Editing Conservatism (section)

{{Short description|Political philosophy based on tradition and social order}}
{{Redirect|Conservatives|specific political parties|Conservative Party (disambiguation){{!}}Conservative Party}}
{{About|conservatism as a political and social philosophy|other uses of conservatism and conservative}}
{{Distinguish|Conservation movement}}
{{Use American English|date=November 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Conservatism sidebar}}

'''Conservatism''' is a [[Philosophy of culture|cultural]], [[Social philosophy|social]], and [[political philosophy]] and [[ideology]] that seeks to promote and preserve traditional [[institution]]s, [[Convention (norm)|customs]], and [[Value (ethics and social sciences)|values]].<ref name=":1">{{cite encyclopedia |last1=Hamilton |first1=Andrew |title=Conservatism |url=https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/conservatism/ |encyclopedia=Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy |date=2019}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb |Encyclopædia Britannica}}: "Conservatism, political doctrine that emphasizes the value of traditional institutions and practices."</ref><ref>{{harvnb |Heywood|2004|pp=166–167}}: "In particular, conservatives have emphasized that society is held together by the maintenance of traditional institutions such as the family and by respect for an established culture, based upon religion, tradition and custom."</ref> The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the [[culture]] and [[civilization]] in which it appears.<ref name=":6">{{Cite book |last=O'Hara |first=Kieron |title=Conservatism |date=2011 |publisher=Reaktion |isbn=978-1-86189-812-8 |location=London |quote=It is clear that conservatives are influenced not only by their ideology, but also by the political context – no surprise there – but contexts vary and so, therefore, do conservatives.}}</ref> In [[Western culture]], depending on the particular nation, conservatives seek to promote and preserve a range of institutions, such as the [[nuclear family]], [[organized religion]], the [[military]], the [[nation-state]], [[property rights]], [[rule of law]], [[aristocracy]], and [[monarchy]].<ref>{{harvnb|Neill|2021|p=2}}: "[C]onservatives favour the importance of ‘natural’ forms of authority, such as the monarchy, the church, the nation and the family."</ref><ref>{{harvnb |Giubilei|2019|p=37}}: "Conservatives aim to conserve the natural and fundamental elements of society, which are: private property, family, the homeland, and even religion […] the right-wing conservative is such not because he wants to conserve any regime and any institutions, but rather specific institutions and particular values."</ref> Conservatives tend to favor institutions and practices that enhance [[social order]] and historical continuity.{{sfn|Encyclopædia Britannica}}

The 18th-century Anglo-Irish statesman [[Edmund Burke]], who opposed the [[French Revolution]] but supported the [[American Revolution]], is credited as one of the forefathers of conservative thought in the 1790s along with Savoyard statesman [[Joseph de Maistre]].{{sfn|Fawcett|2020|pp=3–18}} The first established use of the term in a political context originated in 1818 with [[François-René de Chateaubriand]] during the period of [[Bourbon Restoration in France|Bourbon Restoration]] that sought to roll back the policies of the French Revolution and establish social order.{{sfn|Muller|1997|p=26}}

Conservatism has varied considerably as it has adapted itself to existing traditions and national cultures.{{sfn|Heywood|2017|p=63}} Thus, conservatives from different parts of the world, each upholding their respective traditions, may disagree on a wide range of issues.<ref>{{cite book |last=Vincent |first=Andrew |year=2009 |title=Modern Political Ideologies |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |isbn=978-1-4443-1105-1 |page=79}}</ref> One of the three major ideologies along with [[liberalism]] and [[socialism]],{{sfn|Nisbet|2002|p=15}} conservatism is the dominant ideology in many nations across the world, including [[#Hungary|Hungary]], [[Conservatism in India|India]], [[#Iran|Iran]], [[Conservatism in Israel|Israel]],<ref name=":13" /> [[#Italy|Italy]], [[Conservatism in Japan|Japan]], [[#Poland|Poland]], [[Conservatism in Russia|Russia]], [[#Singapore|Singapore]], and [[Conservatism in South Korea|South Korea]]. Historically associated with [[right-wing politics]], the term has been used to describe [[#Ideological variants|a wide range of views]]. Conservatism may be either [[Libertarian conservatism|libertarian]] or [[Authoritarian conservatism|authoritarian]],<ref>{{harvnb|Heywood|2017|p=74}}: "While contemporary conservatives are keen to demonstrate their commitment to democratic, particularly liberal-democratic, principles, there is a tradition within conservatism that has favoured authoritarian rule, especially in continental Europe."</ref> [[Right-wing populism|populist]] or [[Traditionalist conservatism|elitist]],<ref>{{cite book |author1-last=Micklethwait |author1-first=John |author2-last=Wooldridge |author2-first=Adrian |title=The Right Nation: Conservative Power in America |year=2004 |publisher=Penguin Books Limited |isbn=1594200203 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rDd5tKWT4D4C |quote=Americans who describe themselves as 'conservatives' nevertheless disagree on almost all the most fundamental questions of life. […] The [[Leo Strauss|Straussians]] at the ''Weekly Standard'' are philosophical elitists who believe that the masses need to be steered by an educated intelligentsia. The antitax crusaders who march behind [[Grover Norquist]] are populists who believe that pointy-headed intellectuals need to be given a good ducking.}}</ref> [[Progressive conservatism|progressive]] or [[reactionary]],<ref>{{harvnb|Heywood|2017|p=63}}: "The Canadian Conservative Party adopted the title Progressive Conservative precisely to distance itself from reactionary ideas."</ref> [[Moderate conservatism|moderate]] or [[Ultraconservatism|extreme]].<ref>{{harvnb|Fawcett|2020|p=59}}: "Conservatives can be radical or moderate. It depends on the state of the contest, on the stakes in the contest, and on which party is attacking, which defending."</ref>