The conservative minimum: historical and transcendent subject

Abstract

In this article, I propose a conservative minimum that characterizes conservative thought and differentiates it from non-conservative discourses on society and politics. According to this analysis, conservative arguments justify their agenda of change with reference to a historical and transcendent subject that is commonly (but not always) labelled ‘society’. Classical forms of other main ideologies lack such a conception of collectively created subject that is seen as both historical and transcendent. This subject, and its use as the final source of justification of policy proposals, is therefore a characteristic of conservative thought. All variations of conservatism, including those that seek to preserve the establishment and those that advocate reforms, aim to conserve this historical and transcendent entity. Defining this subject offers a heuristic advantage, as it covers most of the political thoughts and movements that define themselves as conservative. It also highlights a fundamental commonality among very different political styles – ranging from Burkean to revolutionary conservatism – while differentiating this diverse family of discourses from non-conservative discourses. Hence, it furthers our understanding of conservatism.

Keywords:

• Burke
• conservatism
• conservative thought
• radical conservatism
• ideology
• political ideologies
• right-wing politics

Notes

1. See Drolet (2011) for a recent analysis of the movement.

2. On the heuristic value of alternative definitions of ideologies, see Griffin (2008, xvi–xviii, 215).

3. For a detailed analysis of their outlook on economics, see Pierson (1995).

4. For detailed analyses of this transformation, see Atasoy (2009); Özsel, Öztürk, and Onur İnce (2013).

5. For a detailed portrayal of the struggle of Turkish conservatives against the secular bureaucracy in recent decades, see Axiarlis (2014).

6. On the concept of class in Marxist thought, see Ollman (1968).

7. On Hayek’s spontaneous order, see Petsoulas (2013, 12–53).