Traditional One nation New right All agree

Economy capitalism it produces great wealth Arose in reaction to laissez-faire, Society c neo-liberal economists, the Conservatives place great
but disrupts hierarchy and tradition was increasingly being divided between rich free market is the only importance on property
and poor mechanism that can rights, and generally prefer
Feudal approach to property - efficiently supply goods capitalism to its alternatives,
holders have duties to their Limited regulation (reduced hours, and services based on viewing the resulting
descendants & the less fortunate improved working/living conditions) can consumer demand. Only inequality as an inevitable by-
help the poor without harming the economy the market, not product of our natural
Free markets are preferable to government intervention, differences
rationalist attempts to innovate & Keynesian economics & welfare state - can ultimately determine
centrally plan - property rights manage demand to lower unemployment & the ‘natural’ level of
should not be undermined, offer basic aid unemployment. Neo-
inequality & hierarchy are natural liberals consider inflation
Planned capitalism - use loans & tax reforms to be the biggest threat to
Protect property of people to help businesses to become more the market economy. By
Not burden people with taxation competitive - help industries to co-ordinate undermining financial
& plan confidence, inflation
inhibits all forms of
Noblesse obliges Harold Macmillan : economic and business
'a mixed system' that combined 'state activity. To combat
Constructive and enduring economic
ownership, regulation or control of certain inflation, neo-liberal
activity is impossible without a state
aspects of economic activity with the drive thinkers call for
and initiative of private enterprise’ government spending cuts
to control the money
supply.

Taxation of earnings from labour is on a par with forced

labour
Human We are flawed psychologically, Selfishness and the free market - Human Neo- lib more pessimistic view of
nature morally and intellectually and so we nature means the free market might not have a very positive view of human nature. human nature - arguing that
need discipline from above always work in the national interest for They stress individualism and the ability of the we are naturally selfish and
stability individual to make decisions for themselves. unequal, and require an
Psychologically flawed (insecure) so morally authority strong enough to
desire for security authority People are still seen as selfish, and this is imperfect this can be seen from Michael Oakeshott establish order
hierarchy compounded by capitalism, which stating his belief that he accepts human imperfection
Morally flawed (greedy, violent) so encourages this kind of behaviour. and believes that humans are incapable of creating a
original sin Therefore, an alternative response is utopian society.
Intellectually flawed so irrational needed, otherwise personal interest will human nature is atomistic. Atomism is the belief that
dominate, and society will disintegrate. the individual is autonomous from other individuals,
rationalists overlook our limitations - seeking own happiness not happiness of society
the politics of faith, and utopian humans are morally
ideologies are rigid and dangerous imperfect this can be seen from Michael
Oakeshott stating his belief that he accepts
People can't be trusted with power human imperfection
because they are selfish, and they and believes that humans are incapable of
can't be trusted with freedom creating a utopian society
because they are immoral. Little can humans are morally
be done about human imperfection imperfect this can be seen from Michael
other than to maintain an ordered Oakeshott stating his belief that he accepts
society. human imperfection
and believes that humans are incapable of
collective fear of death creating a utopian society
morally
Hobbes: “the life of man, solitary, imperfect this can be seen from Michael
poor, nasty, brutish, and short” Oakeshott stating his belief that he accepts
human imperfection
“The condition of man... is a and believes that humans are incapable of
condition of war of everyone against creating a utopian society.
everyone” morally
imperfect this can be seen from Michael
Oakeshott stating his belief that he accepts
human imperfection
and believes that humans are incapable of
creating a utopian society.
Oakeshott “fallible but not terrible”
Morally imperfect – incapable of creating a
“uption society”

’
State Paternalistic role Paternalistic role Need a state even minimal
 - Strong authority to make Neo con. neo lib - Act as a guadian of
decisions for people Reject moral imperfection Favours a strong state that Regards the state as law
- Society should be run by is tough on coercive, and so - Human imperfection
those best equipped to lead One Nation - Conservatives must act in the law and order. Crime is the role of the state should - State of nature –
by virtue of their birth, national interest, not for a particular class, only prevented by tougher be Hobbes “poor, nasty,
inheritance, and education the state must promote one stable nation punishments, reduced and kept limited. brutish and short”
- Elite have duty to look after which requires a strong The state - Require strong
those socially and Cannot let run rampant as will cause to state. Domestic should only concern itself government to –
economically under them – many inequalities government is favoured with the prevent the
noblesse obliges over international forms. issues of law, order and tendency to do
Middle Way - Promote economic growth, States need strength in defence. Its wrong – guide
Hard paternalism – look after citizens reduce unemployment, and lift people out order to face threats role is to protect private humans to live
– not necessarily with consent of poverty while respecting property rights property morally
Minimum safety net - The state should and allow space for the
Freedom and order - Freedom paternalistically regulate industry and offer free market
requires a state strong enough to basic support to flourish.
establish and enforce the laws
Oakshotte The state should "prevent the Aym “ Every government
Natural aristocracy / Paternalism by bad rather than create the good" interference in the
virtue of their privileged birth, some ‘keeping the ship afloat at all costs’ economy consists of giving
are better able to make decisions in an unearned benefit,
the national interest extorted by force, to some
men at the expense of
A civil association that pursues others.”
intimations and makes non-
instrumental rules, rather than an Nozick “No state more
ideological enterprise association extensive than the minimal
state can be justified.”
Hobbes – “It is not wisdom but
Authority that makes a law” Thactcher Freedom will destroy itself if it is not exercised
within some sort of moral framework
“Natural chaos" stemmed from the
absence of any formal authority”
“The condition of man... is a
condition of war of everyone against
everyone”

Burke “the wiser, stronger, and more

opulent" rise”
Society Organic Society - we are born into a Two Nations - Disraeli (eared that business neo-cons feared the neo-libs valved personal mainly concerned with
web of duties - hierarchy is natural - owners and landlords were not fulfilling decline of authority & freedom society being stable and
leaders must be paternal their obligations traditional valves orderly - it is this that makes
 - all organs need to be healthy The smallest minority on us free - that view law and
Noblesse Oblige - (nobility obligates) - with earth is the individual. order, property rights and
Civil Society - it is the voluntary, privilege, land and wealth, come important Those who deny individual civil society as all playing an
traditional, little platoons that form social responsibilities rights cannot claim to be important role
us/ make us fit for freedom defenders of minorities
Full employment as social policy - The best
Heirarchy – inequality is natural. way to help society is to ensure that . Atomism is the belief that
People require strong authority everyone can work the individual is
in their lives to protect them and autonomous from other
protect the functioning of an Society is still more important than the individuals, seeking own
orderly society individual and is 'organic' but the class focus happiness not happiness of
of the past has been somewhat relaxed - society
Society is seen as 'organic'; there is a though not removed, there is still a natural
natural order or structure to society hierarchy. In its place is an attempt to unite Meritocratic
that includes a natural class-based all society into one group. Authority is still
hierarchy and the inequality that this considered to lie naturally at the top of
implies. Inequality is normal because society, however, which means that
people simply don't have equal inequality is still normal and that the ruling
abilities. People need to simply class knows best for all.
accept this status quo, including their
place in society. This will maintain
peace and order in society as a
whole.

Burke “the wiser, stronger, and more

opulent" rise”

Tradition Tradition and pragmatism - traditions Capitalism is not an element of tradition and Chesterton –
help us make sense of the world and is seen as threatening it; therefore, one- tradition is the
provide stability. We are not nationists seek to emphasise the old “democracy of the
sufficiently rational to make good relationships that brought people together dead”
sense of the world and plan radical to counter their view of capitalism as
change. We have to be pragmatic tearing people apart
not idealistic.
Oakeshott “ prefer the familiar to the
society is held together by tradition, unknown”
which acts like a glue. It represents
the sum of the wisdom of past
generations, and disregarding this
comes with grave consequences,
foremost of which would be the
descent of society into chaos.
 Burke “A State without the means of
some change is without the means of
its conservation”
Pragmatism important to be pragmatic when Seeking to pursue a path that has been
considering new ideas and making proven to work is still the aim the focus in
decisions about the future. Always this case is to try to undo the damage that
putting first what works rather than capitalism causes to society as much
untested ideas is the best course of possible
action.
Oakeshott “known good is not lightly to be
surrendered for an unknown better.”
Paternalism The upper class's noblesse oblige Such a system is increasingly seen as a way
means they must provide help for of countering the selfishness of capitalism.
the worst off in society. A system This is because the richest in society have a
based on helping those in need helps moral duty to help the poorest. Therefore,
reduce discontent and so maintains welfare should be provided by the state to
order and stability in society. help those who have fallen out of society.

NEO-LIBERALS:
Neoliberals support a minimal state, one that merely maintains domestic order, enforces contracts and provides defence against foreign attack,
leaving other matters, especially for economic and moral issues, in the hands of the individual.
-They do so on two grounds:
First, 'rolling back' the state unleashes the dynamism of the market, offering the prospect of prosperity for all by removing the 'dead hand' of the
state from the economy.
Second, it has moral benefits in that it widens individual freedom and strengthening personal responsibility.

NEO-CONSERVATIVES:
-Neoconservatives support a strong state, which has an influence that extends clearly into the social and moral realms. They believe that the
state should be strengthened in three main areas.
-First, the system of law and order should be made more effective, particularly by using a stronger regime of punishments to deter wrong-doing.
-Second, traditional values should be upheld, if necessary by law, in order to ensure that society is bound together by a common culture.
-Third, similar thinking also inclines neoconservatives to support the promotion of national patriotism.
Note: Neoconservatives do not support welfare and social reform, and in this sense agree with neoliberal thinking regarding the state

One reason conservatives disagree about the role of the state is because they have contrasting views on human nature, Thomas Hobbes and Edmund
Burke believed that human nature was immoral by design, this stemmed from the belief in the original sin in Christianity, a religion that is often
associated with conservatism. Due to this understanding of humanity, Hobbes could not imagine society existing in harmony without the state, he
famously said that without the state enforcing law and order, life would be ‘tough, brutish and short’, this was because he believed that if we were
allowed to act as we wished, the very worst of human nature would manifest itself as people did everything to protect their own personal liberty
and security. Therefore he believed that a state was not only ideal but necessary to ensure order and security. Furthermore, as evidenced in his book
leviathan, he believed that the state should be all-powerful in order to fulfil its duty to the people, as he believed that if power were to be dispersed
mini conflicts would arise and therefore the state should hold all the power.
This view of an authoritarian state is in direct contrast to the views of Ayn Rand and Richard Nozick, they argued that human nature, while not
perfect was egotistical and objectivist, they did not see selfishness as immoral, but instead a road to self-fulfilment which was inherently good.
Therefore they believed that as rational beings, individuals in society should be allowed to live how they wanted to without any interference from
the state, except if order and security were jeopardised. However, Nozick wanted a minarchist ‘night watchman’ state so if order was put at risk
then the state would mitigate the problem then return to the ‘sidelines’ rather than being permanently powerful like that under Burke or Hobbes
philosophy. Rand and Nozick believed that negative liberty should be afforded to all in society and any attempts from the state to promote positive
liberty; whereby they intervene to ‘help’ people, should be resisted as the state has no business in interfering with the daily lives of autonomous
citizens.

There is more agreement however between conservatives on the role of the state in the economy, generally they agreed that there should be a free
market where the government takes a laissez-faire approach rather than implementing too many regulations, however, there is still some
disagreement. On the one hand, in line with their beliefs in objectivism, Rand and Nozick believe that the market should be almost entirely free
from government intervention as the market is a means to which individuals can pursue happiness in the form of profits, as humans are selfish and
egotistical a free market essentially the perfect expression of human greed which to the aforementioned thinkers is good rather than bad.
Furthermore, they believed that allowing people to trade freely unlocks the potential for people to make significant advancements in society, this
view was the main basis of Rand’s novel Atlas shrugged where the state had taken such overriding control of the free market that there was no
innovation as all of the capitalists and inventors had gone on strike, further emphasising her views on the states limited involvement in the
economy. Burke also generally understood trade to arise organically between people and therefore did not need to be regulated by the state to a
great extent and also promoted laissez-faire capitalism, however, these conservatives all generally agreed that the state was often necessary to
enforce contracts between different parties in a market.

fundamental state of human nature which dictates the role of the state, level/organisation of state and role of state in peoples lives

However, on the other hand, the New Right thinkers; whose ideas became legitimate after the rise of Thatcher as prime minister where she adopted
this approach, believe that the state should not interfere with the economic activities of the citizens and promoted a more unregulated market
although not completely free, this is in stark contrast to the one nation conservatives as the new right instead encouraged privatisation and limited
the welfare of the workers by quelling trade unions, instead focusing on the rights of companies in the free market system. These views are more in
line with those of Ayn Rand and Nozick however not completely as the new right still played an active role in the market and did not completely
strip back regulations and publicly-funded welfare systems like the NHS remained. Furthermore socially they still had much in common with one
nation conservatives as they did not believe in a permissive society as demonstrated by Thatcher’s section 28 which banned the teaching of
homosexuality in schools which is in contrast with Rand's beliefs that the state should not interfere with individuals liberty in such matters.
Therefore in practice politically there are still overall disagreements on the role of the state, however not to the degree to which individual
conservative thinkers disagreed.