Classical Conservatism, also called Traditionalist Conservatism, is a type of conservative that focuses on traditions stemming from before the Enlightenment.
ClassCons emphasize the need for the principles of a transcendent moral order, the bonds of social order, and the defense of ancestral institutions over what they consider as excessive individualism.
They also place a strong emphasis on authority and
tradition among other things. Civically speaking, the ideology can vary between moderately authoritarian (most ClassCons) to somewhat libertarian (Powell, for example).
Despite being culturally right, they are generally neither nationalist (with the exception of Enoch Powell) nor
reactionary (although the latter is debatable).
History
Classical Conservatism, or rather Toryism can be said to originate in late 17th-century England, in which there was a dispute over the right of the Catholic James, brother of King Charles II, to succeed the throne. Those who supported James were known as Tories, and their ideology Toryism. Tories were generally staunch monarchists and Anglicans, and favoured agrarianism over industrialism, in addition to being opposed to radical reform such as that advocated for by Foxites.
Variants
Powellism
Powellism is an economically right-wing (but also welfarist), culturally center-right, and highly nationalistic ideology, based on the political beliefs of former Conservative and later Ulster Unionist MP, Enoch Powell.
Powell was most well-known from his anti-immigration rhetoric (in particular his warnings of ‘Rivers of Blood’ if immigration continued ‘en masse’). He was also a White Nationalist- claiming that those descended from Caribbean and Asian immigrants did ‘not, by being born in England, become an Englishman. In law he becomes a United Kingdom citizen by birth; in fact he is a West Indian or an Asian still.’
Although he had previously held imperialist views (with an ambition to become Viceroy of India), upon Indian independence he decided the entire British Empire must go alongside it. Britain should, in the eyes of Powell, return to the period of ‘splendid isolation’. He opposed Britain being involved in international organisations and alliances, particularly with the United States, which he accused of destroying the British Empire and seeking to re-unify Ireland in order to ensure its membership of NATO. Powell’s anti-Americanism was so strong that he even saw the Soviet Union as a potential ally for Britain in countering American influence in Europe (despite Powell himself being pro-Capitalist).
As mentioned above, Powell was generally pro-capitalist and pro-free market in the sphere of economics. He believed that business interests should be looked after by the people that best understood them – businessmen – not politicians. Having criticised conventions on business practice organised or funded by the government, he was the first major UK politician to call for de-nationalision of public services in the 1960s. However, while Powell was very much a monetarist, he also supported the welfare state, the National Health Service, and labour unions.
With regards to social views, Powell was was conservative in terms of his support for the maintenance of monarchy, established religion and hereditary peers in governance. However, on other issues he was liberal/libertarian- he opposed the death penalty and corporal punishment while supporting no-fault divorce and other aspects of the ‘permissive society’ established by Labour Governments. He also voted to decriminalise homosexuality as he did not regard "it as a proper area for the criminal law to operate".
American Whig Party
The Whig Party in the United States first emerged in the 1830s in opposition to Andrew Jackson's Democratic Party. The name Whig was intentionally chosen as being in opposition to monarchy. In the same way that the British Whigs opposed absolute monarchy, the American Whigs opposed "King Andrew" and his policies. Unlike the British Whigs whose main ideology is Classical Liberalism, the American Whigs were much more conservative. They supported an economic system put forward by
Henry Clay known as the "American System" which favored protective tariffs, a strong national bank, and federal subsidies for infrastructure. The Whig Party was also critical of Manifest Destiny and criticized the presidential power of Jackson and Polk, preferring Congress to be the dominant lawmaker.
The Whig Party struggled to gain power through the presidency. In 1836 they ran four different presidential candidates against Martin Van Buren, which backfired against them and allowed Van Buren to achieve a comfortable victory. By 1840 Van Buren had become unpopular due to the Panic of 1837 and
William Henry Harrison was able to defeat Van Buren in the Election of 1840. Harrison died just one month into his presidency and
John Tyler, who was only nominally a Whig, took over as the next president. Tyler was eventually expelled from the Whig Party for disagreeing with much of the Whigs' economic policy, including a veto on Clay's bill to establish a national bank.
The Whigs were able to win back the White House in 1848 with Zachary Taylor, however, he died one year into his presidency leaving
Millard Fillmore in charge. Fillmore is often described as being the closest the Whigs got to a full presidency. During Fillmore's presidency, the Compromise of 1850 was passed which meant Fillmore had to enforce the deeply unpopular Fugitive Slave Act. This divided the Whig Party between pro-compromise and anti-compromise factions which they were never able to recover.
After 1852 the Whig Party was never able to obtain real power again and was eventually replaced by the pro-abolitionist Republican Party with many Republicans such as Abraham Lincoln,
Rutherford Hayes,
Chester Arthur, and
Benjamin Harrison all being former Whigs.
Rees-Moggism
Personality and Behaviour
- Has a very posh British accent (most likely Received Pronunciation).
- Stereotypical "proper person".
- Uses vintage sophisticated vernacular, such as: "bogus," "to be frank," and "poppycock".
- "Why don't you go and make me a sammich?"
- Fetishizes Romanticist art and bashes everything that's modern.
- May act like Pops from Regular Show.
How to Draw
Plain design
- Draw a ball
- Fill it in with navy blue
- Draw a black or dark grey top hat on the ball
- Add the eyes
- Give the ball a golden monocle over its right eye
You are finished!
Color Name | HEX | RGB | |
---|---|---|---|
Navy Blue | #00309A | 0, 48, 154 | |
Black | #141414 | 20, 20, 20 | |
White | #FFFFFF | 255, 255, 255 |
Traditionalist design
- Draw a ball
- Color it light blue
- Draw a white hourglass in the middle
- Draw the two eyes
- Add a top hat and golden monocle on the ball
- (Optional) Draw the ball holding a cup of tea
You are done!
Color Name | HEX | RGB | |
---|---|---|---|
Light Blue | #0183BE | 1, 131, 190 | |
White | #FFFFFF | 255, 255, 255 |
Relationships
Chaps
Monarchism - For King/Queen and Country!
Traditionalism - Fellow T R A D I T I O NTM connoisseur.
Imperialism - Rule Britannia! Britannia rule the waves! Britons never, never, never shall be slaves!
Counter-Enlightenment - Cheers!
Mercantilism - I say, would you care for some tea, good sir?
Christian Theocracy - Religion is the only thing separating us from animals, and by Jove, we must defend our established church.
Paleoconservatism - My Yankee grandson who defends traditional values; does not critique the enlightenment enough, unfortunately.
But why do you hate imperialism so?Carlism - My more religious Spaniard counterpart.
Agrarianism - But of course, a return to a simple, traditional life.
Conservative Liberalism - My liberal child whom I hold in high regard! Maintains most of my values whilst being a reformer.
Conservatism - I am willing to admit that you do not go far enough, but I am proud of you nevertheless, ol' chap!
Paternalistic Conservatism - Disraeli was a splendid Prime Minister, indeed!
One-Nation Conservatism - Same as I said above.
Eco-Conservatism - Splendid! We must protect our environment to preserve our culture!
Distributism - Defends me greatly, as we both desire a traditional lifestyle.
Capitalism - How else could I have amassed such fortune?
Communitarianism - Jolly good show! Strong communities make strong societies.
Borisism - Splendid chap of mine. I thank you for delivering us Britons Brexit and for placing me at the helm of the House of Commons.
You are much too moderate, still.Optimateism - Defender of the Roman Republic's customs and rule of law. But did you really have to shank Caesar? That's a bit rude, innit?
Patriarchy - Very fine chap! Just how society should be run!
Feuillantism - Most respectable French Republican ideology.
Tolerable
Nationalism - …perhaps?
Conservative Socialism - Socialism? I beg your pardon.
National Conservatism - Marvelous, but if you will, please simmer down with the nationalism; Enoch Powell was very exemplary and excellent if I do say.
Reactionaryism - Blimey! You are treading a bit too far there
even for myself, sir! And if I must say, I am more fond of the Renaissance myself, NOT the dark ages.Reactionary Socialism - Another socialist I can tolerate.
Classical Liberalism - My good, ole rival! We debated much at Oxford! I must say, however, you are unequivocally superior to that
modern liberal fool.
Reactionary Liberalism - Another tolerable liberal, if I may say so myself, but like those other reactionary blokes, he may tread too far culturally.
Liberal Conservatism - Low Tory rubbish, but I have hope that they will prove me wrong.
Right-Wing Populism - Good Lord, they are annoying... but I do say they have the right ideas.
National Liberalism - That Nigel Farage is "based" as the young fellows say nowadays, but the rest of them are too nationalist and not traditionalist enough, to my dismay.
Ricardian Socialism - Percy Ravenstone was a delightful fellow; however, I must say you are far too well-acquainted with this preposterous notion of "egalitarianism."
Alt-Lite - Young fellows valuing tradition is most splendid but please do go outside.
Braunism - Speak English, please.
Islamic Theocracy - I wish that you did not migrate en masse to my country, but Hamza Yusuf is a good chap of mine.
Adversaries
Enlightenment Thought - Bugger off, you have brought degeneracy to our blessed land!
Civic Nationalism - Revolutions of 1848, NEVER FORGET! You nationalist scums opposed our glorious conservative monarchies!
Socialism - Are you taking the piss out of me?
Progressivism - Good Lord! That is rather disgusting!
Queer Anarchism - Language, young lady, or man, or... whatever the bloody hell you are!
Revolutionary Progressivism - Good heavens! Do you kiss your mother with that mouth?!
Modern Liberalism - Bloody hell, what an utter buffoon!
LGBT Conservatism - Why, this does not make any sense at all!
Jacobinism - The Fr*nch Revolution and its consequences have been a disaster for the Western world!
Marxism–Leninism - The destroyer of all tradition!
Feminism - Sod off and get back in the kitchen!
Anarchism - Claims to support anarchism and NOT anarchy, but I'm not buying that rubbish. You are but a naughty girl who will get spanked!
Radicalism - Sort yourself out, young man! This is NOT how society shall be run!
Nazism - You sir, are not a conservative, and you will never be as dominant in the world as I was, so keep on dreaming, you cock-up!!
Jihadism - It would be very wise of you to leave my country, you heathens!
Pirates - Absolutely vile! You and your band of thieves will never rule the waves!
Internet pirates - And you, sir, will never rule the interwebs!
Gamers - Right! Stop playing video games and going on the internet at once! They will rot your brains!
Corbynism - Silence! I will put soap in your mouth for your utterly disgraceful speeches!
Frankfurt School - No, you degenerate
Cultural Marxist, the enlightenment did not lead to "totalitarianism", or whatever ideology that you so happen to speak of. It leads to the formation of cultural degenerates like you. Speak for yourself, you hypocrite! You have just started a second enlightenment with your despicable ideas.
Stratocracy - Bad hound! Prepare to be neutered![2]
Though the Duke of Wellington was rather splendid, I ought to say.
Further Information
Literature
- Reflections on the Revolution in France by
Edmund Burke
- An Appeal from the New Whigs to the Old Whigs by
Edmund Burke
- Essay on the Generative Principle of Political Constitutions and other Human Institutions by
Joseph de Maistre
- The Conservative Mind by
Russell Kirk
Wikipedia
- Traditionalist Conservatism
- High Tory
- Tory corporatism
- Cornerstone Group
- London Swinton Circle
- Traditionalist conservatism in the United States
- Conservative Monday Club
- Common Sense Group
People
- Edmund Burke
- Thomas Carlyle
- Evelyn Waugh
- Alan Clark
- Enoch Powell
- Roger Scruton
- Jacob Rees-Mogg
- Edward Leigh
- John Henry Hayes
- Lawrence Auster
YouTube
- Mogg The Week
- El Picalibro (Spanish)
Gallery
-
British Electoral History Part 1 (1800-1840) by NotRand74
-
Original image
-
Previous image