English Conservatism as Ideology

In: Political studies, Band 25, Heft 1, S. 62-83

Abstract

English conservatism, unlike liberalism or socialism, can be interpreted as the ideology of dominant social & political groups seeking to maintain their power. This involves affirmation of class rule, of the ruling classes as guardians of the national interest, & of the deficient political judgment of other classes. Conservatism's grounding in the world of material interests & group tensions has led to its shifting concern from defense of feudal values to defenses of market or technocratic values. Socialism's avowed intent to unmask illusions clearly differentiates it from conservatism; similarly, liberalism in its origins focused on individual interests rather than on the community to which conservatism was devoted. Liberal success, however, led to a rapprochement with conservatism. Conservatism is likely, if the British economy continues to stagnate, to move increasingly toward stressing instrumental values. W. H. Stoddard.