One-nation conservatism facts for kids
One-nation conservatism, also called one-nationism, is a type of British political idea. It suggests that society should work together like a family. This means that people who are well-off or powerful have a duty to help those who are less fortunate. It also believes that society should grow naturally, rather than being forced into a certain shape.
This idea became popular thanks to Benjamin Disraeli (1804–1881), who was a British Prime Minister. He wanted to unite the country and help working-class people. He hoped they would see his ideas as a way to improve their lives, through laws about factories and health, and better protection for workers.
One-nation conservatism was very important during Disraeli's time as Prime Minister. Many social reforms were passed then. Later, the Conservative Party moved away from these ideas, focusing more on free markets. But in the early 20th century, fears of extreme political ideas brought one-nation conservatism back. It also influenced the Conservative Party after World War II, leading them to accept things like the National Health Service and the welfare state.
In more recent times, leaders like Margaret Thatcher brought in new ideas that moved away from one-nation thinking. However, in the 21st century, some Conservative leaders, including David Cameron, Theresa May, and Boris Johnson, have said they follow a one-nation approach.
Contents
What is One-Nation Conservatism?
One-nation conservatism was first thought up by Benjamin Disraeli, a Conservative Prime Minister. He wrote about his ideas in his novels Coningsby (1844) and Sybil (1845). Disraeli believed in a society where different social groups existed, but the wealthy had a duty to support the working class. He stressed that people in society have responsibilities to each other, not just to themselves.
Disraeli worried that Britain was becoming "two nations"—one rich and one poor—because of the growth of factories and increasing inequality. One-nation conservatism was his answer to this problem. He wanted to create a system that would improve people's lives, offer social support, and protect working-class people.
Society as a Family
Disraeli believed that society should be like an "organic society." This means it's like a living thing, where all the different parts (like different social classes) depend on each other. He thought that those at the top of society had a natural duty to help those below them. This idea is similar to an old concept called noblesse oblige, which means "those with privilege have a duty to help others." For Disraeli, this meant the government should act like a caring parent, looking after its people.
Unlike some later conservative ideas, one-nation conservatism is often seen as flexible and practical. Its supporters are willing to compromise with others for the good of society. Disraeli argued that if the rich and powerful ignored the struggles of ordinary people, society would become unstable, and there could even be a revolution.
History of One-Nation Conservatism
The idea of one-nation conservatism came about because of the Industrial Revolution. This period caused a lot of inequality, poverty, and unhappiness in Britain. Some politicians, known as Tories, felt it was their duty to help. They were involved in passing laws like the Factory Acts, which aimed to improve working conditions. They didn't like the idea of everyone just looking out for themselves. They also believed the government should help make sure people had good homes, working conditions, and fair wages.
Disraeli adopted one-nation conservatism for two main reasons: he genuinely wanted to help people, and he also wanted to win more votes. After a new law in 1867 allowed more working-class men to vote, Disraeli believed the Conservative Party needed to offer social reforms to succeed in elections. He thought this approach would improve the lives of the poor and make the rival Liberal Party seem selfish.
Disraeli's Reforms
When Disraeli was in government, he brought in several social reforms that supported his one-nation ideas. He wanted to create a society where everyone was looked after. For example, laws were passed that made employers and employees more equal in the eyes of the law. Another important law in 1875 protected workers' right to go on strike.
By the end of the 1800s, the Conservatives started to move away from one-nation ideas. They became more focused on free markets and less government control. However, between World War I and World War II, fears of extreme political movements like Bolshevism brought one-nation conservatism back. The Conservative Party presented itself as the party of national unity and supported moderate reforms. As Britain faced the Great Depression, the party became even more open to government involvement in the economy. Prime Ministers like Neville Chamberlain and Stanley Baldwin followed this one-nation approach, which was popular with many voters.
After World War II
After World War II, in the 1950s and 1960s, one-nation conservatives largely controlled the Conservative Party. Their ideas were inspired by Disraeli. This philosophy was updated by a movement called "new conservatism," which aimed to help those in need and encourage people to be self-reliant, rather than depending too much on the government.
However, in the mid-1970s, a new group called the New Right became more influential. Thinkers from this group argued that too much government spending and the welfare state had harmed the economy and society. Events like the "Winter of Discontent" in 1978–1979, when many strikes happened, were used by the New Right to show that the government had become too powerful. Leaders like Margaret Thatcher believed that to fix the country's problems, old values of individualism needed to be brought back. They felt that the welfare state had created a "dependency culture." One-nation conservatives, like Edward Heath, disagreed with Thatcher, but their influence decreased after the Conservatives won the 1983 election.
One-Nation Conservatism Today
In recent years, the idea of one-nation conservatism has seen a comeback. In 2006, a Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) named Andrew Tyrie suggested that party leader David Cameron was following Disraeli's one-nation path.
In 2010, Boris Johnson, who was then the Mayor of London and later became Prime Minister, described his own political views:
I'm a one-nation Tory. There is a duty on the part of the rich to the poor and to the needy, but you are not going to help people express that duty and satisfy it if you punish them fiscally so viciously that they leave this city and this country. I want London to be a competitive, dynamic place to come to work.
In 2019, a group called the One Nation Conservative caucus was formed in the British Parliament, showing that these ideas are still important today.
See also
- Big Society
- Christian democracy
- Noblesse oblige
- Progressive conservatism
