What Is Traditional Conservatism?
Conservatism is a political doctrine that emphasizes the value of traditional institutions and practices. Conservatives favor gradual change under conditions of continuity and stability, and hold that government should… Part of the Conservative family.
Definition
Conservatism is a political doctrine that emphasizes the value of traditional institutions and practices. Conservatives favor gradual change under conditions of continuity and stability, and hold that government should serve existing ways of life rather than remake them. Traditional conservatism is the Atlas's reference model for this classic, Burkean form.
Core ideas
- Respect for traditional institutions and practices.
- Gradual evolution rather than abrupt change.
- Continuity and stability.
Origins
Edmund Burke's thought and the continental tradition of Joseph de Maistre.
Associated thinkers and leaders
Edmund Burke, Joseph de Maistre
Definition based on Britannica: Conservatism (checked October 20, 2026).
Where Traditional Conservatism sits on the Atlas maps
| Map dimension | Score (0–100) | Position | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economic Collective / planned ↔ Market | 74 | toward market | |
| Social Progressive ↔ Traditional | 81 | toward traditional | |
| Authority Libertarian ↔ Authoritarian | 30 | toward libertarian | |
| National identity Cosmopolitan ↔ Nationalist | 65 | near the center | |
| Foreign policy Non-intervention ↔ Intervention | 34 | toward non-intervention |
All nine underlying dimensions
| Dimension | Score | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Economic ownership Collective ownership ↔ Private ownership | 80 | toward private ownership |
| Civil liberties Civil liberty ↔ State restrictions | 37 | near the center |
| National identity Cosmopolitan ↔ Nationalist | 65 | near the center |
| Social and cultural values Progressive ↔ Traditionalist | 90 | strongly toward traditionalist |
| Political governance Democratic ↔ Autocratic | 23 | toward democratic |
| Equality and hierarchy Egalitarian ↔ Hierarchical | 73 | toward hierarchical |
| Economic management Free market ↔ State planning | 36 | near the center |
| Military intervention Non-intervention ↔ Intervention | 34 | toward non-intervention |
| Religion and government Secular state ↔ Religious authority | 62 | near the center |
These positions are estimates on the Atlas’s nine-dimension scale, produced by running the tradition’s core principles through the same questions and scoring used for test-takers. They are interpretations for comparison, not objective measurements. How scores are made.
Estimated positions on key questions
| Statement | Position | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| The means of production should ultimately be owned collectively. | Strongly disagrees | estimated from doctrine |
| Opposition parties should be free to compete in elections. | Strongly agrees | estimated from doctrine |
| Central economic planning is preferable to decentralized market decisions. | Strongly disagrees | estimated from doctrine |
| People should be free to criticize the government without fear of legal punishment. | Strongly agrees | estimated from doctrine |
| A national religious authority should have the power to veto legislation. | Strongly disagrees | estimated from doctrine |
| Traditional values should guide what society considers right and wrong. | Strongly agrees | estimated from doctrine |
| National borders should become less important over time. | Strongly disagrees | estimated from doctrine |
| Military power should be used proactively when serious external threats are emerging. | Strongly disagrees | estimated from doctrine |
| Class distinctions should gradually disappear. | Strongly disagrees | estimated from doctrine |
| Political speech should be legally protected even when it is offensive. | Agrees | estimated from doctrine |
Related ideologies
Main differences from the closest ideologies
- Compared with Social Conservatism, Traditional Conservatism sits 7 points further toward libertarian on the authority dimension.
- Compared with Moderate Conservatism, Traditional Conservatism sits 16 points further toward traditional on the social dimension.
- Compared with One-Nation Conservatism, Traditional Conservatism sits 15 points further toward market on the economic dimension.
Comparisons
Figures with the closest estimated positions
Closeness of estimated positions only; this does not mean these people identify with Traditional Conservatism.
Sources
- Britannica: Conservatism
- Wikipedia: Traditional Conservatism (Wikipedia search)
- Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: Conservatism
Position last reviewed: not yet reviewed individually.