11 Facts About Conservatism

Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy that seeks to promote and to preserve traditional social institutions and practices.

Conservatism is often used as a generic term to describe a "right-wing viewpoint occupying the political spectrum between liberalism and fascism".

Conservatism has been called a "philosophy of human imperfection" by Noel O'Sullivan, reflecting among its adherents a negative view of human nature and pessimism of the potential to improve it through 'utopian' schemes.

Conservatism accepted the conservative ideals of private property and the economics of Adam Smith, but thought that economics should remain subordinate to the conservative social ethic, that capitalism should be subordinate to the medieval social tradition and that the business class should be subordinate to aristocracy.

Conservatism insisted on standards of honor derived from the medieval aristocratic tradition and saw the aristocracy as the nation's natural leaders.

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Conservatism favored an established church, but allowed for a degree of religious toleration.

Conservatism has been the major political force in France since the Second World War.

Conservatism evolved after 1820, embracing free trade in 1846 and a commitment to democracy, especially under Disraeli.

Conservatism developed alongside nationalism in Germany, culminating in Germany's victory over France in the Franco-Prussian War, the creation of the unified German Empire in 1871 and the simultaneous rise of Otto von Bismarck on the European political stage.

Conservatism's "revolutionary conservatism" was a conservative state-building strategy designed to make ordinary Germans—not just the Junker elite—more loyal to state and emperor, he created the modern welfare state in Germany in the 1880s.

Conservatism became a great hero to German conservatives, who erected many monuments to his memory after he left office in 1890.