‘True striving for right and freedom’: Prussian old-conservatism between reception and appropriation of liberal political thought

Laura C. Achtelstetter and Alexander Kruska1

Chapter 1 in The Conservative Critique of Liberalism, 2026, pp 15-35 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: This chapter explores the relationship between Prussian old-conservatism and liberalism in the nineteenth century, focusing on the nuanced interplay between critique and adaptation. Analysing the writings of key figures like Ernst Ludwig von Gerlach and Friedrich Julius Stahl, it examines the conservative critique of liberalism's revolutionary implications and their contrasting concept of ‘true liberty’ as obedience to divine authority. Highlighting the theological foundation of Old-conservative thought, the study reveals how these thinkers promoted lawful constitutional reform over revolutionary change, aiming to reconcile divine authority with human governance. The chapter also addresses the challenges of uniting Protestant and Catholic conservatives, whose differing views on liberty ultimately fractured their alliance. By framing conservatism as more than reactionary opposition, it underscores its role as a distinct political doctrine engaging critically with liberal ideas.

Keywords: Prussian old-conservatism; Liberalism; Christian liberty; Constitutional reform; Divine authority (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035309214
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