Conservatism: The Meaning and its Ideological Foundation

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CONSERVATISM

     Conservatism is a form of political ideology that believes in the existence of social, political, and economic order, stability and the lack of change of political systems be it in cultural, customary and traditional practices of society or otherwise. In other words, conservatism advocates for status quo and if change must occur at all it should be by incremental or evolutionary.

     The conservatives believe that change is good but it must be gradual so that it does not affect the tradition, custom and the social orderliness or practices of society. They advocate for small governments that will not intervene in the affairs of individual and their cultural practices.

In other words, it seeks for the preservation, rigidity and continuity of the existing practice. The principle or tenet of conservatism opposes any form of change in existing system in society. Those who oppose change are called reactionaries, conservatives, or traditionalists.

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