Conservative does define an agreed upon set of principles, within the context of the society culture that is in play.
IOW, American conservatism has core principles. British conservatism has core principles, same with French... or Chinese, or Islamic.
These core principles aren't usually about economics or the specifics of government policy. Though economics comes into play.
American Establishment Conservatism (which ran from the 60s until Reagan) was supposedly about things like small government, low taxes, free markets.... but that was a facade put on traditional American conservatism--which was about nativism, racism, and male superiority. WF Buckley and a few others worked hard to shed that image--but that only lasted until the 90s.
The key to understanding conservatism and its principles/values is that it is primarily about maintaining privilege and the status quo, the existing power and economic structures.
Conservative does define an agreed upon set of principles, within the context of the society culture that is in play.
IOW, American conservatism has core principles. British conservatism has core principles, same with French... or Chinese, or Islamic.
These core principles aren't usually about economics or the specifics of government policy. Though economics comes into play.
American Establishment Conservatism (which ran from the 60s until Reagan) was supposedly about things like small government, low taxes, free markets.... but that was a facade put on traditional American conservatism--which was about nativism, racism, and male superiority. WF Buckley and a few others worked hard to shed that image--but that only lasted until the 90s.
The key to understanding conservatism and its principles/values is that it is primarily about maintaining privilege and the status quo, the existing power and economic structures.