Conservatism is an attitude or philosophy that places great emphasis on traditional values, institutions, and ideas. Conservatives are generally distrustful of change, risk, and reform. Instead, they seek to conserve (maintain) an existing framework of standards and beliefs.
The exact meaning of conservatism varies with time, place, and circumstance. Many religions, for instance, have conservative branches that resist change and favor strict interpretations of sacred texts. Some individuals have conservative tastes in art and music—that is, they enjoy traditional forms rather than newer styles. But the term conservatism most often refers to political conservatism—an approach to government that stresses tradition, order, and security.
Political parties in many countries promote conservative approaches to government. Such parties include the Republican Party in the United States, the Conservative Party of Canada, and the Conservative Party in the United Kingdom. Conservative parties usually compete with parties that hold more liberal beliefs—that is, beliefs that place greater emphasis on equality and reform. Members of a government or society who hold strongly conservative beliefs are often called the right wing. People with strongly liberal beliefs form the left wing. Those between the two are called the center, or moderates.
Conservative beliefs should be distinguished from reactionary beliefs. Reactionaries want to revolutionize society according to a model in past history. Conservatives, on the other hand, want to preserve what they consider the best elements of an existing society.
Features of political conservatism.
In most modern democracies, political conservatism seeks to uphold traditional family structures and social values. Conservatives typically oppose abortion, same-sex marriage, drug use, and sexual activity outside of marriage. In some cases, conservative values are grounded in religious beliefs, and some conservatives seek to increase the role of religion in public life.
Most conservatives believe that government action cannot solve society’s problems, such as poverty and inequality. Many believe that government programs that seek to provide services and opportunities for the poor actually encourage dependence and reduce self-reliance. Most conservatives oppose affirmative action policies—that is, policies in employment, education, and other areas that aim to counteract past discrimination by giving special help to members of disadvantaged groups. Conservatives believe the government should not give special treatment to individuals on the basis of group identity.
Many conservatives, especially in the United States, believe that the government should not play a major role in regulating business and managing the economy. They typically oppose efforts to charge high tax rates and to redistribute income to assist the poor. Such efforts, they argue, do not properly reward people who have earned their money through hard work.
Because conservatives value order and security, they traditionally favor a strong government role in law enforcement and national defense. They often support the rights of private citizens to own firearms. Many conservatives regard military power as the basis for maintaining order and security in the world.
History.
The term conservative first became widely used in the 1800’s in the United Kingdom. Conservatism arose partly as a reaction to the belief that human nature could become improved through social change and political revolution. This belief was widespread following the French Revolution (1789-1799). Conservatives argued that improvement must occur within the framework of traditional ideas and institutions. Early conservatives in the United States included John Adams and Alexander Hamilton.
The term conservatism, like liberalism, has had different meanings at different times and places. For instance, in the United States, conservatism has been strongly associated with opposition to government efforts to regulate the economy. In Europe, however, conservatism is not strongly associated with such opposition.
