Conservatismi

Conservatismi, or conservatism, is a broad political and social philosophy that emphasizes continuity, tradition, and social stability. It argues that societies are historically evolved orders and that abrupt, radical reform can generate unintended harm. Conservatism generally favors gradual reform, prudent governance, and respect for established institutions, practices, and social bonds. Its intellectual roots are often traced to 18th-century writers such as Edmund Burke, who defended inherited institutions and warned against abstract schemes of change, and to later traditions across Europe and the Anglophone world.

Core ideas commonly associated with conservatism include the value of tradition and experience; a preference for social cohesion and order over rapid experimentation; skepticism about utopian plans and rapid social engineering; the authority of established institutions, including family, church, and state; and a commitment to the rule of law, property rights, and subsidiarity—the idea that decisions should be made at the most immediate and local level possible. Economic positions vary, but many conservatives favor market stability, limited government, and fiscal responsibility, while opponents may stress social safety nets.

Conservatism has many strands, such as traditional or cultural conservatism, fiscal conservatism, social conservatism, and Christian democracy. In practice it appears in political parties and movements—examples include the Conservative Party in the United Kingdom, various conservative parties in Europe, and neoconservative or paleoconservative currents in the United States.

Critiques argue that conservatism can resist needed reforms or reproduce inequalities, and that it may be associated with nationalist or exclusionary tendencies when taken to extremes. Proponents counter that stability, gradual reform, and respect for institutions are safeguards against destructive upheaval.