Moderate conservatism explained

Moderate conservatism is a politically moderate version of conservatism that is less demanding than classical conservatism, and can be divided into several subtypes, such as liberal conservatism. The term is principally used in countries where the political camp is divided into “liberals” (meaning social liberals) on the left and “conservatives” on the right, rather than in countries whose political camps include social democrats on the left and their opponents on the right. For countries belonging to the former, moderate liberalism is sometimes contrasted with moderate conservatism.[1] The latter term can be applied to several countries, such as the United States, Poland, South Korea, and Japan.

Overview

Moderate conservative is not often used in most parts of Europe, where social democracy or socialist parties have grown into major parties since the early 20th century, because moderate conservatives in many European countries are liberal conservatives or Christian democrats. Despite this, the term has historically been widely used in Europe, particularly in the mid-19th and earlier century, when liberal-to-radical politics, or classical radicalism, formed the mainstream left in Europe and conservatives were the right opposition. The moderate conservatives of this period were contrasted with the moderate liberals.[2] It is also used as a contrast to ultra-conservatism.[3]

By country

Canada

The main factions of the Conservative Party of Canada are the Red Tory and Blue Tory. Blue Tories value free markets and are more culturally liberal.

Japan

The Kōchikai faction that represents moderate conservatives within the right-wing Liberal Democratic Party. The incumbent Japanese prime minister Fumio Kishida is a member of the Kōchikai faction, and he is also a "moderate conservative".[4] Yomiuri Shimbun is a moderately conservative newspaper.[5] Yomiuri Shimbun places more emphasis on moderate pro-American diplomacy rather than hawkish Japanese nationalism.[6]

Poland

The Civic Platform has supported a moderate conservative agenda.[7] The party is described in various ways in the Polish political context as centre-right, or centrist.

South Korea

In the 20th century, liberal in South Korea had the opposite meaning of socialist or left-wing. Therefore, some historical liberals in South Korea were considered conservatives or moderate conservatives.[8] Ahn Cheol-soo was considered centrist reformist or centrist liberal (sometimes centre-left) in the early and mid 2010s but is now classified as centre-right and moderate conservative. Park Heong-joon and Yoo Seung-min are representative moderate conservatives.[9] [10] JoongAng Ilbo, a South Korean media outlet, is considered moderate conservative.[11]

Sweden

The major traditional right-wing party in Sweden was initially called the Conservative Party and later the Rightist Party, before adopting the Moderate Party name in 1969 to shed its ultraconservative image and espouse more classical liberal politics.[12]

United States

The Republican Main Street Partnership is a Republican Party (GOP) organization for moderate conservatives. Examples include Maine Senator Susan Collins, former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, and Arizona Representative Juan Ciscomani. It has historically been associated with Rockefeller Republicans. Sometimes moderate conservatives are called "Republicans in Name Only" by more traditional conservatives.[13] Prominent moderate conservative United States presidents are Dwight Eisenhower, Gerald Ford, and George H. W. Bush.[14]

Moderate conservative political parties and caucuses

Notes and References

  1. News: A Brain Scan Could Predict Political Leanings . While data from most of the tasks indicated political leanings toward more moderate conservatism or moderate liberalism, the researchers found that the reward task aligned with extreme political views (very liberal or very conservative) and the empathy task most significantly correlated with moderate ideology. . . 14 July 2022 . 22 February 2023.
  2. Book: Edmund Fawcett . Conservatism: The Fight for a Tradition . A blurring of conservative and liberal outlooks was noticed early on. Moderate conservatives, the German political observer Friedrich Bülau wrote in 1847, were not for no change, and moderate liberals did not call for total change. . 2022 . 55 . . 9780691233994.
  3. Book: Tatah Mentan . Democracy for Breakfast: Unveiling Mirage Democracy in Contemporary Africa . Reflecting differences within the corporate community, there are moderate-conservative and ultra-conservative wings within it. . 2013 . 167 . African Books Collective . 9789956791279 .
  4. News: Japan's new prime minister Fumio Kishida vows to be tough on China but 'courteous' at home . Fumio Kishida, a moderate conservative with a stern view of China's growing military assertiveness, will be Japan's new prime minister, after easily winning the election to lead the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. . . 29 September 2021 . 21 February 2023.
  5. Book: Daniel M. Kliman . Fateful Transitions: How Democracies Manage Rising Powers, from the Eve of World War I to China's Ascendance . ... observers in Japan identified other obstacles to China's continued economic growth. Yomiuri Shimbun, a moderately conservative newspaper and .... 2014 . 122 . University of Pennsylvania Press . 9780812290295 .
  6. Book: Linus Hagstrom . Identity Change and Foreign Policy: Japan and its 'Others' . It is particularly interesting to note that the more left-leaning Asahi Shimbun (333 articles) carried a higher number of articles and headlines than the conservative (but moderate and pro-American) Yomiuri Shimbun, and actually comes ... . 2015 . 101 . Routledge . 9781317394860 .
  7. News: Tusk Vs Kaczyński: Explaining the Conflict . . 4 May 2017 . 21 February 2023.
  8. Web site: 신민당. 1967년의 제6대 대통령선거와 제7대 국회의원 총선거를 앞두고, 분열된 보수 야당세력을 통합하여 평화적 정권교체를 이룩할 목표로 1967년 2월 7일에 창당되었다. . Ahead of the sixth presidential election and the seventh general election of the National Assembly in 1967, it was founded on February 7, 1967, with the aim of achieving a peaceful regime change by integrating divided conservative opposition forces. . Naver Knowledge Encyclopedia. . 19 September 2021. ko.
  9. News: South Korea's 19th Presidential Election: Lessons Learned . Interestingly, 13.2 percent from the youngest group chose moderate conservative Yoo Seung-min, the highest of any group. . . 13 May 2017 . 21 February 2023.
  10. News: Park Heong-joon, a 'moderate conservative' politician . . 7 April 2021 . 21 February 2023.
  11. Book: Dal Yong Jin, Nojin Kwak. Communication, Digital Media, and Popular Culture in Korea: Contemporary Research and Future Prospects . Joongang Ilbo is considered a more moderate conservative daily and also publishes its English edition, Korea Joongang Daily, in an alliance with the International New York Times. These big three Korean newspapers have significant influences on ... . 2018 . 125-126 . . 9781498562041 .
  12. Book: Nanna Kildal. Stein Kuhnle. Normative Foundations of the Welfare State: The Nordic Experience. 2007. Routledge. 978-1-134-27282-2. 128.
  13. News: Opinion: Will The Real Republicans Please Stand Up? . Anyone who didn't support the Florida Man, anyone who is a more moderate conservative, often gets tagged as a RINO — Republican in Name Only. . Yahoo! . 28 February 2023 . 1 March 2023.
  14. Web site: 2018-12-01 . Straddling divide between GOP moderates and conservatives, Bush was last of a kind . 2023-05-28 . NBC News . en.
  15. News: A Dove From Hiroshima: Is Fumio Kishida Tough Enough To Lead Japan? . Kishida's character, coupled with the fact that he belongs to the moderate Kochikai faction within the LDP, inevitably means that he won't ... . . 10 October 2021 . 28 February 2023.
  16. Book: Lucien Ellington . Japan . 2009 . 168 . ABC-CLIO. 9781598841626 .
  17. News: Liz Truss apologises for mistakes and vows to lead Tories into next election . Ms Truss was due to meet the moderate One Nation Conservatives group in Parliament on Monday evening before an informal reception with her cabinet. . . 17 October 2022 . 28 February 2023.