Most conservatives adopt conservative ideas in order to defend one particular established order. In this respect their conservatism is instrumental rather than primary. Burke, however, was the conservative archetype because his impulse was to defend all existing institutions wherever located and however challenged.
(Samuel P. Huntington, "Conservatism as an Ideology," The American Political Science Review 51 [June 1957]: 454-73, at 463)
Note from KBJ: I part ways with Burke on this one. I'm an instrumental conservative. The institutions I aim to conserve are mine, i.e., those of my country. I don't care what happens elsewhere.
Keith Burgess-Jackson, J.D., Ph.D. 