noun
Refers to the political ideology or philosophical stance that emphasizes tradition, stability, and gradual change.
彼は保守主義の立場から政策を批判した。
He criticized the policy from a conservative standpoint.
保守主義は急激な改革に反対する傾向がある。
Conservatism tends to oppose radical reforms.
Compound of 保守 (conservation, maintenance) and 主義 (principle, doctrine). The term is a calque from Western political vocabulary, likely entering Japanese in the late 19th or early 20th century.