the disposition to preserve what is established, or a political philosophy based on this
(Conservatism) the principles and policies of a Conservative party
the tendency to prefer an existing situation to change
Most people exhibit some attachment to what they know and like – conservatism with a small ‘c’. Political Conservatism (with a big ‘C’) can be an extension of this sort of pragmatic scepticism about change: but not always. Instead it may take the form of radical Conservatism (e.g. that of Margaret Thatcher), sponsoring drastic and doctrinaire reforms, albeit of a right-wing nature — Professor Peter Clarke