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Conservatism: the story on HearLore | HearLore
Conservatism
Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy that seeks to promote and preserve traditional institutions, customs, and values. It is not merely a set of economic policies or a single party platform, but a deep-seated belief that society is held together by the maintenance of the family, organized religion, and respect for an established culture. This ideology, which has been the dominant force in nations ranging from Hungary to Japan, emerged from a specific historical moment when the world seemed to be tearing itself apart. The term itself was first used in a political context on the 1st of January 1818 by François-René de Chateaubriand during the Bourbon Restoration, a period dedicated to rolling back the radical policies of the French Revolution. Before this date, there was no word for the philosophy, only the instinct to defend the old ways against the new.
The Father And The Counter
The philosophical foundation of modern conservatism was laid by Edmund Burke, an Anglo-Irish statesman who served as the private secretary to the Marquess of Rockingham. Burke is widely regarded as the father of modern conservatism, yet his views were a complex mixture of conservatism and republicanism. He supported the American Revolution of 1775 to 1783, believing in the right of the colonies to self-governance, but he abhorred the violence of the French Revolution of 1789 to 1799. Burke accepted the conservative ideals of private property and the economics of Adam Smith, but he insisted that capitalism should remain subordinate to the conservative social ethic. He believed that the business class should be subordinate to the aristocracy, which he saw as the nation's natural leaders. In contrast, the French philosopher Joseph de Maistre developed a parallel form of conservatism that was more pessimistic about human nature. Maistre believed that rules had a divine origin, whereas Burke believed they arose from custom. While Burke was open to argumentation and disagreement, Maistre sought faith and authority, leading to a more illiberal strain of thought that would flow into a stream of anti-rationalist, romantic conservatism.
The War Of Ideologies
During the 20th century, authoritarian conservatism clashed violently with fascism, creating a unique dynamic where traditionalists fought against revolutionaries. Authoritarian conservative movements showed strong devotion towards religion, tradition, and culture while expressing fervent nationalism. Examples of authoritarian conservative dictators included Marshal Philippe Pétain in France, Regent Miklós Horthy in Hungary, and General Ioannis Metaxas in Greece. Although both ideologies shared core values such as nationalism and had common enemies such as communism, there was a contrast between the traditionalist and elitist nature of authoritarian conservatism and the revolutionary and populist nature of fascism. The hostility between the two ideologies is highlighted by the struggle for power in Austria, which was marked by the assassination of the ultra-Catholic dictator Engelbert Dollfuss by Austrian Nazis. Dollfuss saw Nazism as another form of totalitarian communism and banned the Austrian Nazi Party, causing tens of thousands of Nazi sympathizers to flee to Nazi Germany. In 1938, when Nazi Germany annexed Austria, conservative groups were suppressed, and members of the Austrian nobility and the Catholic clergy were arrested and their properties were confiscated.
Common questions
When was the term conservatism first used in a political context?
The term conservatism was first used in a political context on the 1st of January 1818 by François-René de Chateaubriand during the Bourbon Restoration. This period was dedicated to rolling back the radical policies of the French Revolution. Before this date, there was no word for the philosophy, only the instinct to defend the old ways against the new.
Who is considered the father of modern conservatism and what were his views?
Edmund Burke is widely regarded as the father of modern conservatism and served as the private secretary to the Marquess of Rockingham. He supported the American Revolution of 1775 to 1783 but abhorred the violence of the French Revolution of 1789 to 1799. Burke accepted the conservative ideals of private property and the economics of Adam Smith while insisting that capitalism should remain subordinate to the conservative social ethic.
Which authoritarian conservative dictators existed during the 20th century?
Examples of authoritarian conservative dictators included Marshal Philippe Pétain in France, Regent Miklós Horthy in Hungary, and General Ioannis Metaxas in Greece. These movements showed strong devotion towards religion, tradition, and culture while expressing fervent nationalism. The hostility between authoritarian conservatism and fascism is highlighted by the struggle for power in Austria, which was marked by the assassination of the ultra-Catholic dictator Engelbert Dollfuss by Austrian Nazis.
How does conservatism in Asia differ from Western conservatism?
Conservatism in Asia differs according to regions, with East Asia and some Southeast Asian regions deeply linked to Confucian traditions. Chinese conservatism can be traced back to Confucius, whose philosophy is based on the values of loyalty, duty, and respect. In India, the Bharatiya Janata Party, led by Narendra Modi, represents conservative politics with over 170 million members as of October 2022.
What are the core beliefs of social conservatives regarding family and morality?
Social conservatives believe that society is built upon a fragile network of relationships which need to be upheld through duty, traditional values, and established institutions. They support a traditional definition of marriage as being one man and one woman and oppose the destruction of human life at any stage, including abortion, embryonic stem cells research, and euthanasia. In Ireland, during the presidency of Éamon de Valera, a broad array of Catholic social policies were enacted, mostly with the goals of winning devout, rural, conservative voters.
Which conservative parties dominate politics in modern European and Asian nations?
In Poland, the dominant conservative party is Law and Justice, which is characterized by social and cultural conservatism, patriotism, adherence to Catholic social teaching, and cooperation with the Catholic Church. In Japan, the right-wing conservative Liberal Democratic Party has been the dominant ruling party since 1955, often referred to as the 1955 System. In Israel, right-wing parties received 75 percent of the popular vote in the 2022 election, making conservatism the dominant ideology.
Conservatism in Asia differs according to regions, with East Asia and some Southeast Asian regions deeply linked to Confucian traditions. Chinese conservatism can be traced back to Confucius, whose philosophy is based on the values of loyalty, duty, and respect. He believed in a hierarchically organized society, modeled after the patriarchal family and headed by an absolute sovereign. In the 20th century, the Xinhai Revolution of 1911 overthrew Puyi, the last Chinese Emperor, and ushered in the Republic of China. Between 1927 and 1949, China was ruled by the nationalist party Kuomintang, which became right-wing after General Chiang Kai-shek purged communists from his party. Following his defeat in the Chinese Civil War by the Chinese Communist Party, Chiang continued ruling the island of Taiwan until his death in 1975. In India, the Bharatiya Janata Party, led by Narendra Modi, represents conservative politics. With over 170 million members as of October 2022, the BJP is by far the world's largest political party. It promotes Hindu nationalism, quasi-fascist Hindutva, and a hostile foreign policy against Pakistan. In the United States, the term conservative is unique, where its first modern usage was for pro-free enterprise opponents of the New Deal. The Republican administration of President William Howard Taft was progressive conservative, and he described himself as a believer in progressive conservatism. President Dwight D. Eisenhower also declared himself an advocate of progressive conservatism.
The European Monarchies
European nations, with the exception of Switzerland, have had a long monarchical tradition throughout history. Today, existing monarchies include Andorra, Belgium, Denmark, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. Austrian conservatism originated with Prince Klemens von Metternich, who was the architect behind the monarchist and imperialist Conservative Order that was enacted at the Congress of Vienna in the aftermath of the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars. The goal was to establish a European balance of power that could guarantee peace and suppress republican and nationalist movements. In France, early conservatism focused on the rejection of the secularism of the French Revolution, support for the role of the Catholic Church, and the restoration of the monarchy. After the first fall of Napoleon in 1814, the House of Bourbon returned to power in the Bourbon Restoration. Louis XVIII and Charles X, brothers of the executed King Louis XVI, successively mounted the throne and instituted a conservative government intended to restore the proprieties, if not all the institutions, of the Ancien Régime. The turn of the century saw the rise of Action Française, an ultraconservative, reactionary, nationalist, and royalist movement that advocated a restoration of the monarchy.
The Family And The State
Social conservatives believe that society is built upon a fragile network of relationships which need to be upheld through duty, traditional values, and established institutions. A social conservative wants to preserve traditional morality and social mores, often by opposing what they consider radical policies or social engineering. Some social-conservative stances include support of a culture of life and opposition to the destruction of human life at any stage, including abortion, embryonic stem cells research, and euthanasia. They support a traditional definition of marriage as being one man and one woman, and opposition to expansion of civil marriage and child adoption to couples in same-sex relationships. In Ireland, during the presidency of Éamon de Valera, a broad array of Catholic social policies were enacted, mostly with the goals of winning devout, rural, conservative voters. Such policies included writing into the Constitution of Ireland that a woman's place was in the home, prohibiting the importation or sale of contraceptives, and enactment of strict censorship laws. In Singapore, the People's Action Party promotes conservative values in the form of Asian democracy and Asian values, including nation before community and society above self, family as the basic unit of society, and racial and religious harmony.
The Modern Renaissance
In the 21st century, the authoritarian style of government experienced a worldwide renaissance with conservative politicians such as President Vladimir Putin in Russia, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Turkey, and Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in Hungary. In Poland, the dominant conservative party is Law and Justice, which is characterized by social and cultural conservatism, patriotism, adherence to Catholic social teaching, and cooperation with the Catholic Church. Contemporary Polish conservatives believe in Atlanticism and strong relations with the United States, meanwhile taking a stand against Russia. In Israel, after the declaration of the State of Israel, politics was initially dominated by left-wing parties, but over time, right-wing parties became increasingly powerful, with conservatism now being the dominant ideology. In the 2022 election, right-wing parties received 75 percent of the popular vote, a centrist party 17 percent, and left-wing parties 7 percent. In Japan, the right-wing conservative Liberal Democratic Party has been the dominant ruling party since 1955, often referred to as the 1955 System. Contemporary conservatives, notably during the second premiership of Shinzo Abe from 2012 to 2020, advocate for revising the country's constitution, particularly Article 9 which renounces war and prohibits Japan from maintaining a military.