Radical Conservative Ideas
Political Studies: Edexcel A Level, topic 5.1.7
Libertarianism
Libertarianism is the promotion of freedom, free choice and autonomy, mainly focused on applying these concepts to the economy.
Libertarians
- Libertarians take positions similar to classical liberals - supporting freedom, individuality and as little government interference in the economy as possible.
State functions
- Libertarians favour a ‘night-watchman state’ - where the only functions of the state are to protect private property and maintain law and order.
- The state only has a military, police and courts.
- This is an extreme and radical idea which many conservatives would reject.
Economy
- Libertarians support a free market economy, believing that individuals should be responsible for their own economic choices and that the government should not intervene.
- In a free market, the price of goods and services are set by the forces of supply and demand.
- Libertarians believe that government intervention makes a market inefficient.
Moral values
- Libertarians support freedom from government intervention in an individual’s personal life.
- Libertarians tend to accept behaviours that were historically controversial, as long as they do not harm others.
- For example, libertarians in the US often support the right to own a gun as part of individual liberty.
- Libertarians have supported the right of same-sex couples to marry. -This contrasts with conservative ideas of anti-permissiveness.
Laissez-faire
Laissez-faire is a political and economic system which supports as little government intervention as possible in business and the state.
Laissez-faire
- Laissez-faire is a political and economic system which supports as little government intervention as possible in business and the state.
- This is also associated with neo-liberalism and with classical liberal thinkers like Adam Smith.
Conservative Party
- The Conservative Party adopted the economic stance of laissez-faireism under the leadership of Robert Peel.
- However, laissez-faire is a policy that tends to be supported by liberals and neoliberals.
- For much of the 19th century, the Conservative Party did not support free trade, an important part of laissez-faire economics.
Radical & Atomism
Radical beliefs are those that challenge norms in society, established ideas, and the status quo. Atomism is the idea that society is made up of individuals who look after themselves.
Radical
- Radical ideas in politics often challenge the existing political, economic and social systems.
- Traditional and one-nation conservatives reject radical ideas, supporting gradual change and conservation of the structures of society.
- Thatcher supported radical ideas, such as free market capitalism and deregulation of business.
Atomism
- Atomism is the idea that society is made up of individuals who look after themselves. These individuals are self-sufficient and self-interested.
- These individuals come together to form society.
- Conservatives believe that atomism binds society together through entrepreneurship rather than socialist principles of equality.
- Atomism is associated more with radical ideas - such as neoliberalism, rather than traditional and one-nation conservative ideas.
- Margaret Thatcher once said that “there is no such thing as society”.
Egoistical individualism
- Atomism is also known as egoistical individualism.
- This links to Ayn Rand’s idea of selfishness as a positive trait.
- Rand believed that we should actively seek to look after own interests, instead of relying on the state.
- Crucially, this type of selfishness should not be at the expense of others.
Test yourself on Radical Conservative Ideas
In a free market, how are the price of goods and services set?
Which of these statements are true about libertarianism?
Which thinker is a famous supporter of laissez-faire capitalism?
Which of these statements about laissez-faire are true?
Which conservative ideology does NOT reject radicalism?