'And' theory of conservatism
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The 'And' theory of conservatism is a strain of modern political conservative thought that embraces holistic approaches to policy issues. The theory brings together traditional conservative beliefs with innovative and compassionate responses to the challenges of the modern world.
The 'And' theory embraces traditional conservative policies, such as low taxation, with compassionate conservative solutions to issues such as poverty and climate change.
Examples of the 'politics of and' include:
- A commitment to actively supporting healthy, traditional marriages AND fair pension and inheritance arrangements for gay adults
- A bigger budget for the armed forces AND an end to the sale of arms to despotic regimes
- Faster, longer imprisonment of repeat offenders AND more care for the vulnerable children of prisoners
- A willingness to confront the Islamic roots of global terrorism AND more opportunities for mainstream Muslims to set up state-funded schools
- Controlled immigration policies AND a commitment to international development
The 'And' theory represents a more credible and ethical strand of conservatism which realises that traditional conservative beliefs can act as a root to confronting problems, but that more is needed.
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[edit] Origin
The term originated in the UK, and was first noted during Iain Duncan Smith's leadership of the Conservative Party (UK) from 2001 to 2003.[1] It has been subsequently popularised by former Conservative Party aide Tim Montgomerie, now editor of ConservativeHome.com,[6] who has written on its usage.[2] It has also been used in the United States where it has been picked up on by publications such as The Weekly Standard,[3] who have considered its implications for the Republican Party (United States). It has been defined in the US thus:
"The idea is that a center-right party needs not abandon its core issues - crime, taxes, family. Rather, the wise course is to hold fast on those issues and speak to concerns normally ceded to the left." The Oklahoma Gazette[4]
[edit] The 'And' theory in the UK
The 'And' theory has been embraced by several leading conservative politicians in the UK, including the current Conservative Party leader David Cameron (although the term 'the And theory' tends not to be expressly mentioned due to its clunky and potentially confusing name). When challenging for the leadership of the party, Cameron said:
"When we talk about foreign affairs, we don't just stand up for Gibraltar and Zimbabwe but for the people of Darfur and sub-Saharan Africa who are living on less than a dollar a day and getting poorer while we're getting richer"[5]
Cameron therefore encouraged Conservatives to be concerned by the former Empire territory of Zimbabwe (which they traditional are) AND the situation in Darfur.
Former Conservative Party leader Iain Duncan Smith has continued to promote 'And' politics, most notably in his 2005 pamphlet 'Good For Me, Good For My Neighbour' written with Danny Kruger:
“I have never believed that modernisation requires the jettisoning of Conservative euroscepticism, or of our belief in low taxation, or of our tough approach to crime. These principles remain enduringly popular with the public. My proposal for the modernisation of the Party is not to subtract from these core principles – but to add to them.”[6]
Duncan Smith has encouraged the party to embrace a social justice agenda (traditionally associated with the Left) based on a commitment to the family (seen as an issue of the right).[7]
[edit] References
- ^ [1]
- ^ ConservativeHome dictionary[2]
- ^ Weekly Standard, 14th November 2005[3]
- ^ An 'and theory' for Oklahoma, Oklahoma Gazette, 17th May 2006[4]
- ^ David Cameron to Conservative Party conference, 4th October 2005[5]
- ^ 'Good For Me, Good For My Neighbour', Centre for Social Justice, 2005
- ^ 'Breakdown Britain', Social Justice Policy Group, 2006
