Sir Roger Scruton: What Lead Me To Conservatism

Contact Your Elected Officials

Recorded on February 27, 2017 ~ In the latest episode from Uncommon Knowledge, Sir Roger Scruton, a formally trained political philosopher, talks about his life and the events heโ€™s witnessed that led him to conservatism. He first embraced conservatism after witnessing the leftist student protests in France in May 1968. During the ensuing riots in Paris, more than three hundred people were injured. Scruton walked away from this event with a change in worldview and a strong leaning toward conservatism. Visits to communist- controlled Poland and Czechoslovakia in 1979 cemented his preference for conservatism and his distaste for the fraud of communism and socialism, initiating a desire to do something about it. From thereon he dedicated himself to helping organize underground seminars for the young people oppressed behind the iron curtain.

Sir Roger examines a brief history of conservatism in the twentieth century of England in regard to Margaret Thatcher and Winston Churchill. Although he appreciates what Margaret Thatcher stood for, he argues that she had many conservative ideals but never used the conservative framework to organize her overall political strategy. Instead she organized around market economics, which was not always effective in the social, cultural, and legal areas. Peter Robinson argues that Winston Churchill did a much better job of organizing around conservative ideals but eventually lost an election because he didnโ€™t have the vocabulary or the focus on free markets. They discuss the tenuous relationship between free markets and conservative ideals that have not mixed well together in British politics.

Robinson and Sir Roger discuss the 2016 political upset of Brexit in the United Kingdom and how the political analysts failed to predict the vote outcome, much like what happened in November 2016 in the United States. They deliberate how the issues around immigration from Eastern Europe to the United Kingdom contributed to Brexit, in addition to general dissatisfaction with the European Union. Thus, in the cases of both the United Kingdom and the United States, the media and intellectuals ignored the will of the โ€œindigenous working classesโ€ who made their voices known through their votes.

About the Guest: Sir Roger Scruton
Sir Roger Scruton is an English writer and philosopher who has published more than fifty books in philosophy, aesthetics, and politics. His book discussed in this episode was How to Be a Conservative; it was published in 2014. He is a fellow of the British Academy and a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. He teaches in both England and America and is a senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, Washington. DC. He is currently teaching an MA in philosophy course for the University of Buckingham. Sir Scruton was knighted in 2016 by Queen Elizabeth II for his โ€œservices to philosophy, teaching and public education.โ€

Full Transcript on Hover.org

Additional Resources:

Brexit:

Hoover Fellows Weigh-In On Brexit
Brussels Gets Brexit Wrongโ€”Again
Gibraltar Braces For Life After Brexit
When you go to the ballot box, think first of Brexit
A year after voting for Brexit, Britainโ€™s divided, and in uncharted waters
Will Brexit Break The “Special Relationship”?

Margaret Thatcher:

Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher dies: Thatcher and Reagan’s shared agenda
Thatcherism after Thatcher
Ed Meese: Thatcher inspired Reagan
The Libertarian “Remembering Margaret Thatcher”

Conservatism:

Political Economy Workshop Discusses Race and Conservatism
Health care, immigration and the future of conservatism with Lanheeย Chen
Conservatism And Executive Power
In Trump Era, a Chance to Reboot Conservatism

Immigration:

Decision 2016: Immigration

About Hoover Institution’s channel on YouTube

The Hoover Institution’s channel on YouTube hopes to encourage discussions, generate ideas, and disseminate information, which will help secure and safeguard peace, improve the human condition, and limit government intrusion into the lives of individuals.

The Thinking Conservative
The Thinking Conservativehttps://www.thethinkingconservative.com/
The goal of THE THINKING CONSERVATIVE is to help us educate ourselves on conservative topics of importance to our freedom and our pursuit of happiness. We do this by sharing conservative opinions on all kinds of subjects, from all types of people, and all kinds of media, in a way that will challenge our perceptions and help us to make educated choices.

Peace In Ukraine Wonโ€™t End The Westโ€™s Hybrid War On Russia

The Westโ€™s Hybrid War on Russia to follow peace in Ukraine is inevitable due to neoconservatives and liberal-globalists in its decision-making ecosystem.

Was Texas Storm Manmade?

Another โ€œ1-in-100 yearsโ€ weather event in Kerr County happened next to a Texas designated โ€œWeather Modification Map of Rain-Enhancement Projects in Texasโ€.

The America Party Will Harm Democrats The Most

Elon Musk formed the America Party after an X poll asking his followers if they wanted โ€œindependence from the two-party system!

Democrats Exhibit the Dunning-Kruger Effect (DKE)

โ€œThe Dunning-Kruger effect is a cognitive bias where people with low ability at a task overestimate their competence, while those with high ability underestimate their competence.

250 Countdown

Those 56 intrepid men who signed put their very lives, honor and fortunes on the line. There was no auto-quill to accommodate their signatures.ย 

Existing US Energy Generation Retirements Increase Blackout Risk by 100 Times in 2030: DOE

Planned retirement of more than 100 gigawatts of power generation capacity by end of the decade could increase risk of blackouts in the US by 100 times.

Los Angeles Mayor Confronts Federal Immigration Officers at MacArthur Park

After decrying federal immigration enforcement operations in Los Angeles, Mayor Karen Bass confronted ICE officers as they gathered at a city park.

Trial Begins Over Trump Adminโ€™s Deportations of Pro-Palestinian Students

A trial over President Trumpโ€™s attempts to deport pro-Palestinian activists began on July 7 with attorneys debating free speech.

Man Killed After Opening Fire at Border Patrol Facility in Texas

27-year-old man armed with a rifle was killed after opening fire outside Border Patrol facility in McAllen, TX, prompting shootout with feds and local police.

Trump Extends Federal Hiring Freeze Until October

Trump issued memo extending federal hiring freeze until Oct. 15, maintaining exemptions for positions related to the armed forces and public safety.

US to Send More Defensive Weapons to Ukraine

The Pentagon is sending more defensive weapons to Ukraine amid the Eastern European countryโ€™s ongoing war with Russia.

Trump to Extend Tariff Deadline to Aug. 1, Keep Rates at 10 Percent During Talks

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that Trump will sign the order to move the deadline to Aug. 1 from its current date of July 9.

DOJ, FBI Find Epstein Committed Suicide, Had No โ€˜Client Listโ€™

Jeffrey Epstein committed suicide and had no โ€œclient list,โ€ according to the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the FBI.
spot_img

Related Articles