Intellectual Conservatism: From Burke to Scruton

by Ferenc Hörcher (Editor), Daniel Pitt (Editor)

Overview

This book examines the history of intellectual conservatism from its late 18th century "founding father", Edmund Burke, to its last great representative, the late Sir Roger Scruton.

Focusing on British intellectual conservatism and investigating this under-researched area of political thought through multiple contributions and disciplines, the editors' aim is to provide an account of the supportive or critical intellectual work behind conservative politics in the 19th and 20th century, with a long-term view on the modern conservative movement. It is an up-to-date account of some of the major theoretical issues of conservatism that utilises case studies to provide pictures of particular conservative intellectuals, explain key concepts and reconstruct major schools and defining debates within conservatism. There is a particular focus on the role of Christianity, the British common law tradition and on the connection between culture and politics.

Intellectual Conservatism: From Burke to Scruton is valuable for university students studying history, political science, PPE or the social sciences, as well as those interested in the contemporary debates in Western politics on the future of Europe and the US.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781032754369
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	09/29/2025
Series:	Routledge Studies in Modern British History
Pages:	246
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.19(h) x (d)

About the Author

Ferenc Hörcher is a historian of political thought, research professor and head of the Research Institute of Politics and Government at the University of Public Service and a senior fellow at the Institute of Philosophy of HUN-REN. He recently published a monograph on Roger Scruton.

Dr Daniel Pitt is a Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Buckingham and a Visiting Postdoctoral Researcher at Ludovika University. He recently co-edited The Post Liberal Turn and the Future of Conservatism with Phillip Blond.

Table of Contents

PART 1          Conservative Views, Conservative Thinkers

 

1 A Substantive Framework for Conservative Constitutional Goods Daniel Pitt

2 Oakeshott, Cowling, Scruton: Three Workshops of British Intellectual Conservatism Before and Under the Thatcher Regime Ferenc Hörcher

3 The Conservative Sensibility of Evelyn Waugh P. Bracy Bersnak

4 Michael Oakeshott: Civil Association and Conservatism Christopher Fear

 

PART 2          Conservative Ideas and the Conservative Party

 

5 Conservatism and Conservative Success Philip Norton

6 The 'New Conservatism' of the 1920s: The State, Capitalism, Democracy and the Challenge of Socialism Stuart Ball

7 Noel Skelton, Constructive Conservatism, and the Intellectual Origins of the Property Owning Democracy James Vitali

8 The LSE Right, Thatcherism and the Future of the Conservative Party Ojel L. Rodriguez Burgos

 

PART 3          Conservatism and Free Speech

 

9 Thought, Speech, and Action: Marxism and the Culture War Matt Beech

10 A British Indian Understanding of Free Speech and Intellectual Conservatism Zeena Mistry

 

PART 4          Conservatism, Religion and Monarchy

 

11 Does Conservatism Require Grace? Attempting to Answer the Question that Haunts Conservatism Sebastian Morello

12 The Transcendent Source of Practical Wisdom in the Conservative Instinct Imogen Sinclair

13 What Should Govern Us Phillip Blond