Immigration Theories
By: Mike • Research Paper • 767 Words • December 2, 2009 • 1,041 Views
Essay title: Immigration Theories
Despite on all complexity of political life in the modern world, the variety of political parties and public organizations has already been defined for couple of centuries by authority of liberal and conservative doctrines. Both liberalism and conservatism represents the complex of political principles, which have experienced crucial historical changes. These contrast ideologies not only will be defined in the essay, but also the origin of them will be explained. Some state that “all modern mainstream political ideologies, including Marxism, may be regarded as variants of liberalism” (Leach, 1996, p.66), so in the essay we will try to find out if this statement can be related to conservatism.
“Conservatism is one of a number of political philosophies supporting traditional values or an established social order” (wikipedia UK). If we call someone ‘conservative’ we generally mean that he prefers things as they are and is reluctant to change them. Conservatives typically limit innovation out of risk aversion. Change is by nature risky; it can potentially disrupt or even ruin the social order, which is the only existing guarantee that conservative values will survive. Maintaining the status quo at least preserves these values, so “conservatives favour heritage over innovation, incremental change over utopian projects, and unity over discord” (wikipedia UK) . Ussualy french Revolution symbolizes the origin of conservative idea, which was the reaction on impetuous political, social and economic changes. Since that time the conservatism has started its fomation, even though the term itself came about significantly later. As a term liberalism is much older then conservatism. It has been used since 14th century, however “as a systemetic political creed, liberalism may not have existed before the 19th century”(Heywood, 2003, p. 25). Its genesis coincided with feudal relations collapse and the emergence of modern capitalist society. Liberalism was linked with capitalism evolution. While conservatives were figthing against revolutional changes, liberals were supporting French Revolution. Liberalism is an ideology, or current of political thought, which strives to maximize liberty. Liberalism seeks a society characterized by “freedom of thought for individuals, limitations on the power of government and religion, the rule of law, the free exchange of ideas, a free market economy that supports private enterprise, and a system of government that is transparent. This form of government favors liberal democracy with open and fair elections, where all citizens have equal rights by law, and an equal opportunity to succeed” (wikipedia, UK).
“The moral and ideological stance of liberalism is embodied in a comitment of following values: the individual, freedom, reason, justice, toleration and diversity” (Heywood, 2003, p.28). While conservatives have got fallowing beliefs: organic society, tradition, property, hierarchy and authority, human imperfection (Heywood, 2003). Belief in society, freedom and property