Conservatism facts for kids
Conservatism is a way of thinking that wants to keep and protect traditional ideas, practices, and values in society. It's a political philosophy that focuses on preserving things that have been around for a long time.
In many Western countries, conservatives often support things like the traditional nuclear family, organized religion, the military, the right to own property, and sometimes even a monarchy (a system with a king or queen). They like ideas and systems that bring stability and have developed slowly over time. Conservatives sometimes don't like newer trends, like popular culture or less religious ways of life. They want to go back to older values, but what those 'older values' are can be different for different groups of conservatives.
The word 'conservatism' was first used in politics around 1818 in France. It was used during a time when people wanted to undo some of the changes from the French Revolution. Historically, conservatism has been linked to right-wing politics. However, there isn't one single set of rules for what makes someone a conservative. What is considered 'traditional' changes depending on the place and time.
Conservative ideas have changed a lot as they've adapted to different traditions and cultures around the world. For example, some conservatives believe the government should be more involved in the economy, while others prefer a laissez-faire system where the government interferes very little. This means conservatives from different countries, who are each trying to protect their own traditions, might disagree on many topics. Edmund Burke, a politician from the 1700s, is seen as one of the main thinkers behind conservatism. He was against the French Revolution but supported the American Revolution.
What is Conservatism?
Some experts, like Samuel P. Huntington, see conservatism as something that changes with the situation. They believe conservatives are people who defend the important systems and ideas of their time. Quintin Hogg, who led the British Conservative Party in 1959, said that conservatism is "not so much a philosophy as an attitude." He meant it's a way of thinking that helps society develop and meets a basic human need. Conservatism is often used to describe a "right-wing viewpoint" that is between liberalism and fascism on the political scale.
Why Tradition Matters
Even though there's no single definition, some common ideas appear in conservative thinking. According to Michael Oakeshott, being conservative means you prefer what is familiar over what is new. You prefer things that have been tested over things that haven't. You like facts more than mysteries, and what is real more than what is only possible. This focus on tradition can show a trust in ways of organizing society that have worked for a long time. Traditions can also be a big part of a group's identity.
Social Order and Fairness
Some political thinkers, especially those on the left, see conservatism as mainly defending social and economic inequality. From this view, right-wing politics supports the idea that certain social orders and hierarchies (levels of power) are natural or good. They often base this on natural law, economics, or tradition. So, for some, conservatism is less about keeping old systems and more about trying to get power back when it feels threatened.
On the other hand, some conservatives argue that they are not trying to protect their own power. Instead, they believe they are protecting "inalienable rights" and promoting rules that they think should always be true and apply to everyone.
Political thinker Yoram Hazony explains that in a traditional conservative society, people gain importance and influence based on how much they are respected within the social hierarchy. This includes things like age, experience, and wisdom. The word 'hierarchy' has religious roots and means 'rule of a high priest'.
A Realistic View of People
Conservatism has been called a "philosophy of human imperfection." This means that many conservatives have a less hopeful view of human nature. They are often doubtful that people can be greatly improved through 'utopian' plans (perfect but unrealistic ideas). Thomas Hobbes, an important thinker for this view, believed that without strong rules, human life would be "poor, nasty, brutish, and short." This is why he thought a strong central government was needed.
What is Reactionism?
Reactionism is a part of right-wing politics that strongly opposes changes to society. In everyday language, a reactionary is someone with very strong traditionalist conservative political views. They are against social, political, and economic changes. Some experts, like Corey Robin, use the words 'reactionary' and 'conservative' as if they mean the same thing. Others, like Mark Lilla, argue that they are different ways of looking at the world.
A reactionary is a person who wants to go back to a previous state of society. They believe that this past state had good qualities that are missing in today's world. In political discussions, being called a 'reactionary' is usually seen as a negative thing. However, some writers have chosen to use this label for themselves.
Related pages
Images for kids
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2009 Taxpayer March on Washington as conservative protesters walk down Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D. C.
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Gianfranco Fini, former President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies, in 2004
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Nicolas Sarkozy, President of France (2007–2012)
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Robert Peel (1788–1850)
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Margaret Thatcher (1925–2013), who led the Conservative Party to shift their economic policies to the right, known as Thatcherism
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Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany from 2005 to 2021
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President of the United States Ronald Reagan (1981–1989), whose Reagan Doctrine reshaped the Republican Party
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See also
In Spanish: Conservadurismo para niños
