Conservatism

Conservatism is a body of diverse political and social attitudes that reflect a preference for established and settled institutions and policies over radical changes to a country’s government. It is less an ideology or doctrine than an intellectual approach or political disposition, and indeed, many self-styled conservatives are deeply suspicious of abstract theories about government and of ideologies that associate them, especially with what they see as the errors of Marxist and socialist doctrines.

Although there is no straightforward correlation between age and political outlook, it has been suggested that political attitudes harden with age and that as individuals gain a stake in society (e.g., by owning property or having a family) they are less inclined to be radical. Conservatives are naturally skeptical about utopian projects ...