2. One-Nation Conservatism and New Right Thinking

About this Lecture

Lecture

In this module, we think about the two dominant strands of post-war conservativism in Britain. First, we examine one-nation conservatism which was adopted by a succession of Conservative Party leaders after the Second World War and aimed to cater to all classes through paternalistic governance. We then think about the New Right tradition of conservatism associated with Margaret Thatcher which focused on individualism and deregulating the economy.

Course

In this course, Dr Mark Garnett (University of Lancaster) introduces the core political idea of conservatism. We begin in the first module by thinking about the origins of conservatism in Edmund Burke’s reaction to the French Revolution. In the second module, we consider the two dominant conservative traditions since the Second World War: one-nation conservatism and New Right thinking. In the third module, we examine the ideas of key conservative thinkers in Britain and the United States. Finally, in the fourth module, we think about the development of conservatism in Britain since the election of Margaret Thatcher as Prime Minister in 1979 and consider ongoing ideological divisions within the Conservative Party about Britain’s place in Europe.

Lecturer

Dr Mark Garnett is Senior Lecturer in the Department of Politics, Philosophy and Religion at the University of Lancaster. His research is chiefly concerned with UK Politics, with particular reference to the relationship between ideas and practice; the Conservative Party; and think tanks.