, para. 11). The followers of this tendency opposed social progress and democracy and spoke out about the preservation of traditional institutions (a strongly autocratic state, an influential church, private property), a hierarchical society based on natural inequality and conventional privileges along with a caring attitude to established traditions, and others.

Edmund Burke and his ideas

The founder of conservatism was the English politician, philosopher, and publicist Edmund Burke, who condemned the French Revolution in his numerous works. His book “Reflections on the Revolution in France” (1790) became a kind of the “Bible” of conservatism. The main idea of the book is traditionalism and adherence to the holiness of traditions. Burke holds that there is practical wisdom in institutions that are mostly not articulable theoretically, certainly not in advance, but is passed down in culture and tradition (Hamilton, para. 17). E. Burke contrasts the rational ideas of enlightenment with the traditions, which, according to his studies, imply the adherence to the natural progress of the phenomenon, age-wise, which is accumulated in various cultures.

The embodiment of traditions E. Burke considered the English constitution, in the natural development of which there was the whole system of elements that mutually balance between one another. Not to destroy this equilibrium down the line, a human being, like a gardener, should thoroughly remove from the evergreen tree of the constitution the dried shoots and caress new ones. In some way, this gradual development combines with the principle of preservation.

Moreover, the English politician acknowledged the inevitability of social change and reform but believed that they should not violate the traditional principles. He separated the changes and improvements: if the changes alter the nature of the objects, then the reforms do not affect the nature of the changes and are a necessary means, which, unfortunately, has to be applied. Edmund Burke preferred the preventive reforms designed to pre-empt the revolution. Table 1 demonstrates the primary values of conservatism.

By these views, Burke, other thinkers and politicians in the XIX century, there was a stable set of conservative ideas and values, namely classical conservatism. Table 2 presents the fundamental ideas of Burke’s conservatism.

Three types of conservatism

There are three branches of conservatism in the contemporary world:

  • Traditionalism
  • Liberalism
  • Neo-conservatism

Traditionalism

Analyzing the fundamental postulates of classical conservatism, it is necessary to pay attention to its main feature – traditionalism. Classical traditionalism is the apology of the “former regime,” the affirmation of the divine origin of the monarchy power, and the opposition to the rights of the people and disputes over the legitimacy of government. Classical traditionalism is religious. With the course of history, traditionalism evolved, and each era had its traditionalists. Traditionalism arose as a phenomenon of culture, associated with the peculiarities of a particular type of social and historical memory: its insignificant capacity, filled with past values, stable traditions, skills and customs, and a weak perception of the new and even more anticipated in the future. Traditionalism is a specific frame of mind, which can be different in content: domestic, political, ideological. Traditionalism is often mythologized (ideas about the good old days) and selective because of people’s ability to forget specific events and facts and idealize others. Traditionalism is inherent in older generations and is more evident in societies with a lowered social dynamics.

Conservatives view traditions not as an orientation to the past, but as the condition for continuity and connection of the past, present, and future, and thereby the use of the ancestors’ achievements to enhance the lifespan of present and future generations. Attention to traditions helps to form a historical consciousness, which makes it possible to explain the origins and premises of modern phenomena, and set real, free from utopianism goals. Edmund Burke was the adherent of traditionalism as his concepts had the basis of the importance of customs and traditions.

Regarding liberalism and neo-conservatism, it is quite similar definitions as many people may think, though they differ. Conservatism is popularly confused with neo-conservatism and with libertarianism (Hamilton, para. 47).

Liberalism

The origins of liberalism appeared in the XVІІ-XVІІІ centuries when the freedom-loving spirit embraced Europe and became an ideological halo of the struggle for social and national liberation. In Western European countries, the term became popular in the XIX century along with the formation of liberal parties. Liberalism as a flow of public opinion and as the theoretical basis of the activity of specific influential political groups absorbed the concept of economic and political development and was a severe competition for the dissemination of ideas of Social-Democracy. Both conservatives and classical liberals advocate limited government; it is particularist skepticism and an associated pessimism that define conservatism (Hamilton, para. 68).

Simply put, liberalism is a combination of ideological and political trends, political and economic programs aiming to eliminate or alleviate various forms of state and social coercion about the individual. By the beginning of XX century, the supporters of economic liberalism supported the freedom of private enterprise and trade and the independence of the economy from state interference. Liberals considered the formation of the right conditions for individual initiative, support of the development of the free market, and safeguarding of private property as one of the most crucial functions of the state. The beginning of the twentieth century, when the state began to play a more significant role in the economic life of society, the views of the liberals on the socio-economic essence of the country have changed. In the 30’s of the twentieth-century neoliberalism became an alternative to totalitarian regimes. Neither Social-Democratic nor Communist movements, nor fascism were not the historical choice of peoples. Liberalism gained national forms and managed to save the economy without resorting to the extremes of political rule.

Liberalism succeeded in becoming a dominant current in society through activities under the parliamentarian and reformism. Parliamentarism meant the priority of a legislative body and municipalities (i.e., resolving local issues). Reformism pointed out the desire of the liberals to take into account new trends in society, adapt to them,  assess the needs of the economy and the balance of political forces. If the communist movement aimed at revolutionary, immediate radical changes in all spheres of public life, liberalism aimed at gradual steps to improve the existing system. The liberal trend had strong positions among the resolutely-minded part of the bourgeoisie and the reformist wing in the working-class movement.

Moreover, the term “libertarianism” also plays an essential role. It is a political philosophy, which is based on the ban on “aggressive violence,” that is, a ban on the use of force or threat to another person or his/her property against the will of that person. The prohibition of aggressive violence is legal, not ethical. In other words, libertarianism implies that violations of this prohibition should be prosecuted. Libertarianism influences neo-conservatism, but—as an extreme form of liberalism—is at best neutral towards conservatism’s emphasis on tradition (Hamilton, para. 49).

Neo-Conservatism

In the XX century, conservatism was prone to recognize many liberal values and began considering innovative ideas in politics and public life much better. However, at its core, there were still the ideas of strengthening the law, state discipline and order, and the rejection of radical reforms. Neo-conservatism encompasses the desire to adapt traditional conservative values and the realities of modern post-industrial society. Supporting and approving such spiritual values as family, religion, morality, social stability, the mutual responsibility of citizens and the state, respect for human rights, neo-conservatism finds many adherents among voters. Parties based on the ideas of conservatism exist in the US (Republican Party), Japan (Liberal-conservative Party), and England (Conservative Party). Moreover, the number of supporters of this ideological trend continues to grow. Conservatives are building up their political capital in France, Germany, and other countries. Perhaps neo-liberalism is libertarianism plus related economic doctrines, while neo-conservatism is libertarianism plus elements of traditional conservatism (Hamilton, para. 49).

The main ideas of the neoconservatives:

  • Formation of reliable power, preservation of a stable position of the state in society;
  • Only representatives of elite layers of society have access to political power;
  •  The power of state power (in its professionalism and morality);
  • In international relations, there should be national interests (namely, economic benefits) at the forefront.

Table 3 briefly explains the main factors of three branches and its main representatives.

Conclusions

Conservatism focuses on the preservation of traditional rules, norms of conduct, hierarchy of power, social and political structures, and institutions. However, it does not mean that this political doctrine rejects the possibility and necessities to take into account the changes and adaptation of existing structures and institutions to them. Over time, this political doctrine has evolved mostly from the conservative to the evolutionary and survived in the last half of the twenty century.

The notion of conservatism and liberalism in the past, primarily due to Marxist interpretations, was understood in a negative light. If liberalism implied excessive tolerance, then conservatism was a reactionary ideological trend, for which the adherence to everything outdated in public life was characteristic. Over the past years, there has been an increment in interest in these trends. Refusing most of the dogmatic postulates, mutually enriching, borrowing some socialist ideas, these political trends become attractive to the general public.

To consider conservatism, not in a general concept, but regarding political ideology, it is possible to note some of the tendencies that the conservatives tend to come to. Adherents of this ideology advocate for strengthening security, try to consider only the traditional allies of the state and support them. Also, one of the primary characteristics of conservatism is the support of protectionism in the field of foreign economic relations of the country and the assumption of the use of military force in case of a direct need. Hence, one can note the commitment of traditional activity in the international political space.

Works Cited

Hamilton, Andy. “Conservatism.” The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Fall 2016 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.). Retrieved from https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/fall2016/entries/conservatism/.

The terms offer and acceptance. (2016, May 17). Retrieved from

[Accessed: March 19, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016.

[Accessed: March 19, 2024]

freeessays.club (2016) The terms offer and acceptance [Online].
Available at:

[Accessed: March 19, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 19, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 19, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 19, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 19, 2024]
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