The “Isms” Conservatism Liberalism Socialism Feminism Nationalism

Conservatism Organic growth the model for change Organic growth the model for change Adaptation to a social system under transition Adaptation to a social system under transition Old order evolves; must never be destroyed Old order evolves; must never be destroyed Includes reactionary policies under its umbrella Includes reactionary policies under its umbrella

Edmund Burke: Father of Conservatism Reflections on the Revolution in France, 1790 "A revolution will be the very last resource of the thinking and the good." Rage and frenzy will pull down more in half an hour than prudence, deliberation, and foresight can build up in a hundred years.

Liberalism’s Underpinnings Enlightenment Thought about the nature of man and the mechanistic nature of the universe Enlightenment Thought about the nature of man and the mechanistic nature of the universe Freedom of the individual Freedom of the individual Shapes the various goals Shapes the various goals Corruption of authority Corruption of authority Shapes the desire for LESS government Shapes the desire for LESS government

Liberalism’s Goals Right to vote Right to vote Civil liberties Civil liberties Legal equality Legal equality Constitutional government Constitutional government Parliamentary sovereignty Parliamentary sovereignty Free market economy Free market economy

The Variety of Liberal Thinkers Caused by the variety in political conflicts and economic dislocations Caused by the variety in political conflicts and economic dislocations Classical Economists Classical Economists Constitutional monarchists Constitutional monarchists Kings should rule but with clear and articulated limits to their power Kings should rule but with clear and articulated limits to their power Britain’s Glorious Revolution the model Britain’s Glorious Revolution the model Bonapartists Bonapartists Government by strong individual man of extraordinary talent Government by strong individual man of extraordinary talent Able to discern General Will Able to discern General Will Republicans - A minority and radical group Republicans - A minority and radical group Governments should NOT be ruled by kings Governments should NOT be ruled by kings Most influential in France where there had been a republic in 1792 Most influential in France where there had been a republic in 1792 The only government that had addressed the economic problems of the working (non-industrial) class in France The only government that had addressed the economic problems of the working (non-industrial) class in France

Jeremy Bentham ( ) Utilitarianism Utilitarianism “greatest good for the greatest number” “greatest good for the greatest number” Interference with individual liberty justified only in the scientific pursuit of social harmony Interference with individual liberty justified only in the scientific pursuit of social harmony Carrot and stick approach to prison reform and rehabilitation Carrot and stick approach to prison reform and rehabilitation Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation

James Mill ( ) Promoter of utilitarianism Promoter of utilitarianism Influenced by the Scottish Enlightenment while at the University of Edinburgh Influenced by the Scottish Enlightenment while at the University of Edinburgh Founder of the Political Economy Club Founder of the Political Economy Club Supporter of Ricardo’s Economics Supporter of Ricardo’s Economics Classical economics the “dismal science” Classical economics the “dismal science”

David Ricardo (1772–1823) Opposed to government intervention in foreign trade Opposed to government intervention in foreign trade Principles of Political Economy and Taxation (1817) Principles of Political Economy and Taxation (1817) “iron law of wages” “iron law of wages” Increase of wages cause working class to breed causing competition in the workplace causing wages to decrease Increase of wages cause working class to breed causing competition in the workplace causing wages to decrease

John Stuart Mill ( ) Rejects utilitarianism and founds classical liberalism Rejects utilitarianism and founds classical liberalism On Liberty (1859) On Liberty (1859) Need to protect minorities from the tyranny of the majority Need to protect minorities from the tyranny of the majority Need to take human emotions into account Need to take human emotions into account Champions social reform for the poor, some redistribution of wealth necessary, women’s rights Champions social reform for the poor, some redistribution of wealth necessary, women’s rights Questions the sacrosanct nature of private property Questions the sacrosanct nature of private property

The Various Socialist Thinkers Existing economic system aimless, chaotic, unjust Existing economic system aimless, chaotic, unjust Question the value of private enterprise and espouse some form of communal ownership of productive assets (banks, factories, machines, land) Question the value of private enterprise and espouse some form of communal ownership of productive assets (banks, factories, machines, land) Coordination rather than competition Coordination rather than competition Flat out rejection of laissez faire of liberal economists Flat out rejection of laissez faire of liberal economists French Revolution only the first step; to solve society’s problems necessary to address the economic inequities introduced by the industrial revolution French Revolution only the first step; to solve society’s problems necessary to address the economic inequities introduced by the industrial revolution Antediluvian or utopian socialists vs. Scientific socialism of Marx and Engels Antediluvian or utopian socialists vs. Scientific socialism of Marx and Engels

Robert Owen ( ) Appalled at the conditions of Scottish mill hands Creates model community Low hours and high wages Corrects vice and drunkenness Creates schools and company stores a cotton lord who models paternalistic capitalism and religious radicalism

Henri de St Simon ( ) Founder of French socialism Followers called St Simonians First clear advocate of a planned society Public ownership of industrial equipment and capital Decisions made by captains of industry, tecnocrats, social engineers Coordination of labor and resources of society

Charles Fourier ( ) An eccentric with host of fantastic ideas and no formal training Concept of phalanstere Communities of 1620 linked tightly like the ancient Greek military formation function as a unit Wanted to elevate the status of manual labor and turn work into play Detested industrial society and classical economists

Pierre Joseph Proudhon ( ) What Is Property? (1840) Rejected industrial society People should have property rights only in the fruits of their own labor, not rights to the labor of others A self educated typesetter Anarchistic views – hates government Small communities of modest producers

Scientific Socialism: Dialectical Materialism or Communism Friedrich Engels Karl Marx

Feminism Radical critique of women’s position in society offered by liberals and socialists alike Radical critique of women’s position in society offered by liberals and socialists alike Often tied to questions about slavery Often tied to questions about slavery John Stuart Mill and Harriet Taylor championed the equality of women and the need for birth control John Stuart Mill and Harriet Taylor championed the equality of women and the need for birth control Fourier redesigned his society around freedom for (but not equality of) women Fourier redesigned his society around freedom for (but not equality of) women St Simonians seek elevation St Simonians seek elevation NOT Proudhon women as housewives or prostitutes NOT Proudhon women as housewives or prostitutes