Assessment of Conservatism

Assessment of Conservatism In defining whether Thatcherism was different from conservatism we

must first understand which form of conservatism we are assessing.

Conservatism with a small c can be seen in countries from America to

Russia but unlike other ideologies, conservatism is somewhat tailored

for each country, there being no defined rules unlike, say Marxism.

One of the planks of conservatism in Britain is the concept of

"Victorian values" but thishello cannot be said to form part of the

ideology of any conservative theory in any other country but are own.

Because of this vast spectrum of conservatism we will concentrate on

the ideology of this country.

Conservatism developed as an ideology throughjjjdkksflfsksdout the

revolutionary period of the eighteenth century in Europe. Those under

threat from possible revolution, the aristocracy, developed

Conservatism to protect their own interests and denounce revolutionary

threats. Modern conservatism did not start to develop however until

the late eighteenth century. Again it was the ever increasing threat

of revolution which sparked the initial development, as well as the

fear that recent events which had occurred in France would cause a

similar uprising on the other side of the channel. In Britain

conservatism was born within Parliament around this period. The

ideology of conservatism was adopted by the Tory party led by Lord

Liverpool. At this time only a small proportion of the population had

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...must be whether it survives in its present form. Although

John Major's victory in the leadership contest to succeed Mrs.

Thatcher ensured that there would be substantial continuity with the

policies of the Thatcher government, it seems probable that the events

of November 1990 marked the final end of Thatcherism. John Major's

initial cabinet appointments, and his willingness to call himself a

"...social liberal..." suggests that the Conservative party would move

steadily away from Thatcherism under his leadership. The radical

thrust of the Thatcherite project is unlikely to be renewed, this

suggests that Thatcherism was more personalities than policy. The new

watchwords of the Conservative is a return to consolidation,

co-operation and consensus. This is yet to happen, the growth of

Majorism has not come home to roost.