Conservative vs. Reactionary — What's the Difference?

Conservatives generally advocate for preserving traditional values and institutions, viewing gradual change as the best approach to societal evolution. They often emphasize stability, law and order, and the importance of family and community structures. On the other hand, reactionaries are characterized by their desire to reverse modern developments and return society to a perceived better, more orderly past. While conservatives might resist radical changes, reactionaries actively work to undo them, often idealizing historical periods they view as superior.

While conservatism is a broad political philosophy that can adapt to changes in the societal consensus, holding that any change should be incremental and rooted in the existing traditions, reactionaries often see the current state of society as a deviation from an ideal. They aim not just to halt progress but to revert it, based on a belief that certain historical norms and values were fundamentally correct.

Conservatives often work within the existing political framework, leveraging it to slow down or moderate changes they see as harmful to societal stability. They are more likely to support reforms that strengthen traditional structures or gradually improve systems without radical overhaul. Reactionaries, whereas, may reject the current political framework entirely if they believe it supports a decline from the idealized past, advocating for more drastic measures to restore what they see as the natural order.

In terms of social policies, conservatives typically support measures that they believe will uphold family values and societal cohesion, such as policies that encourage traditional marriage and community welfare programs that do not undermine personal responsibility. Reactionaries, on the other hand, might oppose modern social policies altogether, arguing that they erode the traditional social fabric and hierarchies that they wish to restore.

Conservatives might support free-market principles but also endorse the role of government in regulating certain aspects of the economy to maintain order, protect national interests, and ensure moral standards. Reactionaries might either advocate for a return to a more hierarchical and less free-market-oriented economy they believe existed in the past or, conversely, argue for a radical dismantling of current economic structures they view as corrupt or degenerative.