Civic Conservatism
Encyclopedia
Civic conservatism is a form of modern British conservatism
developed by the Conservative intellectual David Willetts
.
First introduced in his is the idea of focussing on the institutions between the state and individuals as a policy concern (rather than merely thinking of individuals and the state as the only agencies). His 1995 pamphlet, "Civic Conservatism" wished to "place the free market in the context of institutions and values which make up civil society". The examples of these institutions were the "network of voluntary organisations", from hospitals to guilds, which had been "weakened if not destroyed by the advance of the State". [D. Willetts, Civic Conservatism (1994), pp 15, 18]
Fourteen years after the publication of "Civic Conservatism" Willetts gave the inaugural Oakeshott
Memorial Lecture to the London School of Economics
in which he made an attempt to explain how game theory can be used to help think about how to improve social capital
. Willetts attempted to use the works of Ken Binmore to explain how such a civic-centred policy could emerge, and in what conditions it would thrive.
The Oakeshott lecturehttp://www.lse.ac.uk/collections/LSEPublicLecturesAndEvents/events/2008/20071128t1633z001.htm was described by Daniel Finkelstein, Comment Editor at The Times
as "an audacious attempt by the Conservative Party's leading intellectual to relate a new Tory narrative" http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/daniel_finkelstein/article3399671.ece.
, he was referred to as 'the real father of Cameronism
'.http://www.spectator.co.uk/archive/23081/the-real-father-of-cameronism.thtml
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
developed by the Conservative intellectual David Willetts
David Willetts
David Linsay Willetts is a British Conservative Party politician and the Minister of State for Universities and Science. He is the Member of Parliament representing the constituency of Havant in Hampshire.-Education:...
.
First introduced in his is the idea of focussing on the institutions between the state and individuals as a policy concern (rather than merely thinking of individuals and the state as the only agencies). His 1995 pamphlet, "Civic Conservatism" wished to "place the free market in the context of institutions and values which make up civil society". The examples of these institutions were the "network of voluntary organisations", from hospitals to guilds, which had been "weakened if not destroyed by the advance of the State". [D. Willetts, Civic Conservatism (1994), pp 15, 18]
Fourteen years after the publication of "Civic Conservatism" Willetts gave the inaugural Oakeshott
Michael Oakeshott
Michael Joseph Oakeshott was an English philosopher and political theorist who wrote about philosophy of history, philosophy of religion, aesthetics, and philosophy of law...
Memorial Lecture to the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
in which he made an attempt to explain how game theory can be used to help think about how to improve social capital
Social capital
Social capital is a sociological concept, which refers to connections within and between social networks. The concept of social capital highlights the value of social relations and the role of cooperation and confidence to get collective or economic results. The term social capital is frequently...
. Willetts attempted to use the works of Ken Binmore to explain how such a civic-centred policy could emerge, and in what conditions it would thrive.
"Civic conservatism, like free market economics, proceeds from deep-seated individual self-interest towards a stable cooperation. It sets the Tories the task not of changing humanity but of designing institutions and arrangements that encourage our natural reciprocal altruism."http://timesonline.typepad.com/comment/2008/02/civic-conservat.html
The Oakeshott lecturehttp://www.lse.ac.uk/collections/LSEPublicLecturesAndEvents/events/2008/20071128t1633z001.htm was described by Daniel Finkelstein, Comment Editor at The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
as "an audacious attempt by the Conservative Party's leading intellectual to relate a new Tory narrative" http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/daniel_finkelstein/article3399671.ece.
Influence
Civic Conservatism is now cited as one of the crucial principles behind the increasing support in the Conservative Party's localist agenda and its emphasis on voluntary organisations. During an interview with The SpectatorThe Spectator
The Spectator is a weekly British magazine first published on 6 July 1828. It is currently owned by David and Frederick Barclay, who also owns The Daily Telegraph. Its principal subject areas are politics and culture...
, he was referred to as 'the real father of Cameronism
David Cameron
David William Donald Cameron is the current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service and Leader of the Conservative Party. Cameron represents Witney as its Member of Parliament ....
'.http://www.spectator.co.uk/archive/23081/the-real-father-of-cameronism.thtml