Edexcel Politics A-Level: Conservatism — Flashcards | General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) | FatSkills

Edexcel Politics A-Level: Conservatism — Flashcards

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What is Conservatism?
Conservatism seeks to conserve society as it is and is suspicious of change. Conservatism values pragmatism over ideological thinking, seeking to adapt its values over time, according to changes in society. However, new right thinking within conservatism in the 1970s and 1980s challenged much of what conservatism had traditionally stood for.

There are three content areas:
1. Conservatism: core ideas and principles
2. Differing views and tensions within conservatism
3. Conservative thinkers and their ideas.

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Pragmatism 1 - Overview What does it reject Associations? Quote Linked to what? Criticisms
Rejection of theory in favour of experience, flexible approach based on 'what works' - Associated with Burke and M. Oakeshott - 'to be a Conservative is to prefer the tried to the untried' M. Oakeshott - Preference of pragmatism linked to view on human nature: humans lack intellectual capacity to fully comprehend the complex reality of the world. Leading to abstract utopian ideals eg classless society - Critics argue pragmatism reveals a lack of political principle and encourages following rather than leading
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