Classical+Conservatism

=Key Figure / Classical Conservatism=



Edmund Burke (1729-1797)
Edmund Burke is a founder of classical conservatism who emerged after the Industrial Revolution (1750s-1900s), he preferred the pre-industrial past. Like modern conservatists, Burke valued stability as priority. As a result, Burke resisted both radical and reactionary changes because of his belief that extreme changes neglect the stability that their ancestors had achieved. Furthermore, Burke viewed the French Revolution (1789-1799) negatively; all the while viewing the American Revolution (1750s-1800s) positively. French Revolution refers to peasants rising above the hierarchical government, which at that time consisted of 3% of the population ruling and 97% with no voice. Continually, Burke believed that human beings are not equal and such radical movements rebelling for equality were very irrational to him (French Revolution). However, Burke did not support tyranny in any form and he considered that human beings have different inherit abilities instead. For example, people who have a major in politics, should not receive the same amount of power in politics as someone who has major in agriculture.

The French Revolution eventually led to a massacre and the civil disorder of France. This established the country as an unstable society in Burke's mind as he thought that the French Revolution had brought nothing but negative effects to this society. On the other hand, the start of Classical Conservatism had been developed, rooted deep within the French Monarch's attitude of maintaining the status quo and the harsh reactionary movements they took towards the peasants' radical changes. Nobody enjoys losing power.

In contrast to the French Revolution, Burke considered the American Revolution a successful reform of government. In the American Revolution, several states in the U. S overthrew the British government that ruled the country without representatives. Burke thought that the changes in American Revolution were performed carefully, slowly, and surely, hence it led to stable government.

//“We owe an implicit reverence to all the institutions of our ancestors”// –Edmund Burke, A Vindication of Natural Society, 1756. The quote shows how Edmund Burke resists changes since rapid changes neglect all the reverence that ancestors have made.



The picture is a satire of Edmund Burke’s classical conservatism. In the picture, Edmund Burke is an anal-sucker of the clergies hoping for them to give him “surplus” as written down in the paper towel. This represents Burke’s conservative ideas that by maintaining hierarchical system and rejecting the rebel during the French Revolution, Burke searches for the surplus on his status. = = = = Modern Conservatism Modern day conservatism is indecisive among philosophers and ranges anywhere from the thought of free enterprise to the support of stable social and economic welfare. In Canada, we strive to have full economic freedom, while maintaining stability. The conservative party of Canada strives to create jobs, provide family and senior tax cuts, and decrease crime in the streets. Our conservative party has made such policies as corporate bailouts to such companies as GMC in order to maintain status quo.

This comic represents the satiric view of modern day conservatism in the USA. It implies that the standards of social services sought to be produced through conservatism is ridiculous. = = = = =Differences between Contemporary and Classical Conservatism= In contemporary society, the differences in the methods of conservatism are very obvious. In the present, our conservative party aims to maintain status quo by resisting major economic change, like mentioned with the bailout of GMC. Canadas conservative party also aims to maintain traditional social values. In the past however, specifically under monarch rule, royalty would resist major social change through brutality and political prisoners.

“Same sex marriage is not a human right. ... Undermining the traditional definition of marriage is an assault on multiculturalism and the practices in those communities.”


 * Stephen Harper- Hansard, February 16, 2005



-This image is of a guillotine under Monarch rule in France =Relation to Liberalism= Classical Conservatism is one of the ideologies that emerged to oppose to classical liberalism. After classical liberalism has spread out and has been embraced by many countries, many radical changes have occurred such as French Revolution and Industrial Revolution. Classical conservatists claimed that the changes brought the chaos to the society and insisted that people need to go back to the way it was before the radical changes occurred.

=**References **=


 * Fielding, J., Christison, M., Harding, C., Meston, J., Smith, T., & Zook, D. (2009). Perspectives on Ideology. Ontario: Oxford University Press.
 * “Classical Conservatism” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Retrieved March 1, 2012, from []
 * “Classical Conservatism” (Andrew Heard). Retrieved 2007, from []
 * Aitken, J. (1791). Public Credit, or the State Idol: a picture. England: Courtesy Trustees of the British Museum.
 * Hansard (2005)