One nation conservatism is:
- a pragmatic and paternalistic form of conservatism prominent in the 1950s and 1960s.
- it originates from Benjamin Disraeli who was PM in 1867, warning aaginst the danger of Britain being divided into 2 nations: rich and poor.
- His call for social reform to narrow social inequalities was based on paternalism (acting in the interests of others who are unable to make moral decisions.
- Therefore, he was saying that the rich have an obligation to help the poor.
After the Second World War, everyone showed they could work together, no matter their class, because they had to. Therefore as a result:
- Social democratic ideas were accepted in the UK by the Conservatives in 1959, when Atlee led the reforms creating consensus politics.
- One Nation thinking was the ideology of 'middle way' championed by the writing of Harold Macmillan, who became PM in 1957-63.
- The 'middle way' rejected the 2 extremes of socialism and free market liberalism.
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