Lesson 2.

Conservatism

Philippine Politics and Governance

General Academic Strand | Humanities and Social Sciences
Conservatism
rules out the
primary role of
the government.

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Conservatives value
the hierarchy of
power and
authority that are
primarily lodged in
a modern class of
leaders.

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What other values and
principles are associated
with conservatism?

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 Definition of Conservatism

● characterized by a
resistance to change

● adheres to the importance

of maintaining traditional
values

● insists that any form of

change be organic rather
than subversive
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 Definition of Conservatism

● highlights the customs and

came from the
conventions existing in a
Latin word community
conservare, ● based on an attempt to
which means “conserve” the political, social,
to “protect or and economic practices that are
preserve” beneficial to the nation

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 Forms of Conservatism

It upholds laissez-faire markets

along with the typical concern for Liberal
established traditions and respect
Conservatism
towards authority and religious
indifferences.

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 Forms of Conservatism

It frowns upon the enforcement

Libertarian of business regulations,
corporate subsidies, and other
Conservatism
forms of intervention by the
government.

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 Forms of Conservatism

It focuses more on the interests of National

the nation and its own citizens
than those of external groups.
Conservatism

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 Forms of Conservatism

It believes that government

Social intervention is necessary in
Conservatism promoting traditional values
and behaviors.

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 Forms of Conservatism

It believes in the importance of

preserving a cultural identity, Cultural
together with its associated values, Conservatism
beliefs, and norms.

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 Forms of Conservatism

Religious It looks for ways to preserve

religious traditions and beliefs.
Conservatism

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 Founders of Conservatism

Edmund Burke
● One of the founding fathers
of conservatism in Anglo-
American circles

● He argued in Reflections on
the Revolution in France that
continuity and stability in
institutions must be prized
and protected.
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Founders of Conservatism

Joseph de Maistre
He believes that humans
are generally prone to
temptation and evil unless
otherwise governed by a
strict political structure
composed of leaders and
rulers (e.g., monarchy).

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 Founders of Conservatism

Russell Kirk

● One of the fathers of post-

war American conservative
intellectual revival.

● Through The Conservative

Mind, he restored the idea
of intellectual
conservatism.

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Historical Background

The roots of
conservatism can
be generally
traced back to the
occurrences
during the French
Revolution in
1789.

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Comparison with Other Ideologies

Liberals Conservatives
argue that there favor reduced tax
should be reliance on imposition and less
democratic intervention in the
institutions when economic industry by
making economic the government
decisions

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Comparison with Other Ideologies

Socialists Conservatives
have a positive view humans as being
perspective towards imperfect and
humans; they are unperfectable
individuals within
society

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 ● Conservatism is characterized by a resistance to
Wrap-Up change and is adherent to the importance of
maintaining traditional values.

● The forms of conservatism are the following:

○ liberal conservatism
○ libertarian conservatism
○ national conservatism
○ social conservatism
○ cultural conservatism
○ religious conservatism
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Wrap-Up
● Some of the notable personalities in bringing up the
ideology of conservatism are Edmund Burke,
Joseph de Maistre, and Russell Kirk.

● The French Revolution inspired the development of

conservatism as an ideology.

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