POSC1110: Ideology Essay on Conservatism and Personal Reflection

This journal entry provides an analysis of conservatism, focusing on its key aspects, components, and values. The essay explores neo-conservatism as a variant, highlighting its blend of traditional conservatism and free market principles, and the author's personal connection to this ideology. The author, a woman from a conservative background, reflects on how neo-conservatism's endorsement of democracy and free markets has enabled her to pursue her entrepreneurial dreams and exercise her civil rights. The essay emphasizes the importance of democracy and free markets for an egalitarian society. The essay also includes references to scholarly articles supporting the discussion. The author successfully relates the ideology to their personal life, illustrating the impact of neo-conservative ideology on their ability to start and manage a business, demonstrating how it has empowered her economically and socially.

Running head: IDEOLOGY ESSAY
IDEOLOGY ESSAY
Name of the student
Name of the university
Author Note

1IDEOLOGY ESSAY
Conservatism : An analysis
Conservatism is a school of thought or a political ideology that promotes and propagates
traditional value system in social structure, culture and tradition which includes the archaic
concept of unequal distribution of wealth, patriarchal power structure where the males are the
initiators and females are the receivers, racial prejudices and supremacy and anti-globalization as
a concept of Puritanism and homogeneity in the society (Heywood, 2017). Conservatives are the
group of people who are pro-establishment and who seek to be preserving a range of institutions,
such as religion, patriarchy, property rights, parliamentary government, which, according to
them, would be emphasizing social stability and continuity. They oppose “modernism” and
adhere to the policy of “the way things are” (Feldman & Johnston, 2014).
I find the most suitable variant of conservatism, which is neo-conservatism. Neo-
conservatism is a political ideology of conservatism which combines the characteristics of
traditional conservatism with political individualism with the blend of a qualified endorsement of
free market. Neo-conservatives are seen to be typically advocating for the concept of democracy,
traditionalism, authoritarianism, traditional gender roles, social order, traditional values, natural
hierarchy and anti-globalization (Anderson, 2017). The neo conservatives can be roughly termed
as the conservatives of the contemporary arena who adhere to the traditional role of social order
but endorse free market which has become an economic fashion in the modern contemporary
world. Neo conservatism was a political movement that happened in the United States during the
year 1960s among the group of people called liberal hawks who were dissatisfied with the
pacifist foreign policy of the Democratic Party of America (Viereck, 2017). Apart from that, the
new left counterculture that was arising within the American society after the Vietnam protests
also stimulated them for adhering to Neo-conservatism. Neo-conservatives, no matter what

2IDEOLOGY ESSAY
branch they belong to, have certain common enemies, which include leftist liberalism, moral
relativism and anti-Americanism. I am convinced with the neo-conservative ideology because
even though it is conservative in its attitude providing little or no flexibility in all round
development of a nation, however, it advocates for democracy and free market, which are
important factors for an egalitarian society in terms of social and economic justice (Dorrien,
2013). Democracy ensures participation of all the citizens no matter what designation they have,
providing power and sovereignty to them, whereas, free market provides lassies faire market that
gives opportunity to every individual to be economically sound and prosperous according to
his/her ability. Therefore, the concept of neo-conservatism is credible.
As I am a woman coming from a conservative national and family background, I had
been able to pursue my dreams of becoming an entrepreneur, which is a less visited area among
the women. Even though the nation where I belong to have neo-conservative ideologies which
somehow restricts the freedom and rights of women, I had received the opportunity to start a
business by myself completely privately, which would operate under my jurisdiction. I have been
continuing with my business successfully and I have also been given a chance to vote for the
respective eligible government, which enhanced my integrity. As I am an entrepreneur now, I
have been economically and socially empowered. I have been provided with the basic civil rights
and power I deserve with the help of the flexibility of contemporary neo-conservative ideology. I
have been provided with a monthly income which has made me economically independent and
powerful as a woman in the patriarchal society.

3IDEOLOGY ESSAY
References:
Anderson, P. (2017). Neocon Bond: The Cultural Politics of Skyfall. Quarterly Review of Film
and Video, 34(1), 66-92.
Dorrien, G. (2013). Imperial Designs: Neoconservatism and the New Pax Americana. Routledge.
Feldman, S. & Johnston, C., (2014). Understanding the determinants of political ideology:
Implications of structural complexity. Political Psychology, 35(3), pp.337-358.
Heywood, A. (2017). Political ideologies: An introduction. Macmillan International Higher
Education.
Viereck, P. (2017). Conservatism revisited: the revolt against ideology. Routledge.