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Introduction to Conservatism
Edmund Burke wrote his classic, Reflections on the Revolution in France, in response to a speech by Welsh philosopher, Richard Price. Price had embraced the revolutionary changes that were taking place in mainland Europe, welcoming the attack on the King's authority in France as an expression of long-term processes - processes that enfranchised humanity and moved it towards a happier, more moral and virtuous society. However, the arguments of Price were abhorrent to Burke, particularly his emphasis on fundamental principles and universal values.
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The Roots of Conservatism
The consensus among the majority of scholars is that Conservatism is a political ideology that developed in the early years of the nineteenth century. It is claimed that this happened as a response to the wide-ranging political, social and economic changes that swept across western Europe at the time. One major event that historians tend to refer to as an obvious symbol of this change - the move to what is described as the modern era - is the French Revolution of 1789.
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Conservative Streams
Although several had suggested that Edmund Burke should be regarded as the father of Conservatism, it would be wrong to claim that the ideas had developed along one particular route, adhering strictly to the original arguments outlined by him in Reflections on the Revolution in France (1790). Instead, since Burke's initial contribution Conservatism has developed in various ways and today a range of different Conservative streams can be identified. Here are three of the most significant.
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Key Elements of Conservatism
Despite the important differences between different streams, some elements can be identified that tend to be associated with the Conservative world view; elements that allow us to differentiate somewhat between Conservatism and other political ideologies, particularly Liberalism or Socialism.
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Conservatism and Society
The Family and the Church: Gay marriage An interesting example of the relationship between conservative politics, the family and the Church emerged in 2014, when homosexual marriage was legalized in the United Kingdom. The Conservative Government was responsible for the legislation, which allowed the same right to couples who were until then only eligible for a civil union. That legislation had come into force in 2004, under a Labour government, and so the Conservatives effectively extended that principle to marriage.
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Conservatism and the Economy
Given the nature of the contemporary arguments heard by members of the Conservative Party, it could be assumed that Conservatism is an ideology that has always been true to the qualities of the free market and the belief that state intervention should be kept to a minimum in the operation of the economy. However, it should be emphasized that the practice for Conservatives to insist that such beliefs should he held as a matter of principle has been a relatively recent development. Indeed, it was only with the development of the New Right during the 1970s that substantial numbers of Conservatives came to voice the neo-liberal view that economic prosperity was reliant on 'pushing back the state' and ensuring as much space as possible for private enterprise by self-sufficient individuals.
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Conservatism in Welsh Politics
A fundamental barrier will be faced when offering an analysis of the influence of Conservatism in Wales, because very few academic sources deal with the subject. The academic situation reflects a wider situation in this regard, namely the perception that Conservatism is an English, alien tradition. Writing about the Conservative party or Conservatism in general therefore is, at best, a minority action.
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Conservatism and Global Politics
Political Realism and its Origins There is no specific ideology or theory known as 'Conservatism' in the field of international relations, yet there are many thinkers and intellectual traditions in the field who hold ideas which are Conservative in nature. Indeed, Realism, the viewpoint that has dominated discussions on international politics for decades complements many Conservative ideas and values, for example pragmatism, belief in the imperfection of the human character and also an emphasis on order and authority. Scholars studying international relations have traced the origins of the Realist tradition back over a number of years.
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