Conservatism | 8values ​​Interpretation of ideological ideology of political tests

Deeply explore the complex ideology of conservatism, from its cherishing of tradition, its tendency to progressive change, to its diverse manifestations in different cultural and political spectrums. This article will combine the perspective of 8 values ​​Quiz to reveal the core principles of conservatism, historical evolution, psychological foundation and schools and characteristics around the world, helping you to understand your own positioning more accurately in political testing and deeply understand this value system that has a profound impact on social order.

Conservatism is an extremely rich and varied word in today's political thoughts and ideology. Not only does it have a diverse claim between versions, scholars also have significant differences in their usage as an analytical term. Some see it as a specific set of political claims, while others see it as simply a political attitude that occurs in any society, at any time, when the existing system is threatened. Nevertheless, by summarizing the common characteristics of various conservative ideas, we can still have a systematic understanding of them. If you want to know your specific position on the political spectrum , try the 8values ​​Quiz website’s political test , which can help you understand your ideological tendencies more clearly.

The essence and core principles of conservatism: a careful consideration of tradition, order and human nature

Conservatism, as a trend of seeking to maintain and preserve social traditions , existing systems and values , is reflected in many fields such as culture, society, and politics. Its core creed varies by region and context. However, under these diversity, some common core principles form the cornerstone of conservative thought. Michael Oakeshott, a British modern conservative philosopher, pointed out that conservatives prefer familiar rather than strange, known rather than unknown, fait accompli, status quo rather than myth, current status rather than possibility, limited rather than boundless, within reach rather than distant, sufficient rather than surplus, just right rather than perfect, current life rather than distant utopia.

Russell Kirk elaborates on the ten core principles of conservatism in his Conservative Thought, many of which revolve around belief in moral order , tradition , prudence and diversity :

1. Believe in transcendent order and moral laws : Conservatives believe that both man and state are governed by moral laws, which originate from divine justice that transcends human wisdom. Reverence of God is the beginning of wisdom.
2. Respect for tradition and experience : Edmund Burke, widely regarded as the founder of modern conservatism , advocates that tradition is the crystallization of human wisdom and has experienced the test of generations. Compared with purely abstract things (such as the "rationality" of Enlightenment thinkers), tradition can be used as a basis for establishing one's own life. Conservatives believe in the continuity of history and the value of existing institutions .
3. Prudence : This is the primary virtue of a politician, and any public measure should be measured by its long-term impact rather than short-term interests or popularity. Conservatives emphasize progressive, organized change rather than sudden revolutions . They believe that arbitrarily changing social forms and political systems in pursuit of a certain ideology may lead to unpredictable disasters.
4. Acknowledging the imperfection of human nature : Conservatives are pessimistic about human beings’ attempt to transform the world through reason and the resulting utopian dream. They believe that social ills can only be slowed down and are difficult to eradicate.
5. Maintaining social order and hierarchy : Conservatives accept that social and economic inequality is naturally formed and believe that a certain degree of hierarchical order is necessary to maintain social order. They believe that the leadership of society should belong to wise men with excellent quality, not mass leaders.
6. Cherish property rights : Property and freedom are inseparable and are the basis for the development of individual independence and civilization. The government's duty is to protect rather than distribute property. Burke believes that property rights are the guarantee of the initial concept of civil society, and their rights are the most important, supreme and inviolable.
7. Emphasize diversity and individual differences : Highly civilized is characterized by diversity, consistency and absolute equality will kill vitality and freedom. Society needs different classes, material conditions, and various inequality.
8. Communist tendency : There is a tendency of communist in many conservative ideas, believing that individuals are shaped by the communities to which they belong, and these communities are ways of building society that have withstood the test of time.
9. Small government and limited intervention : Typical Western conservatives agree with small government and oppose excessive regulation and intervention of the government in the market. They believe that excessive governments limit individual freedoms and weaken civil society’s sense of responsibility.

The psychological motivation and cognitive characteristics of conservatism: the management of uncertainty

Psychological research has in-depth discussions on the motivational social cognitive basis of political conservatism and found that conservatism is significantly associated with a range of psychological variables. These variables are primarily derived from the need for individual management uncertainty and threats .

• Resisting change and accepting inequality : These are two core aspects of conservative ideology. Management uncertainty is achieved by resisting change, because change essentially disrupts existing reality and brings cognitive insecurity. Recognition of inequality may be related to fear, as it breeds and rationalizes competition and dominance in social hierarchies.
• Psychological rigidity and closed thinking : Conservatism is related to higher dogmatism and Intolerance of Ambiguity . This means that conservatives tend to stick to familiar things, draw conclusions too early, and use simple stereotypes. They are less open to new experiences. For example, the need for cognitive closure, the desire to quickly obtain a certain belief, is positively correlated with a conservative position.
• Fear of threats and losses : Death Anxiety, system instability , and fear of threats and losses are significantly associated with political conservatism. Conservatives may be more sensitive to threatening information and prefer to prevent rather than promote goals.
• Low Self-esteem vs. Defensiveness : Despite the weaker correlation, there is evidence that lower self-esteem may be related to conservatism and that high authorityists will show stronger defensiveness when threatened by self.
• Social Domination Orientation (SDO) : SDO measures the individual’s support for social hierarchy and the extent to which their intragroups are expected to be superior to those of outgroups. High SDO scores are highly correlated with conservative views, opposition to promoting equality through social engineering, and a higher level of bias .

Together, these psychological factors form a complex framework for understanding political conservatism .

Historical Back: The Origin and Development of Conservatism

Conservatism , as a clear political philosophy, was formed usually dated back to the end of the 18th century.

• The birth of the French Revolution : Edmund Burke 's "Reflections on the French Revolution" (1790) is generally regarded as the pioneering work of modern conservatism . Burke strongly condemned the out-of-control and excessiveness of the French Revolution, believing that its radical approach to completely replace the original political system through abstract theory would lead to catastrophic consequences. He stressed the importance of historical traditions and gradual reforms rather than radical changes based on pure reason.
• The birth of the term : The term "conservatism" is believed to be first used in 1818 by the French romantic thinker François-René de Chateaubriand, when he named his magazine Le Conservateur.
• 19th Century Europe : Conservatism began to be widely used as a political idea or ideology in the mid-19th century. It is associated with conservative parties in Europe at that time (such as the Tories in the UK, the Conservative Party of Prussians) who were aimed at defending the traditional aristocratic political order, resisting the wave of democracy and the rise of the working class. After the end of the Napoleonic era, the Vienna Conference marked the revival of European conservatism in order to counter the liberal and nationalist forces inspired by the French Revolution.
• Anglo-American Tradition : The ideological roots of Anglo-American Conservatism can be traced back to the works of Sir John Fortescue. John Selden's defense of the traditional English constitution in the 17th century made him one of the greatest theorists of Anglo-American conservatism. Anglo-American conservatism is not necessarily associated with monarchy or hereditary aristocracy, especially in the United States, which emphasizes more on the defense of American traditions, Jewish-Christian values, economic liberalism, and Western culture.
• Evolution of the 20th Century : Conservatism has become more diverse in meaning as the democratic process advances since the 20th century. During the Cold War, Western conservatism strongly opposed communism and centralization. Economically, it tends toward free market mechanisms and small government concepts.

Conservative pluralist schools and regional differences: a value system that adapts to local conditions

Conservatism is an umbrella concept that contains many branches and local manifestations, which makes it present different connotations in different historical stages and regions. Understanding these diversity helps to more accurately identify their specific location in the political spectrum , and you can gain a deeper understanding of these ideologies through the 8values ​​Quiz website.

Main genre

1. Cultural conservatism : advocates preserving one's own cultural or national traditions. The culture range is wide, and can be Western culture, Chinese civilization or specific ethnic traditions. It attempts to adopt past traditions and institutions, such as the traditional British weights and measures, or the imperial examination system in China.
2. Religious conservatism : A goal to preserve the doctrine of a particular religion and to try to incorporate its values ​​into law or social norms. It may object to all change because its faith originates from the unchanging God. Sometimes religious conservatism may also contradict the existing social order, seeking to return to a more traditional ideal society.
3. Fiscal Conservatism : An economic philosophy that emphasizes that governments should adopt a cautious and conservative attitude in spending and borrowing. Burke emphasized that citizens' property rights take precedence over national creditor's rights, and government property is limited to public property and can only come from parts voluntarily given by citizens.
4. Economic Conservatism : Extends the concept of fiscal conservatism, advocates that the government should not interfere in market operations at will, and supports free markets and laissez-faire economic policies . It ideologically traces back to classical liberalism , with representatives including Adam Smith, Hayek and Friedman.
5. Social Conservatism : It is believed that society is built on a fragile network of relationships and needs to be maintained through responsibilities, traditional values ​​and established institutions. It supports the role of the government in encouraging or enforcing traditional values ​​and behaviors, against policies or social engineering considered radical, and generally against abortion and LGBT rights.
6. National conservatism : attaches importance to national interests and traditional social structures and racial views , and integrates nationalism and conservatism. Many national conservatives are also social conservatives, supporting restrictions on immigration and refugees, opposing multiculturalism, and emphasizing the priority of their own interests.
7. Classical Conservatism (Traditional Conservatism) : Oppose radical changes in government and social institutions, emphasizing that procedures (stable but not impatient reforms) are higher than specific outcomes (any form of ideal government).
8. Ideological Conservatism (Right Conservatism) : Unlike anti-ideological classical conservatism, right conservatism supports specific ideologies, usually including social, fiscal, and economic conservatism.
9. Neoconservatism : It mainly transformed from liberalism, opposing the radical changes in liberalism in the 1960s, and its ideas tend to be conservative. American neoconservatives support military interventionism , advocate for world peace, and may adopt a "preemptive" strategy.
10. Paleoconservatism : Rising in the 1980s to counter neoconservatism, emphasizing traditions, civil society, classical federalism, and Christian traditions. They oppose centralization and external intervention.
11. Authoritarian Conservatism : refers to authoritarian regimes that portray authority as absolute and unquestionable. These movements showed strong loyalty to religion, tradition and culture, while showing fanatical nationalism.
12. Reactionary Conservatism : a policy against social transformation, seeking to return to the current state of the past, and usually has a negative view of the modern world .

Conservatism in the regional political spectrum

Conservatism varies greatly in different regions, which reflects the historical, cultural and social backgrounds of the various regions.

• The British and American world : The British and American conservative parties usually tend toward the economic structure of small governments , free markets , and strongly oppose socialism and communism. American conservatism is unique because it is not linked to monarchy, hereditary aristocracy, established churches or military elites. The Republican Party of the United States usually stands for conservative ideas, advocates tax cuts, reduces government regulation, builds a wall to limit illegal immigration, challenge political correctness and identity politics, and defends the Jewish-Christian tradition.
• Continental Europe : European conservatives sometimes tend to be more social welfare policies and cultural openness to immigrants than North America, but may also take a more conservative attitude towards immigrants and foreign cultures. Under parliamentary systems, European conservatives are often allied with neutral and even leftists rather than xenophobic and populist far-rights.
• Asia : Asian conservatism is closely related to Confucian traditions (such as loyalty, responsibility, respect hierarchy), and Asian values ​​(emphasizing social solidarity and collectivism).
  • China : It can be traced back to Confucius' thoughts, attaching importance to loyalty, responsibility and hierarchy, as well as the imperial examination system. The "economic conservatism" in modern China is manifested in the feudal small peasant thought opposes the modern market economy.
  • Japan : After the Meiji Restoration, Japan's "conservatives" once referred to people who were extremely conservative and stubbornly adhered to the old rules, but later "conservatives that adapt to the current reality" appeared like the Liberal Democratic Party.
  • South Korea : Major conservative parties (such as national power) have been changing their forms throughout history to adapt to the reform demands of party members.
  • Singapore : The People's Action Party advocates "Asian democracy" and "Asian values", emphasizing that the country is above society and family as basic units, consensus rather than disputes, and racial and religious harmony.
  • India : The BJP represents conservative politics, promotes Hindu nationalism, adopts hostile foreign policy towards Pakistan, hostile policy towards Muslims at home, and implements conservative social and fiscal policies.

Conservatism and other political thoughts

Conservatism is often regarded as a right-wing position, in contrast to the left-wing progressiveism, socialism, etc.

• Complex relationship with liberalism : Although the two overlap in some aspects (such as property rights , small government ), conservatism differs significantly from liberalism in its view of rationality , change and equality . Some famous American and British conservatives even view themselves as conservatives and liberals, viewing conservatism as a branch or the most authentic form of classical liberalism . However, conservatives such as Burke are skeptical of abstract universal rights and state intervention, which is in contrast to Locke-style liberalism.
• Tension with Progressiveism : Progressiveism emphasizes the importance of individuals and the current era, while conservatism focuses on group values ​​and social traditions. The competition between the two is often related to the principle of political correctness , leading to an ongoing tug-of-war. Conservatism is seen as a “brake” attempt to “put on the brakes” for overly radical adventure.
• Distinguishing from socialism and the far right : Conservatism first emerged as an anti-ideology of capitalism and liberalism, criticized organized and amoralized urban industrialism and defended rural, organic and stratified social order. However, it is different from the far right (such as fascism , Nazism ). Although some conservatives unite with the far-right, this often depends on political taboos rather than strict ideological differences. Karl Mannheim once described conservatism as a self-conscious worldview that the old aristocratic order was first aware of under the threat of the French Revolution.
• Sceptic about abstract rationality : Conservatives are skeptical about abstract rationality in politics and tend toward living traditions. They believe that individual rationality is limited and it is best to rely on the existing traditions and collective wisdom of the state. This prudence of reason contrasts with radical rationalism (such as Jacobinism) that aims to rebuild society through abstract principles.

Conclusion: Understanding Conservatism in a Complex World

Conservatism is a complex and multi-oriented political philosophy and ideology , with its connotations that have their own emphasis in different times, places and contexts. It reminds us that human society is not a blank piece of paper, but the accumulation of historical experience and generational wisdom. Conservatives regard prudence as their virtue, advocate gradual change , and are wary of unpredictable disasters that radical revolutions may bring. At the same time, it emphasizes the maintenance of social order , hierarchy and property rights , and has a realistic attitude towards the imperfection of human nature .

A deep understanding of conservatism can not only help us better understand the ideological roots behind the political polarization in today's world, but also provide an important reference system for us to examine our own values . No matter what political tendency you have, it is crucial to understand the deep logic of different political ideologies . If you are curious about your political stance , welcome to visit the 8values ​​Political Testing official website for political testing and explore more secrets of political thought through the political spectrum coordinate analysis and ideological interpretation articles it provides.