Politics Essay: Conservatism

How have conservatives justified private property?

Like liberals, conservatives support the ability to accumulate wealth as an important economic incentive but conservatives also see property as having a range of psychological and social advantages.

The first advantage is that it provides security. Property ownership provides a sense of confidence and assurance as they have something to fall back on. It also provides individuals with a source of protection. This is why, for conservatives, thrift is in itself a virtue and they encourage private savings and investment in property.

Secondly, by possessing property people are more likely to respect the property of others. They are made aware that property must be safeguarded from disorder and lawlessness. Property ownership gives people a stake in society and thereby gives them an intent in maintaining law and order.

Lastly, private property is seen as an extension of the individuals personality as people realise themselves in what they own. A home is the most personal and intimate of possessions and often reflects the owners personality. This gives the individual a sense of history, roots and belonging in their own home which are values encouraged by conservatives.

However, unlike liberals, conservatives don’t believe that individuals have a right to property. Although libertarian conservatives support a liberal view of property, traditional conservatives believe that all rights, including property, entail obligations. Property is an issue for society, not just the individual as property is not just the creation of the present generation. The present generation are the custodians of the wealth of the nation and so have a duty to preserve and protect it for future generations. This stands by the conservative belief in tradition and preservation, with private property acting as a link between the past, present and future generations.