Why, and to What Extent, Have Conservatives Supported one Nation Principles?
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Conservatives believe that the community is like a biological organism that must be protected from internal and external influences, but this idea doesnt retain significance in modern conservatism due to the new right theory. Instead of a society which is a hierarchy of privileges, new right conservatives see society as one where individuals collide and combine for their own advantages, so it brings up the question why and to what extent do conservatives support one nation principles?
One nation conservatism first came about from Benjamin Disraeli in the 19th century. He wrote two novels against a background of growing industrialization and revolution in continental Europe and emphasised the principle of social obligation. He drew attention to the dangers Britain would face if the country was to be divided into a rich and poor society. Disraeli feared that growing social inequality was the starting point for revolution, and that a poor and oppressed working class wouldnt just accept their fate. Therefore social reform would be a sensible option if he wanted to eliminate the chance of upheaval.
A moral point for the support of one nationism is that traditional conservatives support the idea of paternalism. As a political principle it refers to authority being exercised over others with the intention of benefit or prevent harm. This is because those who are in authority know best and whats best for us as we cant decide this for ourselves. Disraeli believed that society was a natural hierarchy and that people at the top therefore had the experience and wisdom to make decisions for the lower classes.
Another paternal reason for conservatives supporting one nationism was the fact that the welfare state was so important and popular to the electorate that any party that decided to dismantle it would be walking into electoral suicide and would have no hope of remaining in power. Even Margret Thatcher who was the starting point of industrializing industries knew that privatizing the welfare state was a step too far.
On the other hand the New Right theory shows how conservatives are moving away from the idea of one nation.
Probably the most noticeable departure from one nation to new right is the economic views. While one nation conservatives believe in a strong authoritarian view in the fact that the state should decide how things work as they know best due to wisdom and knowledge, new right conservatism believe in minimal state intervention in every aspect of peoples lives. In the light of rising unemployment and inflation in the 1970s Hayek and Freidman argued that it was the government was invariably the cause of economic problems rather than the cure.
The neo-conservatism parts of the new right can be linked to the traditional views of conservatives. Both believe in an organic view of society, natural hierarchy and that the higher you