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Social conservatism

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"text": "Social conservatism is a political philosophy centered on the preservation of traditional moral values. These values are often rooted in religious teachings. The movement aims to maintain established social structures rather than embracing social pluralism. Social conservatives frequently organize to defend duty, traditional family units, and specific gender roles. They also place high value on national patriotism and religious traditions. Because they seek to protect these foundations, they are often skeptical of rapid social change. Instead, they tend to support the status quo regarding social issues.\n\nThis movement is largely an outgrowth of traditionalist conservatism. While traditional conservatism is a broad philosophy, social conservatism focuses specifically on moralism. This means it prioritizes ideas of right and wrong in public life. There is also overlap between social conservatism and paleoconservatism. Both ideologies value traditional social forms. However, social conservatism is distinct from economically interventionist conservatism. Some European conservatives, like the Gaullists in France, combine conservative ideas with a welfare state. In contrast, social conservatives may support free markets or may ask for government intervention to meet moral goals.\n\nIn the United States, social conservatism is a right-wing ideology. It often opposes social progressivism and focuses on \"family values.\" Many members adhere to principles such as opposition to abortion and same-sex marriage. Sociologist Harry F. Dahms notes two distinct domains within this American movement. One domain consists of Christian doctrinal conservatives. The other domain includes gun-use conservatives, such as members of the National Rifle Association. This diversity makes it difficult to generalize all social conservative preferences.\n\nAustralia provides a different example of how these views function in a political system. The major center-right coalition is known as the Liberal-National Coalition. It is primarily defined by liberal conservatism rather than social conservatism. However, social conservatism exists within minor parties like Pauline Hanson's One Nation. Even within the major parties, specific factions like the \"National Right\" hold socially conservative views. Leaders often must navigate a \"broad church\" approach to govern effectively. For example, former New South Wales leader Dominic Perrottet was a conservative Catholic. He opposed abortion but later supported a ban on gay conversion therapy.\n\nIn 2018, Australia held the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey to decide on same-sex marriage. The government allowed a conscience vote, meaning members could vote based on their own beliefs. Many high-profile leaders, including Tony Abbott and Peter Dutton, opposed same-sex marriage. However, the plebiscite resulted in 61.6% of voters choosing in favor. Because the majority of the country voted \"yes,\" some members had to follow their electorates. For instance, Peter Dutton's seat of Dickson voted 65.16% in favor. Consequently, he voted in favor of the Marriage Amendment Act 2017.\n\nIn Canada, social conservatism is widespread but less prominent in the public sphere than in the United States. It is most visible in rural areas and the western provinces. This includes Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia. Historically, social conservatives in Canada felt sidelined by \"Red Tories" in the Progressive Conservative Party. This led many to join the Social Credit Party or the Reform Party. The Reform Party was led by Preston Manning, who was sometimes reluctant to embrace full social conservatism. This tension eventually led to his replacement by the social conservative Stockwell Day.\n\nGlobal variations show how these ideas connect to national identity. In India, the Hindutva movement represents Hindu social conservatism. Led by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, this movement views Hinduism as a national identity. They advocate for a Uniform Civil Code to replace different personal laws for different religions. In China, President Xi Jinping has adopted more conservative social views. This includes reflecting patriarchal views of women to address a shrinking population. In the Islamic world, groups like the Justice and Development Party of Morocco show how religious interpretation shapes social conservatism. These diverse examples demonstrate how the movement adapts to different cultural and political landscapes.",

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