A main tenant of conservatism is being anti-socialist. However, some socialist are also conservatives. This made me wonder can you be a socialist conservative?
And if such conservative socialists are conservatives, what are their views and how do they differ from other types of conservatism?
Difference Between Socialist Conservatives and Right-Wing Socialists
Although there are subtle differences, there are two main strands of conservative socialism.
Socialist Conservatives
Socialist conservatives are sometimes called conservative socialists. The term “socialist conservative” was used by Karl Marx himself. Not to describe himself or other socialists but as a rebuke.
He would use this remark to rebuke certain strains of socialism and communism that were too conservative in nature. However, it soon became its own strain of not only socialism but also conservatism.
The largest proponent of socialist conservatism was Klemens von Metternich. He saw the ideas of nationalism and liberalism as the enemies of not only the people but also conservatism of, seeing them as a form of middle class dictatorship.
Right-Wing Socialism
Right-wing socialism is sometimes called bourgeois socialism.
Right-wing socialism is a term used by many free-market conservative and right-libertarian movements and politicians. It is slightly different to socialist conservatism in several ways.
For starters, right-wing socialism are far more left-wing than “mainstream” socialist conservatives. Unlike socialist conservatives, right-wing socialists are opposed to commercialism, individualism and laissez-faire economics.
Despite this however, mainstream conservatives, socialists and communists alike are anti-right-wing socialism. Even Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels wrote condemning right-wing socialism.
Right-wing socialism is also quite divided. Every group has their own interpretation of politics, however right-wing socialists take this to a whole new level. There have been party divides in both Japan and France over this.
Traditional Views on it
Traditionally conservatives have always been opposed to socialism and communism. They have long ridiculed the idea of socialism as well as communism.
Conservatism is often seen as the bulwark of communism and socialism. Just think, during the Cold War, Britain, the US, France and the rest of NATO were the bulwark to the Warsaw Pact and the USSR.
But, the USSR was communist, slightly different to socialism but still rather similar. NATO has always been against socialism just as it has always been against communism too.
And that has never really gone away. Yes, the USSR and the Warsaw Pact may have collapsed at the end of the 20th century. However, socialism has seen a resurgence in recent years.
And just as how traditional conservatives, and indeed many younger conservatives have opposed this resurgence in socialism.
‘Modern’ Views on it
It’s well known that young people are far more susceptible to the ideas of communism and socialism.
Even today, many conservatives, even those who are young as to not remember the USSR and the communist threat, are staunchly anti-socialist.
However, many former socialists from during the Cold War have become conservative. As such, there are a few conservatives who are more open to the idea of socialism, especially socialism combined with conservative ideals.
Indeed, many of these people are open to the idea of conservative socialism, almost like taking the best parts of China and the US and making one super country.
Despite this, many conservatives still remember the plight that they saw people have under communist rule. As such, they would likely oppose conservatism becoming more open socialism.
They would likely do this regardless of whether it has socialist and conservative elements in it or not.
Can you be a Socialist Conservative?
This is a question that will certainly cause a lot of arguments. Regardless of the answer, people have very strong opinions either way about socialism or communism and conservatism.
Many conservatives, especially those born before or at the height of the Cold War remember the pain that communism caused them. And despite the fact that communism and socialism are different things, they don’t see it that way…
The result is that these conservatives are extremely wary of communism, even more so socialism. In fact, my grandfather, someone who lived in the Cold War exemplifies this well.
He ridicules any member of my family who votes for the Labour Party. In fact, anyone who makes it publicly clear they support the Labour Party, my grandfather makes it clear that he doesn’t like them. And that’s me putting it mildly…
There are even several younger conservatives, even those who didn’t live during any part of the Cold War, are staunchly anti-communist and anti-socialist. Even one of our authors, Alexander Pask is young and anti-socialist/communist.
However, there is also a small group of conservatives who were socialist during the Cold War. This group naturally supports the notions of socialism, if not openly then at least privately.
This group is likely open to something that combines conservatism and socialism as well!
However, yes, socialist conservatives do indeed exist. Despite some conservatives disliking the idea of conservative socialists. People may not like them or want to believe they exist, but they do.
Personally, I believe that conservatism and socialism are enemies of one another. One of the main tenants of conservatism is that individuals should have personal liberties and be free.
However, when you look at socialist countries from the past, they always have to restrict free liberties. This is partly to prevent uprisings and partly to keep a hold on the populous.
I personally can’t fathom why or how they can be conservatives. I also look at the major parties of developed countries, one is conservative and the other is socialist.
The UK has the Conservative Party and the Labour Party. The US has the Republicans (conservatives) and the Democrats (socialists). The French has National Rally (conservative) and La République En Marche! (socialist).
How do Their Views Differ?
Just as with pro-choice conservatives, socialist conservatives have different views on certain topics. Some of these are drastically different to mainstream conservatism others are quite similar however!
The Poor
One of the main tenants of mainstream socialism and communism is helping the poor. They believe in taking the money from the rich and distributing it between everyone equally.
Conservative socialism does indeed want to help the poor. Traditional conservative socialism doesn’t want to help the poor, however, this has changed as conservative socialism has evolved.
Unlike mainstream socialism and communism, socialist conservatism aims a society that is peaceful, class-harmonizing, cosmopolitan and traditional. This ensures that there wouldn’t be any class warfare in the future.
It would also prevent war, which often causes a great amount of disparity and tension, often leading to more violent socialist uprisings.
State Socialism
Conservative socialists believe in state socialism. That is to say that they believe the state should own most of the essential companies in the country.
They believe that the government should take control of currently private companies for a fair price. They should then use those companies to provide vital services for free or for a small fee.
They believe that they should use the expertise of the former owners in order to keep the company profitable. This is also to avoid what happens to many state owned corporations- they become too expensive to operate.
However, people will be free to set up their own companies in industries that aren’t essential.
Capitalism
Despite having the word socialist in their name, conservative socialists are actually more capitalist than socialist. In fact, unlike many other socialist groups, conservative socialists rarely hate capitalism.
Whilst many socialist conservative policies are more left-leaning than right-leaning, there are still several capitalist policies too.
Conservative socialists oppose the level of state capitalism that is present in other countries such as China. They also believe that private individuals should be able to set up their own businesses in order to stimulate the economy.
Private Ownership
For those industries that aren’t essential, private people can own them. However, when it comes to private land ownership, this is not allowed. This is mostly to prevent housing development and/or slums.
These non-essential industries would be highly regulated in order to prevent predatory pricing. In some instances, it would be very difficult for new companies to enter the market or for old companies to leave the market.
However, there is a small group of conservative socialists who believe in a stricter form of socialism. These people believe that nothing should be owned privately, rather it should all be owned by the state.
However, these are few and far between.
Monarchy
One of socialism and communism’s main tenants is that everyone is equal. Despite this, conservative socialists believe in a monarchy. However, this supposed to be an enlightened monarchy. A monarchy similar to the British monarchy.
If no monarchy is present, it should be an enlightened parliament or congress. This congress would be made up of people who understand how the world works.
These would be people from all walks of like- these people would be business owners, lawyers, teachers, government employees and any other jobs you can do.
These people would be able to run the country in such a way that pleases the people, not just the poor and not just the rich.
Famous Conservative Socialists
Although socialist conservatives are rare, there have been several socialist conservatives throughout history. There are probably many conservatives who are socialists today, however, they have not made this public.
Perhaps the most famous social conservatives of the past 200 years have been:
- Klemens von Metternich
- Brian Mulroney
- Otto von Bismark (sort of)
- Johann Karl Rodbertus
- Kim Campbell
- Dwight D. Eisenhower (sort of)
- William Howard Taft
- Pierre-Joseph ProudhonÂ
What do you think about socialist conservatives? Tell me in the comments!