Challenging the Conservative Exceptionalism: Theme of Change in the Conservative Canon
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Challenging the Conservative Exceptionalism: Theme of Change in the Conservative Canon A thesis submitted to The University of Manchester for the degree of Doctor of Social Science in the Faculty of Humanities 2011 DOĞANCAN ÖZSEL SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES / POLITICS Table of Contents 1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 7 2 The Conservative Thinking: Classical and Radical Variations ........................................ 10 2.1 Classical Conservatism ............................................................................................. 11 2.1.1 Emergence of the Conservative Ideology .......................................................... 11 2.1.2 The Conservative Epistemology ........................................................................ 16 2.1.3 Conservative Approach to Society ..................................................................... 21 2.1.4 The Imperfect Individual of Conservatism ........................................................ 24 2.1.5 The Classical Conservative Politics ................................................................... 28 2.2 Radical Conservatism ................................................................................................ 34 2.2.1 Historical Context of Radical Conservatism ...................................................... 35 2.2.2 The Radical Conservative Critique of Zivilisation ............................................ 41 2.2.3 The Radical Conservative Scheme .................................................................... 47 2.2.4 Radical Conservatism and Contemporary Politics ............................................ 50 2.3 A Theoretical Framework for Further Analysis: The Theoretical Core and the Question of Radicalism ........................................................................................................ 52 2.3.1 Some Preliminary Reflections on the Problems of Defining an Ideology ......... 52 2.3.2 Identifying a Theoretical Core for Conservatism .............................................. 54 2.3.3 Radical Conservatism as a Modernist Reaction to the Modern ......................... 69 3 A Historical Background of Deconstructive Reading of Ideologies: The Legacy of Ideology Critique ..................................................................................................................... 75 3.1 Emergence of Ideology Critique: Classical Marxism‘s Understanding of Ideology 79 3.1.1 Ideology and Ideology Critique ......................................................................... 79 3.1.2 The ‗Ideology‘ of Classical Marxism................................................................. 80 3.2 Gramsci: The Subject as the Architect of Ideology ................................................... 89 3.3 Althusser: Ideology as the Architect of the Subject .................................................. 97 3.4 Freeden and Ideology as the Form of Political Thinking ........................................ 107 3.5 Derrida‘s Ideology Critique ..................................................................................... 115 4 Challenging the Conservative Exceptionalism .............................................................. 129 4.1 Deconstruction: The Quest to Read Non-Methodically .......................................... 132 4.2 Conserving and Altering.......................................................................................... 140 4.3 Natural and Arbitrary .............................................................................................. 150 4.4 A Deconstructive Reading of the Conservative Ideology ....................................... 163 5 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................... 176 6 Bibliography .................................................................................................................. 183 2 Abstract This thesis is presented by Dogancan Özsel to the University of Manchester, Faculty of Humanities, School of Social Sciences, division of Politics for the degree of Doctor of Social Sciences in 2011. The thesis focuses on the conservative canon and analyses the validity of exceptionalist claims of conservative thinking through a deconstructive reading of conservatism. The comparison of classical and radical conservatisms provides the grounds for this analysis. After the introductory chapter, the second chapter of this thesis focuses on the general characteristics of the conservative ideology. It consists of three sub-sections. The first of these presents the characteristics of classical conservatism, while the second turns to consider radical conservatism. Then, in the third sub-section, a discussion of the similarities and differences between these two conservatisms leads to a proposed definition of a core of the conservative canon. Here, it is argued that the epistemological and ontological imperfection of individuals can be regarded as the definitive core, or as the precept which the justification of conservative policies relies upon. The third chapter then focuses on the views of a number of significant figures in the development of political thought on ideology, which is used by these thinkers as a critical tool. A narrative of the historical developments in the analyses of ideology and ideologies is presented in this chapter. In the last part of the chapter, Derridian thinking is introduced. The fourth chapter problematises conservative exceptionalism, or the belief that there is a fundamental difference between conservatism and other ideologies. This chapter is founded upon the analyses of the previous two chapters, using the Derridian reading and referring to the characteristics and commonalities of the conservative canon presented. In this chapter, radicalism is argued to be a persistent theme in conservative thinking, and conservatism is claimed to be founded upon its impossibility. 3 Declaration I hereby declare that no portion of the work referred to in the thesis has been submitted in support of an application for another degree or qualification of this or any other university or other institute of learning. 4 Copyright Statement i. The author of this thesis (including any appendices and/or schedules to this thesis) owns certain copyright or related rights in it (the ―Copyright‖) and s/he has given The University of Manchester certain rights to use such Copyright, including for administrative purposes. ii. Copies of this thesis, either in full or in extracts and whether in hard or electronic copy, may be made only in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (as amended) and regulations issued under it or, where appropriate, in accordance with licensing agreements which the University has from time to time. This page must form part of any such copies made. iii. The ownership of certain Copyright, patents, designs, trade marks and other intellectual property (the ―Intellectual Property‖) and any reproductions of copyright works in the thesis, for example graphs and tables (―Reproductions‖), which may be described in this thesis, may not be owned by the author and may be owned by third parties. Such Intellectual Property and Reproductions cannot and must not be made available for use without the prior written permission of the owner(s) of the relevant Intellectual Property and/or Reproductions. iv. Further information on the conditions under which disclosure, publication and commercialisation of this thesis, the Copyright and any Intellectual Property and/or Reproductions described in it may take place is available in the University IP Policy (see http://www.campus.manchester.ac.uk/medialibrary/policies/intellectual-property.pdf), in any relevant Thesis restriction declarations deposited in the University Library, The University Library‘s regulations (see http://www.manchester.ac.uk/library/aboutus/regulations) and in The University‘s policy on presentation of Theses. 5 Acknowledgement First of all, I would like to thank to Hacettepe University, Department of Politics and Public Administration. Without its generous sponsorship, this study would not materialise. Second, a big thanks to my supervisor Prof. Dr. Alan P. Hamlin. He was always ready to assist when I needed. I would like to thank Dr. Hilal Onur İnce as well. She was the one who initially suggested me to focus on the conservative thought. And with her devotion to the academy, she has been a role-model for me. Last, but surely no least, I thank to the three angels in my life. Their presence meant so much for me. 6 1 Introduction There is a striking contrast between the reputation of conservative thought in daily politics, and its attractiveness for scholars of politics. In most of the existing democracies, conservative parties are either in office or are among the leading opponents of the governing party (see Green, 2002:1). Conservative movements not only enjoy a rather generous support from the public, but also have their own newspapers, TV channels, opinion leaders, research institutes, and the like. Still, anyone who takes a brief look at the shelves of a library can easily realise that conservatism is one of the least popular subjects for scholarly analysis. Even anarchism, an ideology which is much less influential for realpolitik, seems to galvanise academics much more than the conservative ideas. Apart from the self-proclaimed conservatives,