Blackwell Reference Online

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Conservatism is the only body of right-wing opinion represented in the part of this Companion dedicated to ideologies. Further to the right of conservatism there are the ideologies of fascism, authoritarianism and elitism, as well as a number of political attitudes that are not articulate enough to amount to ideologies. I shall argue that the former are quite distinct from conservatism and that the latter are, at any rate, not identical with it. This way of proceeding has two things to recommend it. In the first place it allows for a greater comprehensiveness of treatment. Second, it makes it possible to demarcate conservatism more precisely by distinguishing it from other bodies of opinion with which it is commonly confused. Since the late nineteenth century and the emergence of socialism as the politically effective ideology of the newly enfranchised proletariat, conservative parties have absorbed so many right-wing liberals in alliance against a common enemy, that at times the truly conservative element in them has been almost overwhelmed by liberal individualism. The confusion of conservatism with the ideologies of the extreme right is more a matter of rhetoric, although it has some basis in political practice. Conservatives in a time of crisis have allied themselves with parties animated by other, more ferocious right-wing ideologies. What I shall identify as conservatism ... log in or subscribe to read full text