Conservatism Overview

Conservatism

• Conservatism is a complex ideology emphasizing tradition, order, and the existing social hierarchy. It rejects radical change and prioritizes stability and continuity.
• Key tenets often include a belief in the inherent value of established institutions, norms, and customs.
• Conservatives typically distrust abstract ideals and revolutionary movements, preferring gradual evolution over abrupt transformation.
• A strong emphasis on individual responsibility and societal duty is common in conservative thought, often linked to religious or moral frameworks.
• Historically, conservatism has been associated with the preservation of property rights and the existing social and political order.
• Different strands of conservatism exist, exhibiting variations in their specific beliefs and approaches. These variations can involve emphasis on different aspects, such as historical tradition, social order, or religious principles.

Congress of Vienna

• The Congress of Vienna, held from 1814 to 1815, was a major international diplomatic conference, aiming to redraw the map of Europe after the Napoleonic Wars.
• Key figures included representatives from major European powers like Austria, Britain, Prussia, and Russia.
• The congress aimed to restore pre-Napoleonic boundaries and balance of power, preventing future large-scale conflicts.
• A key principle was the principle of legitimacy, which aimed to restore rightful monarchs to their thrones, overturning Napoleon's conquests.
• The congress significantly impacted the political and territorial landscape of Europe, creating or reorganising states, thereby shaping long-term geopolitical dynamics.
• It established a system of alliances and accords to enforce the settlement and prevent future revolutionary upheavals, although these proved fragile and ultimately unsuccessful in preventing new conflicts.
• The congress represented a conservative reaction against the revolutionary fervor and upheaval of the previous decades.
• The attendees sought to limit revolutionary ideas and prevent further instances of popular sovereignty movements that had been a defining feature of the preceding period.
• The actions and decisions of the Congress of Vienna heavily influenced European politics and diplomacy for decades.
• Its long-term impacts are clearly linked to the spread and consolidation of conservative ideologies and policies that directly opposed the Enlightenment's revolutionary spirit and ideals.

Explore the key tenets and principles of conservatism as a political ideology. This quiz delves into its emphasis on tradition, social hierarchy, and the preference for gradual evolution over radical change. Additionally, it provides insight into the variations within conservative thought.