Conservatism merely reflects the interests of the privileged and prosperous. Discuss

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  • Created on: 28-04-16 10:07
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  • Conservatism merely reflects the interests of the privileged and prosperous. Discuss.
    • Yes
      • Neo-Liberal New Right
        • Rolling back the state, reduction in welfarism
        • Low taxation
          • Nozick argues it is theft, as if it has been acquired justly, should not be taken away
        • Keeps rich in better position at the expense of the less well-off
        • Conservatives would argue it is welfare that disadvantages people as it saps them of initiative and dignity
          • Also it allows rich to get richer but also the poor to get poorer
          • Everyone can benefit from the dynamism and efficiency of the free markert
          • Natural factors have no input on your success
            • individualism 'there is no such thing as society' Thatcher
          • Hierarchy replaced by meritocracy
          • Trickle down theory, even if poor may receive less of a slice of the economic cake in a FM society, they will enjoy rising living standards bc the cake expands overall
        • Businesses/rich benefit from tax cuts and deregulation, poor people suffer from withdrawal of social supports and trade unionism
        • Meritocracy legitimises inequality 'rich deserve to be rich' and vice versa
      • Authority
        • It is unquestionable
        • Those suited to positions of authority will rise to it naturally, 'leaders' and 'followers'
        • Burke 'natural aristocracy'
        • Conservatives say that it is a guarantee of social order provides stability and security
          • Burke 'good order is the foundation of all things'
      • Property
        • Leaves limited scope for redistributive policies
        • Burke, markets are 'natural' and show 'love of lucre'
          • Those who work hard will get wealth
          • Those who achieve property ownership in better position and viewed more favourably by Conservatives
        • People have a 'stake' in society
        • Extension of personality
      • Tradition
        • 'Stood the test of time'
        • Institutions and practices proved their value
        • Through this sought to advance inegalitarian social status quo characterised by endemic privilege from above
        • Such thinking entangled with belief in hierarchy
        • 'Democracy of the dead' Chesterton
        • Need tradition to prevent anomie (Durkheim) and rootlessness, relate to human imperfection
      • Organic Society
        • Likens society to a living organism, each have own role
        • The entire is more than the sum of its parts
        • Compenents work together in necessarily unequal harmony
        • Used to justify their belief in hierarchy, divisions in society ordained by nature
    • No
      • One-Nation Conservatism
        • Disraeli, 'noblesse oblige' have a moral duty to protect those less well-off
        • Second Reform Act 1867 gave WC right to vote
        • MacMillan adoption of the Middle Way mixed system of state ownership & private enterprise
        • Saw revolutions of 1830 and 48 and knew  growing misery of the masses would not be accepted
        • Social position is an accident of birth, the poor are deserving of care, guilt complex
        • Many saw still working in interests of PP bc only to stem tide of revolution
          • Reform acts and improvements in housing, education etc strategic concessions to the poor
          • Burke 'change in order to conserve'
        • Shows poor as having no responsibilty and thus passive, lazy, dependent
        • Once goal of political acquiescence achieved, further reform is 'excessive' or undesirable
      • Christian Democracy
        • Paternalistic at heart
        • Social market economy, comprehensive welfare system and public services
        • Stresses partnership and cooperation, helping society as a whole, rather than focus on indv. and competition
        • Post WW2 CD parties supported principle of subsidarity which shows a pluralist, anti-elitist view of social organisation
        • Willingness to practice Keynesian politics
        • Not very influential on conservative ideology
      • Paternalism
        • Aims to assist everyone bc they cannot personally achieve maximum utility
        • Focus on wider society
        • P approaches have been said to restrict liberty and lead to 'infatilisation' of society

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