Conservatism
A political ideology that favors preserving traditional institutions, social norms, and gradual change over rapid reform or revolution.
Explanation
Conservatism prioritizes continuity, stability, and the value of existing institutions — arguing that accumulated social wisdom embedded in traditions and structures is hard to replace and easy to destroy through radical change. It is not opposed to all change, but favors gradual, tested reform over wholesale transformation. Economic conservatism typically favors free markets, low taxes, and limited government. Social conservatism defends traditional family structures, religious values, and social norms. Fiscal conservatism prioritizes balanced budgets and limited public debt. Different national conservative traditions — British Toryism, American conservatism, German Christian Democracy — emphasize different combinations of these themes.
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