What are the Central Doctrines of Conservatism - Coursework Example

What are the central doctrines of conservatism? How will they shape its future? Introduction. Simply put, conservatism refers to the desire by individuals, groups or a society to maintain the status quo. (Gerson 2007). This school of thought is reinforced by the believe that what is good now will be good in the future and ought to be preserved. In the world of conservatism, radical change is discouraged or better still avoided all together. According to Gerson (2007, p.79), the rise of the conservatism movement was triggered by rapid changes in Europe. The industrial revolution and the French revolution were particularly instrumental in the growth of conservatism. Scholars argue that in every society there exists a group of conservatives. This theory is reinforced by the presence of conservative movements in Asia, Europe, America and also in Africa. Spread of conservatism Robert et al (2002) point out that, conservatism has grown into political movements and finally into political parties. For example in Britain there is the conservative party which is poised to take over leadership if current polls are to be given much meaning. Political parties which pursue the conservative agenda are also found in other countries such as China, Japan, Botswana in Africa, New Zealand and also in India. Muller (1997) says that aristocrats are viewed as the main backers of conservatism and they desire no change. They seek to drive these values not only to their children but also to the society in general. Edmund Burke is considered the father of conservatism and advocated for the maintenance of the power of the king as well as aristocracy. Forms of conservatism Conservatism has evolved over time and different forms have been articulated by scholars. (Ted 1991). For instance there is liberal conservatism which is a combination of conservatism and some new liberal ideas. These ideas are mainly on economic management and are mostly aimed complying with modern free market trends. Liberal conservatism was made popular in the United States mainly to take care of the country’s free market policy. Fiscal conservatism Fiscal conservatism mainly relates to economic management and calls for prudence when it comes to government borrowing. Proponents of this form of conservatism argue that it makes no sense for government to borrow heavily today and spend on questionable projects and the burden of payment is passed to the next generation. Another unique form of conservatism is cultural conservatism. Proponents of this form of conservatism seek top maintain a country’s heritage and culture. Cultural conservatism is mostly practiced in Asian countries with some conservatives warning against adoption of the western culture. This form of conservatism is closely linked to another form of conservatism called religious conservatism. Religious conservatism is concerned with preservation of current methods of worship as well as church traditions. The catholic church has often been accused of perfecting the art of religious conservatism courtesy of its practices and views on marriage for priests. What are the central doctrines of Conservatism? There are some central pillars that guide the development of this ideology. These pillars of conservatism have been accepted and are passed down to generations. They are considered as the base for the development of conservative values. The importance of distinctions and rank in the society One of the key doctrines of conservatism is hierarchy in the society.(Vincent 2009) Conservatives believe that the society ought to be divided into several hierarchies mostly based on wealth and family background. There is a strong believe among conservatives that the top hierarchy mostly made up of aristocrats have the right to govern the society. They also believe that children of the mighty have a special place in the society and deserve to take over leadership in the absence of their parents. Society as an organism rather than a mechanism Muller (1997, p. 28) argues that institutions have a special place in the minds of conservatives and are considered as part of its doctrine. It is common knowledge that institutions are rigid in nature and changing them is never a walk in the park affair. Conservatives also believe that it is much easier to pass a certain way of thinking down a generation through institutions. This explains why conservatives resulted to forming political parties around the world as a means of spreading their way of thinking around the world and to several generations. The value of continuity with the past Maintenance of the status quo is the major doctrine of conservatism. Psychologists argue that conservatives fear change for a number of reasons. They fear that change will make them lose their current positions in the society as well as their influence. Robert et al (2002, p.78) point out that abolishment of potential threats to their current positions is the main pre-occupation of conservatives. They believe that the one gets what he bargains for in the society and consequently inequality in the society is justified. Conservatives further point out that equality is not possible and desire for it causes revolutions and uncertainty in the society. They further believe that they are better people in the society and deserve respect from the less equal in the society. Conservatives have a unique way of opposing change in the society. At times they will put it plainly that the desired change will be bad for the society just because it works against their interests. On other occasions they will support the desired change especially when it dawns on them that it is the only means through which their ideas will remain relevant in the society. The danger of injustice to the society in the name of freedom Conservatives have a unique way of defining freedom especially when it involves the governed or the less privileged members of the society. They believe that absolute freedom for the masses is a threat to their positions and it is the source of revolutions and movements for change. (Vincent 2009) That is why conservatism advocates for selective freedom. In this case, there is unlimited freedom for the aristocrats and the ruling elite while it is limited for the governed. Private property Conservatism places special interest on private property. The main reasoning behind this doctrine is that they are basically the richest in the society and they therefore prefer to hold this wealth in their hands for the longest possible time and possibly pass it to the children with time. The importance of Religion Conservatives value religion because they believe that it is one of the easiest ways of inculcating their views to the younger generation. Thus young members of the society grow holding strong believes on what is acceptable and what is not. In this was religion plays a major role in promoting the views of the conservatives. How there doctrines will shape the future of conservatism. Muller (1997, p.192) says that conservatism is an ideology that will be with us for a number of centuries to come. While the earlier proponents of this ideology were opposed to any change, today’s proponents accept that sometimes change is inevitable. That is why they have tried to tailor the six major doctrines to meet modern day trends and practices. For example conservatives have continued to promote religion while selectively advancing their agenda of conservatism. He furthers points out that the doctrine on importance of private property has perfectly blended with capitalism that is widely practiced today in western countries to give birth to liberal conservatism. This ensures that the values of conservatism in regard to private property are not lost. The doctrine of the danger of injustice to the society in the name of freedom has been advanced as democracy in today’s world. Continuity with the past has been tailored to show the importance of culture even in the dynamic world we live in today. Society as an organism rather that a mechanism has been used to show the importance of kindness and help for the needy in the society. The doctrine of distinctions in the society has been used to show the importance of hard work so as to emerge top in the society. Conclusion Conservatism is an ideology that was advanced by aristocrats who were opposed to any major change in the society. With time it has evolved into a political movement and in some countries even taken over power. To remain relevant in the modern world, it has embraced some change hence the spread of ideas such as liberal conservatism. The six major doctrines of have remained largely unchanged but have been modified to meet the needs of the modern society. Hence conservatism will be around for many more years to come. Reference: Gerson, MJ 2007, Heroic conservatism, New York. Muller, ZJ 1997, conservatism: anthropology of social and political thought from David Hume to the present, Princeton university press, New Jersey. Robert, A Nisbet, Brad, LS 2002, Conservatism: dream and reality, Transaction publishers, New Jersey. Ted, H 1991, Conservatism, Penguin books, London. Vincent, A 2009, Modern political ideologies, Wiley Blackwell, San Francisco CA. Read More