A Conservative Titan
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R XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Volume 65 I 3 A CONSERVATIVE TITAN 38 IPA Review | ipa.org.au BOOK REVIEW R Richard Allsop on a new book exploring the life and philosophy of Edmund Burke gained access to some of the leading RICHARD ALLSOP cultural groups in London, mixing Research Fellow at the in clubby fraternity with the likes of Institute of Public Affairs. Samuel Johnson, Joshua Reynolds and David Garrick. However, his ritish Conservative MP key patron was to be the Marquis of Jesse Norman has written Rockingham, who engaged Burke as an excellent book about his private secretary, and then a few Edmund Burke. It is a book months later secured Burke a ‘pocket Bin two parts, the first a reasonably borough’ in parliament. straightforward biography of the At that time, Rockingham was subject and the second an analysis in government, but he was not to of his ideas, with a diversion into be there for very long, being out of Edmund Burke: Philosopher, Norman’s own political manifesto. Politician, Prophet power for the next 16 years. Norman Norman joins a number of British gives great weight to the return of MPs who have written biographies By Jesse Norman, 2013, London: Rockingham and his Whig followers William Collins, 320 pages of former politicians, Roy Jenkins to government in 1782 describing and William Hague being the best it as ‘an extraordinary moment not known. Another recent example BURKE’S just in Britain’s political history but was Bill Cash whose biography of ‘EXTRAORDINARY that of the world.’ The fact that a > ACHIEVEMENT John Bright was reviewed in the parliamentary grouping, which had IPA Review in October 2012. Cash TO BE THE FIRST AND been on the opposition benches since tried to convince his readers that the GREATEST CRITIC 1766 had remained intact, remains demonstrably liberal Bright was a OF MODERNITY ITSELF.’ in Norman’s eyes ‘a remarkable conservative; Norman has the simpler and woefully under-recognised task of justifying his view that ‘Burke had an understanding of the role achievement’. This oversight is is not a liberal’. of a member of parliament way probably explained by the fact that Norman is essentially correct more sophisticated than many of Rockingham himself died within that despite occasional flashes his modern counterparts for, as he months of regaining the Treasury of liberalism, Burke was a told the electors of Bristol in his benches and, without him, the conservative. He was influenced famous 1774 victory speech, ‘your grouping fell apart, with the faction by the Enlightenment but never representative owes you, not his headed by Charles James Fox, and really of it and, as Norman puts it, industry only, but his judgement; still including Burke, ending up in Burke’s ‘extraordinary achievement and he betrays instead of serving coalition with the dreaded Tory to be the first and greatest critic of you, if he sacrifices it to your opinion.’ Lord North. modernity itself.’ Burke served in the House of Norman describes Burke as the However, at the same time Commons for 29 years from 1765 to ‘main architect’ of the Rockingham it is important to recognise that 1794, and while he only held office for Whigs but, when the proto-party Burke was a Whig and many of the a brief period, his career demonstrates finally collapsed, it was because positions he adopted during his that holding office and having lasting Burke walked out on it. career were indeed quite liberal. significance are two entirely different The party ended on 6 May Burke was sympathetic to free trade, things. Given his comparatively 1791 when Burke announced to winning praise from Adam Smith; humble Irish roots, it was a tribute to the Commons that his friendship he opposed British oppression in Burke’s intellect and writing skills that with Fox was at an end, due to their Ireland and India; and he supported he came to be seen as a potential MP. wildly differing interpretations of the American Revolution. He also Through his literary talents, he had the French Revolution. NOVEMBER 2013 | IPA Review 39 R BOOK REVIEW Volume 65 I 3 CONTINUED Fox saw the French attempting to President John Adams. He fails to accomplish what the English had mention that Jefferson had highly achieved in the Glorious Revolution principled reasons for his concern of 1688 and ensure the end of about Washington, who had become tyrannical monarchical rule. He overly influenced by the centralising believed that the Whigs had a duty Alexander Hamilton, while it was to ‘support the transition to a new hard not to take strong issue with and stable constitutional order.’ Adams when he was promoting In contrast, Burke saw something the Alien and Sedition Acts, gross radical and sinister, a case he made violations of civil liberties. in his most famous book Reflections Late in the book, there is a whole on the Revolution in France which chapter which is only tangentially was published in 1790. Events in the about Burke. Rather it uses Robert next few years in France seemingly Putman’s ideas about ‘social capital’ vindicated Burke, but the fact that the as the launching point for Norman French Revolution got diverted into to outline his personal political Jacobinism does not mean that this philosophy. was the inevitable outcome. Norman is smart enough to To engender sympathy for Burke’s understand the benefits of liberal position on the French Revolution, individualism, but also conservative Norman paints it in the colours of enough to find fault with many Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Thus Burke’s of them and, intriguingly for EDMUND BURKE views are juxtaposed against one of a conservative, attacks liberal FIRST AND GREATEST the least palatable philosophers in individualism for being Western- CRITIC OF MODERNITY history. Of course, this leaves out a centric. According to Norman, ‘liberal vast range of positions, particularly individualism mistakes the true order liberal ones. What lifts Norman of priority between the individual and Those who don’t know above the role of pamphleteer is society.’ It does so because it places history are destined to that he has the decency to point out too much emphasis on rationalism repeat it. to his readers that ‘in some ways when other factors, such as emotional the two men [Burke and Rousseau] attachment to our own community The only thing necessary had more in common than either or country, or respect for habit and for the triumph of evil might have cared to admit.’ In custom, should be given precedence. is for good men to do similar vein to his use of Rousseau, It is another false dichotomy. One can nothing. Norman selects Jeremy Bentham be a liberal individualist and also as the apogee of liberalism, an odd recognise that Burke’s ‘little platoons’ But what is liberty without choice, but one which allows him are a valuable part of making society wisdom, and without to what he clearly regards as the work cohesively and enjoyably. virtue? It is the greatest most favourable representation It is just that liberals do not want of all possible evils; for it with Burke’s conservatism. to make membership of little is folly, vice, and madness, Another disappointing platoons compulsory. without tuition or restrain. characterisation comes when For Burke and Norman, a free Norman tries his hand at some society is the product of a well- When bad men combine, American political history. He ordered society, not as liberals would the good must associate; describes it as ‘astonishing’ that, as see it being the other way around. else they will fall one by Secretary of State, Thomas Jefferson Given the number of well-ordered one, an unpitied sacrifice undermined President George societies which have not had much in a contemptible struggle. Washington and later tried to destroy liberty, history would hardly seem the reputation of his former friend to support their case. 40 IPA Review | ipa.org.au XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX R Liberty on the Barricades FOR BURKE AND NORMAN, A FREE SOCIETY IS THE earning him the description PRODUCT OF A WELL-ORDERED SOCIETY, NOT AS of ‘the preeminent intellectual > LIBERALS WOULD SEE IT BEING THE OTHER WAY AROUND. theorist of Cameronism.’ Yet, in his parliamentary career, he has led the Norman generally handles the she needed.’ However, he redeems biggest backbench revolt against interaction of the public and private himself for this soppy sentence Prime Minister David Cameron Burke well. He is alert to some of by writing a brilliant line about over reform of the House of Lords, Burke’s faults, such as his reputation one of the most famous Tories of resulting in a spirited altercation as a bore, relating that he gained the all, Benjamin Disraeli of whom between the two men which nickname ‘dinner bell’ for his ability he observes that ‘faithful to the helped win Norman the award as to clear the House of Commons principles of a lifetime, Disraeli then Spectator Parliamentarian of the when speaking. Only once do his reversed himself completely.’ Year for 2012. writing standards slip, which occurs While only having been an While liberals will take issue when explaining why Burke was not MP since 2010, Norman, who had with many of Norman’s arguments, a catch for his wife, as he had few previously worked in banking this is a well-written and prospects just ‘warmth, energy and and academia, had already had a thought-provoking book, highly talent’ but, in a seeming attempt political impact with books such recommended for anyone with at chick-lit, comments that ‘the as Compassionate Conservatism an interest in the development of beautiful thing is that this was all (2006) and The Big Society (2010) political ideas.