Thought for the day: Progressivism vs. Conservatism Progressivism is a universal ideology: It entails disparate cultures becoming increasingly similar as they converge upon a singular ideal of “good” society. Conservatism is the opposite force. It is the belief that the traditions, culture, and way of life of your society is worth preserving, especially in the face of progressive change. Conservatism is a necessarily diverse ideology because traditional cultures vary tremendously. While a progressive activist in Riyad and a progressive activist in London will believe roughly the same thing, a conservative activist in London and a conservative activist in Riyad will have profoundly different beliefs. The former look toward a shared ideal of a future, while the latter look toward two different beginnings.