2001- Neoclassical Conservatism
2001- Neoclassical Conservatism
Introduction
Neoclassical conservatism, also called neotraditional conservatism, is a social and political ideology that is built on the ideal of keeping society in harmony with the dualistic nature of transcendent moral principles and “natural laws” coexisting in a world of constant change and development. While rooted in traditional conservatism and considered its successor, it also shares many commonalities with progressive conservatism and paternalistic conservatism. It also parallels other certain ideologies such as Christian democracy though with some distinct differences.
Neoclassical conservatism maintain plenty of stances as their traditional predecessors. They value social ties and the preservation of ancestral institutions above “excessive individualism”. They also value practical reason over theoretical reason, and even emphasize that the former must be used to deal with the changing world. Leadership, authority, and hierarchy are seen as natural to hunanity and the aspects to maintain societal order and to respond in adapting to the changing world. [1] Lastly, they view the state similarly to the traditionalists: a social endeavor with spiritual and organic characteristics.
However, they also branch off in various aspects to the original traditional conservatives. Convention and tradition are more open to interpretation and even scrutiny. They also view change as a result of the changing world and the perspectives on traditions, citing that the community’s traditions falter when they are viewed as insufficient to deal with societal change or acknowledging failures. They cite a need to adapt as just as important to maintaining traditions and customs and view practical reason as the tool that necessitates adapting to the changing world to maintain a stable society.
Neoclassical conservatism arose in the early 21st century, primarily as a reaction to what it saw as the failures of fiscal and social conservatism along as an evolution to traditionalism to include the various social reforms and movements that were born in the latter half of the 20th century.
The ideology would have its roots over in the United States, but would grow to spread out. The ideology is predominant in the greater Anglosphere (and sometimes even called the Protestant counterpart to Christian democracy) along with having notable influence in the Middle East.
Key Principles
Neoclassical conservatism is founded on the following major principles. [1] They serve as one of the simplest ways of understanding what the ideology stands for. While many of them are adopted from traditional conservatism, they have been modified along with the inclusion of new principles:
Natural Law/Religious Faith: The idea of natural law is maintained from traditional conservatism, if not adhered to as rigorously. In fact, it has grown more inclusive to account for the various social changes and acknowledgments of past mistakes. Natural law also serves as a form of secular guidelines to coincide with religious faith. While usually focusing on Christianity due to it background, it can be replaced with other faiths such as Judaism or even Islam or Sikhism. This more open approach was likely the result of the neoclassic conservatism being adopted in various parts of the greater Anglosphere.
Tradition & Custom: They maintain the belief of ancestors passing down wisdom in the means of traditions and customs into the new generation, but at the same time, this has also meant analyzing what formed those traditions and customs. Not everything passed down is worthy of continuing, as not all traditions or customs were created equal. There is also the understanding that new movements and beliefs may become tradition in the future as all traditions started at some point or another.
Hierarchy & Organic Unity: They mantain the same beliefs on the importance and natural reoccurence of hierarchy and the importance of structure for leadership and order. At the same time, it is done for the sake of the whole and hierarchies that protect one in the expense of the other have become further targets of critique. There is also on what organized hierarchy, emphasizing the need of accountability and meritocracy.
Agrarianism: Another principle maintained relatively untouched was agrarianism and maintaining the romantic ideals of the countryside and wilderness. It has been tempered with newer considerations of land and wilderness conservation. The stewardship of the land would be viewed as a duty granted by natural law along with restoring a sense of self.
Classic Culture: Classic aspects of civilization and romanticizing of the classics also remain part of neoclassical conservatism. While remaining classicists revering high culture, they have become more open on creating new classics, using the new tools to follow in the path of the old. They have also focused on promoting high culture through all mediums, especially with the new possibilities presented in them.
Local Patriotism: Like their predecessors, the neoclassical conservatives tout the values of patriotism and being devoted to the homeland, while emphasizing the difference between it and nationalism and the associations with it. Loyalty to home and local community remains a high priority. That said, such as guided with practical reason, the need for critique remains importance. After all, a good home requires solid maintanance and fixing, especially with rotten foundations or buried skeletons to be handled.
Adaptation: Neoclassical conservatives noted that conservatism's past failings have been assuming the world was static. How can conservatism actually exist in a world that keeps changing and with changing people? To the neotrads though, they viewed history as changing in certain paces and for conservatism to truly exist, it must match that pace to maintain the equilibrium and balance. See the world through practical reason and adapt to new circumstances, using the natural laws as guidelines.
Equity: Born from the recognition of hierarchy as a natural state of being, they acknowledge the different needs of everyone in the hierarchy and thus are granted what is needed to maintain a sense of order for the whole of the hierarchy to function. This has led to them becoming more inclusive for minorities, including SATMIN+ folk along with racial and ethnic minorities.
History
Neoclassical conservatism is said to have been born over in the 1990s, with many citing 1994 as the starting point. Many have chosen this point as it was the passing of prominent traditional conservative political theorist Russel Kirk. Kirk's The Conservative Mind is considered as having been the framework for conservatism after World War II for various nations and considered its chief proponent. However, the losses of conservatives throughout American leadership along with his own growing disenchantments would lead to the the decline of the philosophy. Fiscal and social conservatism were examples of new philophies rising up to fill the vacuum, especially as the New Right sought to flock around new figures, such as Ronald Reagan. [2]
However, fiscal and social conservatism would lose plenty of popularity due to some prominent association with various losses in the Republican Party along with later being viewed as too focused on one issue. Conservative political theory stagnated during the 1980s and early 1990s. As newer minds began writing and rebuilding, that a new guiding philosophy would be. Kirk himself would note this in an RNC award speech months prior to his death, noting how it would be up to the new minds to continue on and he hoped his work could still be relevant. Many neotraditional conservatives or neotrads for short, would look back not just to Kirk, but also to his sources and trying to recouncile it in the contemporary time period, especially with the victory of Arlen Specter, becoming the first Republican president in a while.
During the development of the philosophy, talks yielded that the faults laid in the perspective over how the world actually is. Here are some various quotes and thoughts associated with the movement:
> "It is the duty of the government to aid cultivating a good life for the inhabitants of the state. This requires an understanding of duty and hierarchy, without needless sacrifice of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."
> "Tradition and customs did not arise from nothing, but from the trial and error of our forefathers. And when we looked how they came, we saw how different the world of yesterday was to that of today and what will be tomorrow. We can conserve the pillar of society in this changing world, but the pillars' timelessness comes from faith in them. And the loss of faith has been from the failure of upkeeping."
> "Hierarchy is the social framework for order and stability in a society. Yet, much like any structure, it requires regular maintanace to survive and the neglect of one facet will spread to all. For society to maintain the hierarchy, all facets must be content with the status quo. Ignoring or maintaining the inadequacies will lead to the inevitable fall of this structure."
> "If you want to conserve and maintain tradition, find out which ones can be maintained and which ones are detrimental to society. Discrimination breeds resentment and leads to the rotting of a structure. It is unbecoming of a true civilized state and people."
> "Conservatism is a state of mind. A mentality of maintaining dignity within a stucture. It's in the name: to conserve. And as new challenges come, new means of maintanace must be accounted for along with reinforcement along with getting rid of what is no longer needed.
> "Fiscal conservatism failed because it focused too much on the purse strings and led an unwillingness to invest in long term stability. Social conservatism failed because it tried to force stagnancy on a changing world. The old ways worked best; hence the return to classical conservatism, yet with more wisdom gained from failures.
Neoclassical conservatism began growing in the early 2000s, with its introduction into the mainstream starting over in the United States. This is seen through the second iteration of the Federalist Party, having been created to serve as a new rightwing party, taking the place of the Republican Party. Neoclassical conservatism would spread over to the Tories of the United Kingdom and the conservatives of Canada first and later Australia. It would also see a rise of interest in certain parts of the extended Anglosphere such as Khalistan and India, both who have variants of neoclassical conservatism shaped by differing faiths and historical contexts.It would also influence parts of the Middle East such as in Iran, seen by some as a respond to the rise of the Neo-Baathist movement that started in the late 1990s.In the United States
Despite being considered the founding location of neoclassical conservatism, the American school remains quite distinct when compared to that of the United Kingdom, Canada or even Australia. Many have attiributed due to the unique history of the US that led to it along with the circumstances. American neoclassical conservatism borrows plenty of inspiration from Christian democracy along with more domestic influences, such as the Southern Agrarians. Prominent figures from America's founding are held in high esteem, notably John Adams (especially for him having never owned slaves) along with Alexander Hamilton, who's influence with the American School of economics along with his beliefs with the Federalist Party was what would help launch the first neoclassical conservative party. Other figures associated would be lauded and noted, such as Henry Clay and Robert Penn Warren would be counted on the ranks for inspiration in philosophy and approach to politics. [2]
Despite what some considered the lofty ambitions and ideals, the day to day influences were felt and resonated with plenty of conservatives regarding tradition, respect, courtesy and community. Modern leaders like Arlen Specter would be considered stand out examples to imitate and carried the sort of tradition and beliefs over for neoclassical conservatives. One notable difference between the American school and the other schools of neoclassical conservatism would be in faith. While starting out with mainline Protestantism, the Catholic influence of Christian democracy seeped in along with various other faiths and traditions, all due to the massive size and varied cultures of the US. This acceptance and mixing would help win many people over, especially immigrants.
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[1]- Information and phrasing from here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traditionalist_conservatism
[2]- Information and phrasing from here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traditionalist_conservatism_in_the_United_States
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