Conservatism

Conservatism is a political tradition that values continuity, inherited institutions, and gradual change. Its forms differ across societies and historical periods.

Tradition: Tradition is the transmission of beliefs, practices, and institutions across generations. Conservatives often treat inherited practices as accumulated social knowledge.
French Revolution: The French Revolution was a period of political upheaval beginning in 1789 that ended the French monarchy and transformed Europe. Its rapid institutional upheaval became a central warning in conservative political thought.
Liberalism: Liberalism is a political tradition centered on individual rights, legal equality, and limits on political power. Conservatism and liberalism overlap historically but differ over the weight of inherited authority and reform.
One-nation conservatism: One-nation conservatism is a British tradition that supports social cohesion and limited reforms to reduce class division. It shows how conservative continuity can include policies intended to protect social unity.
Constitutionalism: Constitutionalism is the principle that political power is limited by established laws and institutional rules. Conservative support for durable institutions often reinforces constraints on abrupt exercises of power.
Political legitimacy: Political legitimacy is the recognized right of a government or institution to exercise authority. Conservative arguments often ground authority in established institutions and social acceptance.
Edmund Burke: Edmund Burke was an Irish-born British statesman and political writer whose works criticized the French Revolution. His 1790 reflections articulated a lasting case for inherited institutions and gradual reform.
Socialism: Socialism is a political tradition advocating social or public control over major productive resources. Socialist projects often seek structural economic change that conservatives resist or seek to moderate.
Fiscal conservatism: Fiscal conservatism favors restrained public spending, limited deficits, and careful management of government finances. It applies conservative caution to budgets, taxation, and the scope of government.
Rule of law: The rule of law is the principle that public power and private conduct are governed by publicly known laws. It expresses the value of stable rules over discretionary political intervention.

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