Conservatism Overview Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary focus of social democracy in addressing social problems?

The role of deviance in society

Coercive institutions favoring dominant groups (correct)

Market failures leading to inequality

Individual accountability and personal responsibility

Which principle emphasizes cooperation and community good in both liberalism and social democracy?

Equality of opportunity

Individual autonomy

Freedom

Collectivism (correct)

In liberalism, social welfare is viewed primarily as an instrument for what purpose?

Increasing government control over markets

Encouraging individual enterprise

Large-scale wealth redistribution

Correcting capitalism's negative aspects (correct)

What is a characteristic of the liberal view of social welfare?

A reactive role focused on essential amendments Signup and view all the answers

What is considered a normal consequence of how society is organized, according to social democracy?

Social inequality favoring the dominant group Signup and view all the answers

Which statement accurately describes the role of social welfare in social democracy?

It's a means to meet the needs of all individuals, emphasizing prevention. Signup and view all the answers

What is a defining characteristic of conservatism concerning social change?

Celebration of tradition and stability Signup and view all the answers

Which principle from the comparison of ideologies best represents the view that recognizes individual failures as a source of social issues?

Individual accountability Signup and view all the answers

What evidence did Weaver et al (2011) find regarding political power and poverty reduction?

No significant association with political party in power Signup and view all the answers

In conservative thought, how are social problems typically perceived?

As individual failures rather than societal failures Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect of social welfare is emphasized in the liberal view compared to the social democratic view?

Corrective measures for capitalism's flaws Signup and view all the answers

Which principle aligns with conservative views on social welfare?

State welfare may reduce individual freedom and charity Signup and view all the answers

What is a key principle of neo-conservatism in relation to the welfare state?

Reconstruction of the welfare state based on conservative values Signup and view all the answers

According to conservative ideology, the concept of 'paternalism' can be defined as:

Encouraging community-driven solutions for social problems Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'laissez-faire policies' imply within conservative ideology?

Economic decisions should take precedence over social priorities Signup and view all the answers

How do conservatives generally view the relationship between individual freedom and state welfare?

State welfare often restricts individual freedoms Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements best reflects the conservative view on individual interests?

Society is a mere collection of individual interests without a cohesive identity Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect distinguishes neo-conservatism from traditional conservatism?

More sophisticated critiques of the welfare state Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Conservatism

A political ideology valuing stability and tradition, distrusting sudden change.
Prioritizes economic decisions over social ones, favoring:
- Laissez-faire policies
- Budget balancing
- Deregulation
- Privatization
- Private property
- Devolution
Emphasizes social conservatism:
- Promoting traditional morality and religion against modern permissiveness.
Advocates paternalism:
- Encouraging private solutions to social problems, focusing on individuals deemed irresponsible.
Believes society is composed of individuals with their own interests, rejecting the notion of a collective society.
Views social problems as individual failures, not societal issues.
Argues helping those who fail to provide for themselves encourages others to avoid self-sufficiency.
Supports a state safety net without interfering with individual freedom.
Advocates private solutions for social issues, seeing state welfare as detrimental to individual freedom and resource allocation.

Neo-Conservatism

A more sophisticated variant of conservatism in its critiques of the welfare state.
Aims to restructure, not eliminate, the welfare state according to conservative principles.
Emphasizes workfare to encourage private solutions to social problems.
Advocates paternalism, focusing on individuals deemed irresponsible.

Liberalism

A political ideology focused on individual freedom and equality.
Views humans as inherently moral and rational.
Prioritizes individual freedom within essential constraints.
Promotes equality of opportunity, not outcomes.
Values collectivism and community good over individual competition.
Attributes social problems to imperfections within capitalism, not individual failures.
Views society as a complex network of interacting systems.
Considers social welfare a tool to mitigate negative aspects of capitalism.
Emphasizes a reactive, not proactive, approach to social work, aiming to minimize, not eliminate, inequality.

A political ideology emphasizing social and economic collectivism.
Strives to create a more equal society through democratic participation and economic regulation.
Values collectivism and the good of the community over individual competition.
Encourages democratic participation, giving workers a voice in their work conditions.
Advocates economic regulation to reduce poverty, inequality, and promote social justice.
Attributes social inequality to coercive institutions favoring dominant groups, viewing it as a primary source of conflict.
Sees social problems as inherent consequences of societal organization, not deviance or industrialization.
Supports social welfare as a means to meet the needs of all individuals, not just a safety net.
Advocates government control over resource distribution with wide citizen participation and a focus on prevention.

Comparison of Ideologies

Ideology	View of Society	View of Social Problems	View of Social Welfare
Conservatism	Individuals with their own interests	Individual failures	Safety net, not interference with individual freedom
Neo-Conservatism	Individuals with their own interests	Individual failures	Restructuring welfare state according to conservative traditions
Liberalism	Complexity of interdependent systems	Imperfections in capitalism	Instrument for correcting and modifying negative aspects of capitalism
Social Democracy	Collectivist, cooperative society	Coercive institutions, dominant group	Means of meeting the needs of all individuals, under government control

Social Assistance: Provides financial assistance for individuals in need.
Provincial Tax Credits: Offers tax credits for low-income individuals and families.
Workers' Compensation: Provides insurance for workers injured on the job.

Weaver et al (2011): found no connection between increased poverty reduction and the political party in power.
Klassen and Buchanan (2006): found some influence of political parties, but the impact of economic conditions was significantly stronger.

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Description

Test your understanding of conservatism as a political ideology that emphasizes stability, tradition, and individual responsibility. This quiz covers key concepts such as laissez-faire policies, social conservatism, and the role of government in addressing social issues. Challenge yourself to explore the nuances of conservative thought.