Conservatism values tradition, stability and gradual change, favoring institutions and customs that have proved their worth over radical reform.
Key thinkers:Ludwig Erhard, George Washington, CiceroTake the test and your match with Conservatism shows up here. It is worked out in your browser and never sent anywhere.
Conservatives tend to trust time-tested institutions such as the family, religion, the local community and the nation, and to be cautious about rapid social change. Many also favor free markets, lower taxes and a strong national defense, though this varies by country.
Because it is defined by what is being conserved, conservatism looks different in different places and times.
The ideas that most people in this tradition would sign up to.
Its modern form is often traced to Edmund Burke’s Reflections on the Revolution in France (1790).
Thinkers whose documented positions on the 12 axes align most closely with this ideology.
German economics minister & chancellor · 1897–1977
The West German economics minister and later chancellor who lifted price controls in 1948 and promoted the “social market economy”, competition backed by social provision.
“As chancellor he endorsed the American aim of military victory in Vietnam, seeking closer ties with Washington than with Paris.”
First US president · 1732–1799
The commander of the Continental Army and first US president, who set precedents for the office and stepped down after two terms.
“Shared national character and patriotic union across differing regional origins.”
Roman orator & statesman · 106–43 BC
A Roman lawyer, consul and orator who wrote on republican government and natural law, and who was killed on Mark Antony’s orders.
“De Officiis ranks the claims of country above those of family and friends, and he defends Rome’s empire as just rule, even as he writes of a universal natural law.”
These are its strongest leanings, followed by all twelve axes. They describe the typical version of the tradition.
Leans very strongly toward Democratic
88% toward Democratic
Leans strongly toward Traditional
72% toward Traditional
Leans toward Privatize
68% toward Privatize
Editorial estimates for comparison and discussion. Real people and parties in this tradition vary.
Countries whose estimated profile is most like this ideology. No country follows a single ideology, so read this as a comparison, not a label.
Every tradition has critics. These are the objections most often raised.
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The test scores you on all twelve axes and ranks every ideology by how well it matches you.
