What are the central themes of conservatism?

Conservatism is defined by a committment to several key themes, central among these is the safety and security of the individual. Early conservative thinkers such as Hobbes expressed a belief that the main purpose of government is to protect the individual's right to a life of safety through executive, legislative and judiciary empowerment. A further significant and recurrent theme throughout the majority of conservative thought is a belief in pragmatism - or a reluctance to significantly change institutions or processes that do not need radical overhaul. Instead, conservatives generally prefer a more organic development of the state through a more pragmatic sovereign body. Another concept that links with this pragmatic approach favoured by conservatism is the belief in the importance of tradition and recognising and appreciating the history of the state and of our ancestors. In this sense, conservatives justify certain decisions - or lack of decisions - by referring back to past successes and the previous experiences of the state and its subjects.