Liberalism, National and Conservatism

Classical Liberalism Def: A political belief in which primary emphasis is placed on securing the freedom of the individual by limiting the power of the state. In its economic form, it advocates a respect for private property and free markets.

Classical Liberalism As a political belief, its origins can be traced back to both the Ancient Greeks and Ancient Hebrews.

Classical Liberalism But in its modern form, it begins on the one hand with the urban culture of Italy and the Northern European citystates and on the other with the Reformation, particularly with those dissenting sects which found themselves in opposition to the government.

Classical Liberalism It was given shape during the Puritan Revolution in England, especially among the Diggers and Levelers. The first to give the modern philosophical expression was John Locke, who wrote during the Glorious Revolution in England.

Classical Liberalism was the ideology of the moderate, constitutional monarch phase of the French Revolution, which promoted limited government and was based on principles of natural law. Classical Liberalism should not be confused with democracy. One can be a liberal and yet be opposed to democracy. Classical Liberalism should also not be confused with modern, American liberalism, which is a mild variation of socialism.

Nationalism Def: the belief that one of the principle ends of politics is to promote the interests of the nation. Def: Nation--a group of people with a common language, sharing a common territory, history and culture.

Nationalism While national identity has always existed, it becomes a dominant form of social identification with the decline of the role of religion as a form of social identification. In the 17th, 18th and even into the 19th centuries, the number of people who are actually conscious of having a national identity is comparatively small. Even those states, such as France, which we tend to think of as national states had significant national minorities who did not identify with the dominant.

Nationalism As a result, in many places a national culture had to be created. For example, the Brothers Grimm were ethnographers who were looked for a true German literature among the peasants. This is one of the functions of the public school system. Some aspects of Romantic music and art reflect this in the formation of national styles. The Brothers Grimm Hansel and Grethel

Nationalism The problem for the future: Some states, such as the Russian and Austrian Empires are states, but they are not nations. are multi-ethnic empires. Some nations, such as Germany and Italy, have national identities, but they are not part of common state. They

Liberal Nationalism The identification of "the people" which is the source of legitimacy for the liberal, with "the nation. This combination of ideas is first seen in the French Revolution and is exploited by Napoleon.

Conservatism Def: A general term for a variety of beliefs which opposed the goals or methods of the French Revolution. Some Conservatives, such as Edmund Burke, supported the goals of the Revolution-- ideologically he was a liberal--but he opposed the methods. He did not believe that violent revolution, especially one based on principles of natural law, was a good idea Edmund Burke

Conservatism Other Conservatives, such as the Austrian Prime Minister Metternich, were opposed both to the goals and to the methods of Revolution. Metternich believed that the Revolution was brought on not by reason, but by passion. The proper, reasonable government was an Enlightened Despotism, where power was in the hands of a group of expert professionals, not the rabble. Klemems von Metternich

Conservatism Still other Conservatives opposed not only the methods and goals of the Revolution, but also opposed the Enlightenment. These reactionaries wanted to return Europe to a pre-enlightenment state built on a marriage of Throne and Altar. That is, they wanted a State supported by a faithful and loyal Church.