Conservative Thinkers

Edmund Burke Opposed rational ways of thinking about politics – emphasised practical experience Opposed rational ways of thinking about politics – emphasised practical experience The most important quality of any society is order The most important quality of any society is order People have an obligation to obey the state so long as it provides them with order People have an obligation to obey the state so long as it provides them with order Affairs of the state should be conducted on basis of measured judgement and past experience – not abstract theories Affairs of the state should be conducted on basis of measured judgement and past experience – not abstract theories

David Hume Considered Toryism to be consonant with his own scepticism, and commendable to common sense Considered Toryism to be consonant with his own scepticism, and commendable to common sense Defended the then oligarchical regime in Britain because it governed effectively Defended the then oligarchical regime in Britain because it governed effectively Opposed rationalist ideas in politics – human reason was powerless in political sphere Opposed rationalist ideas in politics – human reason was powerless in political sphere “Rules of justice” emerged naturally to secure order amongst men, who were creatures of limited benevolence “Rules of justice” emerged naturally to secure order amongst men, who were creatures of limited benevolence

Edmund Burke Traditions and institutions are key factors in the preservation of order and continuity Traditions and institutions are key factors in the preservation of order and continuity Change in society should only be undertaken when it becomes clear that existing order is untenable. Change in society should only be undertaken when it becomes clear that existing order is untenable.

Benjamin Disraeli Paternalist outlook Paternalist outlook Articulated danger of Britain becoming ‘two nations’ – advocated ‘one nation’ conservatism Articulated danger of Britain becoming ‘two nations’ – advocated ‘one nation’ conservatism Tories should take up the cause of the poor – noblesse oblige Tories should take up the cause of the poor – noblesse oblige Preserve national unity through support for traditional institutions of country – Church of England, monarchy, Empire. Preserve national unity through support for traditional institutions of country – Church of England, monarchy, Empire.

Michael Oakeshott Politics should not have fixed goals Politics should not have fixed goals Likened state to a ‘ship afloat on a boundless sea’ Likened state to a ‘ship afloat on a boundless sea’ State should be governed on pragmatic basis State should be governed on pragmatic basis Political action should not be based on fixed theories and principles Political action should not be based on fixed theories and principles Role of government is simply ‘to rule’. Role of government is simply ‘to rule’.

European Conservatives

Bismarck Made German unity and greatness (nationalism) a conservative cause Made German unity and greatness (nationalism) a conservative cause United authirtarian hierarchic, aristocratic absolutism with some paternalistic welfare policies United authirtarian hierarchic, aristocratic absolutism with some paternalistic welfare policies Not reactionary – embraced industrialisation as means to national greatness Not reactionary – embraced industrialisation as means to national greatness

Heinrich von Treitschke German historian ( ) German historian ( ) Advocated Realpolitik – politics was about power, and states were not bound by ordinary morality Advocated Realpolitik – politics was about power, and states were not bound by ordinary morality Believed in power of state to protect civilised values Believed in power of state to protect civilised values Contemptuous of democracy Contemptuous of democracy Explanation of history and society lay in the unfolding of God’s will Explanation of history and society lay in the unfolding of God’s will

Heinrich von Treitschke Exalted war – purified nation of corrupting individualism and self-indulgence Exalted war – purified nation of corrupting individualism and self-indulgence Saw history as a struggle between the races – Germanic peoples superior Saw history as a struggle between the races – Germanic peoples superior His ideas dominated German political thinking until 1918, and he was made required reading under the Nazis. His ideas dominated German political thinking until 1918, and he was made required reading under the Nazis.

Charles Maurras French journalist and political organiser (1868 – 1952) French journalist and political organiser (1868 – 1952) Leader of Action Francaise Leader of Action Francaise Blamed Enlightenment ideas and the Revolution for France’s moral and political decline Blamed Enlightenment ideas and the Revolution for France’s moral and political decline Hated liberalism, individualism, liberty, democracy and equality Hated liberalism, individualism, liberty, democracy and equality

Charles Maurras French nationalist – keen on French civilisation and French greatness French nationalist – keen on French civilisation and French greatness Advocated restoration of strong monarchy and hereditary aristocracy Advocated restoration of strong monarchy and hereditary aristocracy Irreligious himself, nonetheless supported idea of Catholic Church as essence of true France Irreligious himself, nonetheless supported idea of Catholic Church as essence of true France Collaborated with Vichy regime during WW2; imprisoned afterwards; died unrepentant in 1952 Collaborated with Vichy regime during WW2; imprisoned afterwards; died unrepentant in 1952