1. CHAPTER 4 Conservatism, Pt. 1

2. Conservatism The political philosophy of imperfection. Place great emphasis on mores, customs, fabric of society. Based on a desire to “conserve” social, political, and economic practices seen as historically essential and helpful to the nation More concerned with practices and traditions than with theories In Anglo-American context, must distinguish between traditional conservatism & modern (individualist) conservatism

3. Conservatism Conservatism varies according to time and place: - Traditional conservatives such as Edmund Burke seek to preserve customs, mores, and fabric of society - Many American conservatives today seek to conserve the minimal state (neo-classical liberalism) - Many French conservatives wish to preserve a patrician state, and resist classical liberalism - Many Russian conservatives are former communists who wish to preserve communism

4. Edmund Burke (1729-1797) and Traditional Conservatism Father of Conservatism, though he didn’t call himself one Wrote Reflections on the Revolution in France in 1791 Argued against the French Revolution This argument, which viewed the French Revolution as misconceived, and which predicted its excesses, is a foundational statement of conservatism Argued that political reform can be a good thing, but that radical change and innovation is dangerous Freedom is desirable only when properly channeled Burke sympathized with the American Revolution Felt the colonists were trying to conserve the representation they had under Parliament before leaving England, after the Crown began to trample their political arrangement and customs.

5. 4 Features of Burke’s Conservatism 1) Office holders should rule and vote in the interest of the people (Trustee theory of representation) Burke was NOT in favor of extending the franchise (right to vote). Was not a promoter of more democracy. Felt that Representative Government was the best guarantor of society’s long term interests. 2) A Natural Aristocracy should rule. Could be aristocrats by heredity, but might also include those who show great promise and rise through a meritocracy. 3) Great respect for Private Property. Owners are more likely to take care of their property than state-owned property. 4) Little Platoons – local, non-governmental associations that prevent central government from having too much power and restricting liberties.

6. Other 19 th Century Conservatisms Reactionary Conservatism (Joseph de Maistre) They seek not to conserve, rather they react against the present and seek to return to an earlier time. Nineteenth century reactionaries were reacting against Enlightenment rationality, secularism, and classical liberal principles

7. Tory Democracy Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli’s (1804-1881) strategic response to the political program of the Whigs, nineteenth century classical liberals who represented the interests of merchants, industrialists, and the petit- bourgeoisie. The Tories were landowning aristocrats who followed Burkeian conservatism. To survive in the middle of the century, Disraeli added this new emphasis on the working-class. As more middle class people & the bourgeoisie earned the franchise, Disraeli honed in on the working class, which was also gaining the right to vote. Was predicated on Tory paternalism & noblesse oblige

8. Other 19 th Century Conservatisms Cultural Conservatism Primarily a romantic critique of the Industrial Revolution. Not a critique of classical liberalism. Associated with Wordsworth, Coleridge, de Quincey in the UK Early Cultural Conservatism in the US Hamilton and Adams were Burkeian, without the emphasis on aristocratic privilege. Cultural conservatives (Hawthorne, Melville, etc.) criticized capitalist optimism & industrialization

9. WHY DID U.S. CONSERVATISM BEGIN TO FOCUS ON CONSERVING & DEFENDING CLASSICAL LIBERALISM (IN THE 1900s)? Unlike Europe or the United Kingdom, America was founded, at least partially, on the liberal values of classical liberalism and so-called “rugged individualism.” In the U.S., classical liberalism came to be defended by conservatives in the twentieth century. This happened in the UK too. A (continental) European conservative could not seek to conserve classical liberalism and rugged individualism. In continental Europe, the idea of the nation-state was animated by Aristocratic Principles, rather than Classical Liberal Principles