在自由与秩序之间--保守主义在英国政治运作中的制衡作用

Between Freedom and Order——On the Balancing Role of Conservatism in British Politics

英国既是诸多革命的发源地,又是保守主义的故乡。对这一"反常"现象的跟踪分析,凸显出英国政治结构的双重内核。保守主义作为英国政治运作中的一种制衡机制,最突出的作用体现在:通过批判、改良,缓和尖锐的社会矛盾,实现社会的均衡发展。一方面保守主义致力于社会秩序的维护,并把变革产生的一些积极内容在制度层面上予以巩固;另一方面,保守主义避免因剧烈的变革导致社会的无序和分裂,企图寻求合适的方式,避免社会运动走向极端。由此,"自由"和"秩序"构成一对范畴一张一弛,宽猛相济,形成了英国独特的治国之道对此进行剖析,具有重要的政治价值和现实意义。

Britain is the birthplace of many revolutions as well as home to conservatism. A follow-up analysis of this ＂abnormal＂ phenomenon would highlight the dual-core political structure in Britain. As a balance and check mechanism in British politics, the most significant role of conservatism is to ease the acute social conflicts and realize the balanced development of society by criticizing and urging improvement. On the one hand, conservatism is committed to maintaining social order and institutionally consolidates some positive changes resulted from reforms; on the other hand, conservatism opposes social disorder and split caused by drastic changes, and attempts to find the appropriate Way to prevent social movement from going to extremes. Thus, ＂freedom＂ and ＂order＂ become opposite concepts, one is restrictive and the other relaxing, thus achieving a balance between leniency and severity and forming Britain＇s unique way of running the country. Analyzing this is of important political value and realistic significance.