Liberalism and conservatism, two philosophies that include political, economic, social and cultural aspects, are currently confused by their frequent association in the same individuals and political movements. However, from a theoretical and historical point of view both ideologies are opposed in many key points.

In this article we will describe the main differences between the perspectives of the conservatives and the liberals . It is important to note that these are not the only political philosophies, but that there are other very influential ones such as socialism, anarchism and authoritarianism. The union of various ideologies is extremely common.

What is conservatism?

In political science, the term “conservatism” refers to the ideologies that focus on the conservation of the social institutions of a given group , which can be framed in abstract concepts such as “nation” or in other more concrete ones, such as the States. It is also very frequent that conservatism is related to religion.

Throughout history there have been innumerable forms of conservatism, given that their manifestations depend on the characteristics of the socio-cultural, temporal and geographical context in which they occur. Nevertheless, conservative movements usually have a vision of the human being and society that is defended as “natural”.

Conservative people tend to reject behaviour and ideas that do not correspond to the social norms they defend: those associated with the majority culture in a given geographical area. Thus, conservatism defends tradition , which is understood as a way of preserving social structure and stability.

The radical side of conservatism is made up of reactionary movements, which oppose change head on and defend the recovery of “traditional values” that in many cases have practically disappeared at the present time. This is the case of the anti-abortion currents that have had some political success in Spain in recent years.

Defining Liberalism

Liberalism, at least in its most representative variant, emerged in Europe in the 18th century, in the context of the Enlightenment. At that time the main characteristic of the liberals was their rejection of the established norms defended by the conservatives , among them the absolute monarchy, the union between state and religion or the division of society into classes.

Today the term “liberalism” is confusing because of the many uses to which it has been put. The concept of liberalism in its economic aspect (which defends the non-intervention of the State in the markets) and the American nomenclature, in which it is associated with progressivism, predominate; however, classical liberalism includes many different aspects.

What the different conceptions of liberalism have in common, whatever the aspect that is prioritized (economic, social, political and religious are some of the most important), is that they defend individual freedom in some of its facets. Thus, a social liberal could defend homosexual marriage and an economic one the minimization of taxes.

At present there is an evident conflict between economic and social liberalism . The alliance between the supporters of the free market, the conservatives and the state apparatuses increasingly damages individual rights, the equality between people born in different social classes or the freedom of opinion, fundamental aspects for the classical liberals.

Differences between liberals and conservatives

The differences between liberalism and conservatism cover a wide range of facets, from ethics or the vision of the human being to the conception of the state and the social structure. In any case, it is very common that conservative and liberal ideas coexist in the same people, as well as those of other political philosophies.

Probably the most significant common point between these two ideologies is that both support the primacy of private property over public property . This characteristic, which is opposed to the approaches of socialism or those of social democracy, largely explains the alliances between conservatives and liberals.

1. Tradition and change

Conservatives see the maintenance of traditions and social norms as fundamental to the health of society; this makes them reluctant to change, which can have negative consequences. On the other hand, liberalism is opposed to any obstacle that prevents individual freedom and has as its ideal the progress of humanity.

2. Individuality and Collectivism

While conservatism is associated with the structuring of society in terms of the groups that make it up, such as families, for liberalism the individual is the basic human unit. In this sense, there is a clear mistrust of conformity to social norms and of the subordination of minorities to majorities.

3. Personal freedom and civil rights

The basic value of liberalism is, as its name suggests, freedom; however, the way in which this concept is understood depends largely on personal and ideological factors. In this sense, historically they have defended social rights much more than the conservatives although, again, there are many forms of conservatism.

4. Social structure and mobility

In general, conservative approaches propose that a certain social stratification, associated with historical and practical factors, is the natural and desirable state of human groups – at least of one’s own. In contrast, for liberalism the social structure should depend on the skills and economic success of each individual.

5. Religion and moral values

In liberalism, the religious freedom of individuals prevails; the same is true of moral values, which should not be imposed on others beyond certain minimums preferably determined by society as a whole. In contrast, conservatism tends to use religious morality as a tool for cohesion and social control .

6. Nationalism and internationalism

Conservative ideologies naturally combine the glorification of tradition, shared values and the identity of a particular group; this often leads to nationalism and protectionism. This often leads to nationalism and protectionism. Liberals often advocate internationalism and the minimization of global trade restrictions.

7. Vision of the State and Democracy

From a political point of view, liberals believe that the size and weight of the state in the functioning of society should be limited as much as possible; furthermore, they defend democracy and equality in the right to vote. Conservatism can be associated with an even greater rejection of the state , with the class structure and therefore oligarchic tendencies prevailing.