What is conservatism? A historical perspective

Lord Sumption, Justice of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom (2012-2018), in conversation with Dr Tom Simpson, Associate Professor in Philosophy and Public Policy at the Blavatnik School of Government, as part of the series International Perspectives on Conservatism.

Conservatism has been a continual theme of political discourse since the foundation of modern democracies in the 19th century. Conservatives have been in power in Britain, France and the United States for most of their modern history. Yet conservatism is a chameleon, a shifting compromise with more radical political traditions. This has led to its being condemned, not least by conservatives themselves, as an incoherent and unprincipled quest for power. Yet there are consistent ideas behind conservative thought which explain why it has been such a powerful force in the political life of the leading western democracies.