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The conservative tradition in sociological thought

Since its origins, sociology has shaped—and been shaped by—multiple political traditions, including liberalism, radicalism, progressivism, and conservatism. This lecture examines the conservative tradition in sociology, a tradition central to yet insufficiently recognised within the discipline’s formation.
Since its origins, sociology has shaped—and been shaped by—multiple political traditions, including liberalism, radicalism, progressivism, and conservatism. This lecture examines the conservative tradition in sociology, a tradition central to yet insufficiently recognised within the discipline’s formation.
Wednesday 4 November 2026 | 1 hour 29 minutes 4 seconds
Watch on YouTubeDownload File | 81.57MB

Since its origins, sociology has shaped—and been shaped by—multiple political traditions, including liberalism, radicalism, progressivism, and conservatism. This lecture examines the conservative tradition in sociology, a tradition central to yet insufficiently recognised within the discipline’s formation.

It explores four recurrent themes within sociology’s conservative tradition: legitimate hierarchy and authority; appeals to nature and God as frameworks for reflecting on social order; the foundational significance of family and community, often against modern forms of individualism; and a commitment to traditionalism, frequently expressed through respect for religion and skepticism toward narratives of progress. Although contemporary sociologists rarely identify as conservative, it is misleading to treat conservatism as external to the discipline and to understand scholarly traditions in identitarian terms. Ideas drawn from the conservative tradition remain deeply embedded in sociological thought, often in unacknowledged ways.