The LSE right on Scruton's right: Kenneth Minogue on Roger Scruton's conservatism

This paper explores the intricate dynamics within postwar British intellectual conservatism, focusing on the critique posed by Kenneth Minogue against Roger Scruton’s conservative philosophy. Roger Scruton noted the fragmentation and marginalization of conservatism in postwar British intellectual circles, attributing it to the pervasive influence of John Stuart Mill’s skepticism toward conservative intellect. Despite this, notable conservative clusters emerged at the London School of Economics under Michael Oakeshott and at Peterhouse College, Cambridge, under Maurice Cowling. These clusters, identified as the LSE Right and the Peterhouse Right, respectively, significantly influenced political and academic discourses despite their small size. This paper examines the significant yet underexplored differences between Minogue, representing the LSE Right, and Scruton, the leading figure of Scruton’s Right. Drawing on Minogue’s personal papers, this study elucidates his critical stance on Scruton’s conservatism. By analyzing Minogue’s critique, this paper contributes to a deeper understanding of the doctrinal divergences within British conservatism and their implications for its future trajectory.