Political Ideologies: An Introduction

CHAPTER 3

conservatism came to prominence in the final decades of the twentieth century. It gained impetus from the fact that conservative parties were often able to respond more quickly and more successfully to globalizing tendencies than their socialist and liberal counterparts, in part because they were less deeply wedded to Keynesian-welfarist orthodoxies. The second possible conservative future nevertheless emerged from the turn of the twenty-first century onwards, precipitated by the rise of right-wing populism and by the impact this often had on mainstream conservatism. Instead of operating hand in hand with globalism, this form of conservatism is decidedly anti-globalist in character. Defined by its alignment with illiberal nationalism, this form of conservatism places a particular emphasis on opposing immigration and rejecting multiculturalism, and, in some cases, introducing economic protectionism.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

y y Why, and to what extent, have conservatives supported tradition? y y Is conservatism a ‘disposition’ rather than a political ideology? y y Why has conservatism been described as a philosophy of imperfection? y y What are the implications of the belief that society is an organic entity? y y How does the conservative view of property differ from the liberal view? y y How far do conservatives go in endorsing authority?

y y Is conservatism merely ruling class ideology? y y To what extent do conservatives favour pragmatism over principle? y y What are the similarities and differences between traditional conservatism and Christian democracy? y y How and why have neoliberals criticized welfare? y y To what extent are neoliberalism and neoconservatism compatible? y y What form of conservatism is most likely to predominate in the future? Sedgewick, M. Key Thinkers of the Radical Right: Behind the New Threat to Liberal Democracy (2019). A timely anthology exploring the intellectual foundations of far-right and alt-right conservative ideology that has gained increasing prominence in twenty-first-century politics. The Hoover Institute www.hoover.org. The Hoover Institution is a leading conservative think tank, and is a prolific producer of media from a traditional conservative perspective. Especially notable is its interview series, Uncommon Knowledge, and its policy primer channel, PolicyEd.