To what extent can different types of conservatism be said to disagree over the role of the
state? (24 marks)
Different types of conservatism can be said to disagree over the role of the state to a
considerable extent. Although it could be argued that most types of conservatism are
coherent in their beliefs of paternalism and state intervention. Conservatives are mostly
opposing the role of the state over the economy, also the belief of individual freedom –
pragmatism.
Most conservatives share similar opinions on a paternalistic state and state intervention to
preserve society, as conservatives will seek to conserve. Traditional conservatives such as
Hobbes would prefer a form of hard paternalism, as he believed the role of the state should
be autocratic. Hobbes claimed that an autocratic state would provide society with order and
security as the power will be secured in one place – the elitists. Without this heavy role of
state, society would then be ‘nasty, brutish and short’ (in Hobbes’ words), therefore it is
important to traditional conservatives to make sure the state could provide a civil society.
Similarly, one-nation conservatives also have a belief of paternalism. Key figures of
one-nation conservatism such as Disraeli believe in soft paternalism. Like Hobbes, he
believes that there should be a strong state run by elitists, but Disraeli believes that the elites
should be listening to the citizen’s needs in order to create the desired, strong state.
However, Ayn Rand, a neo-liberal, believes in a minimal state and minimal state intervention,
although Rand does follow the same idea as Hobbes that liberty was impossible without
order and security, which she believed only a strong state could provide. Thus, there must
be figures who lead the state. Rand’s idea was that ‘a small state is a strong state’. As a
result, different types of conservatism are united in the views that the role of the state should
adopt a paternalistic method to ensure a secure society.
On the other hand, different types of conservatism disagree over the role of the state in
economic affairs. The new right conservatives support Adam Smith’s model of free-market
economies with no state intervention. Robert Nozick’s limited state meant that there would
be free-market economies without state intervention. Following this, Rand’s view of the role
of the state over the economy was to ‘roll back the frontiers of the state’ meaning that the
state should not intervene, to make way for big projects such as tax cuts or privatisation.
Both Rand and Nozick believed that taxation was a form of theft. Despite free-market
capitalism being a new right conservative idea, it overlaps with liberal ideas of the economy,
which likely frightens traditional conservatives. Traditional conservatives such as Oakeshott,
support a more moderate version of free-market capitalism which is tempered by state
intervention, therefore the role of the state becoming more important for traditional
conservatives. This refers to protectionism, where the state’s job is to protect the economy
from unexpected changes in markets through tariffs imposed by the state. This is mainly
because traditional conservatives are sceptical of the unpredictable changes of markets,
thus using this method of protectionism to resolve this issue. Consequently, different types of
conservatism have disagreeing attitudes towards the role of the state over economy, as the
new right are insistent on no state intervention, but traditional conservatives are sceptical
without state intervention.
state? (24 marks)
Different types of conservatism can be said to disagree over the role of the state to a
considerable extent. Although it could be argued that most types of conservatism are
coherent in their beliefs of paternalism and state intervention. Conservatives are mostly
opposing the role of the state over the economy, also the belief of individual freedom –
pragmatism.
Most conservatives share similar opinions on a paternalistic state and state intervention to
preserve society, as conservatives will seek to conserve. Traditional conservatives such as
Hobbes would prefer a form of hard paternalism, as he believed the role of the state should
be autocratic. Hobbes claimed that an autocratic state would provide society with order and
security as the power will be secured in one place – the elitists. Without this heavy role of
state, society would then be ‘nasty, brutish and short’ (in Hobbes’ words), therefore it is
important to traditional conservatives to make sure the state could provide a civil society.
Similarly, one-nation conservatives also have a belief of paternalism. Key figures of
one-nation conservatism such as Disraeli believe in soft paternalism. Like Hobbes, he
believes that there should be a strong state run by elitists, but Disraeli believes that the elites
should be listening to the citizen’s needs in order to create the desired, strong state.
However, Ayn Rand, a neo-liberal, believes in a minimal state and minimal state intervention,
although Rand does follow the same idea as Hobbes that liberty was impossible without
order and security, which she believed only a strong state could provide. Thus, there must
be figures who lead the state. Rand’s idea was that ‘a small state is a strong state’. As a
result, different types of conservatism are united in the views that the role of the state should
adopt a paternalistic method to ensure a secure society.
On the other hand, different types of conservatism disagree over the role of the state in
economic affairs. The new right conservatives support Adam Smith’s model of free-market
economies with no state intervention. Robert Nozick’s limited state meant that there would
be free-market economies without state intervention. Following this, Rand’s view of the role
of the state over the economy was to ‘roll back the frontiers of the state’ meaning that the
state should not intervene, to make way for big projects such as tax cuts or privatisation.
Both Rand and Nozick believed that taxation was a form of theft. Despite free-market
capitalism being a new right conservative idea, it overlaps with liberal ideas of the economy,
which likely frightens traditional conservatives. Traditional conservatives such as Oakeshott,
support a more moderate version of free-market capitalism which is tempered by state
intervention, therefore the role of the state becoming more important for traditional
conservatives. This refers to protectionism, where the state’s job is to protect the economy
from unexpected changes in markets through tariffs imposed by the state. This is mainly
because traditional conservatives are sceptical of the unpredictable changes of markets,
thus using this method of protectionism to resolve this issue. Consequently, different types of
conservatism have disagreeing attitudes towards the role of the state over economy, as the
new right are insistent on no state intervention, but traditional conservatives are sceptical
without state intervention.
